Posted on 08/13/2005 12:51:02 PM PDT by leftcoaster
GRAND RAPIDS -- Cruel hoax or just plain cruel?
A local radio show host's announcement that he planned to drown a dog today -- purportedly to draw attention to this week's drownings of two children -- turned out to be a hoax, but still drew the ire of police and dog lovers.
Callers flooded 911 dispatch centers with complaints before the stunt was unveiled as a publicity put-on.
WKLQ-FM morning show hosts at 8 a.m. aired sound effects that were supposed to sound like a dog being drowned at a nearby park. Disc jockeys then admitted the effort was a ruse, saying it was intended to raise awareness of recent child drownings.
Police say the hoax was insensitive to families of the drowning victims.
"I realize they do their stunts for ratings, but this one has gone too far," Grand Rapids Lt. Vincent Reilly said, noting he believes it is inappropriate to compare a purposeful drowning of a dog to a loss of human life.
(Excerpt) Read more at mlive.com ...
so was less nesman
Is this any worse than Rush's classic "Caller Abortion" ?
Sometimes you've got to get bizarre to cut through the clutter and get people's attention.
I don't know about the DJs in question but sometimes it ISN'T just about ratings and revenues.
There was a panicked vanity about this yesterday.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1461890/posts
...Did these dj's break the law? Why was law enforcment called? Seems that is was a waste of tax money for nothing???
"As god is my witness i thought turkeys could fly"
Only a capital-G God is worth anything as a witness....
And wild turkeys can fly, ask any hunter.
But go on with your story ;^)
Cheers.
With Sirius satellite radio none of this happens.
I wonder how much awareness would be raised if a litter was intentionally aborted...
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."
What are you my mother ?
Don't worry about the capitol G God has forgivin me.
Well I guess that Les Nessman got ones that were not that wild
It was WKRP not Cheers
DJs lied; no doggies died.
Give me Bailey Quarters anyday!
Actually they do allow people who are blind to skydive - they take their dog along and when the line goes slack, they pull the ripcord ....
Well at least you don't have to tell them not to look down
Al, it irreverent to use God's name as casually as that.
I'm Protestant -- the Jewish people have such reverence that they spell it G-d.
I'm forgiven too, for my own many shortcomings.
Cheers.
I think they wear darkened goggles (the dogs that is) ....
Bailey, no question.
All I have to say on the subject is "War of the Worlds" 1930s radio version. People fell hook line and sinker. Some people, too damn many, will believe anything they hear on radio or TV, and in some cases, the movies.
"War of the Worlds" was a play, and was not claimed to be anything different. Note that it was aired during a time when fear of foreign invaision of the East coast was a concern, which can partially explain the panic of some.
This particular radio stunt was played out seriously until the very end by the on-air voices. I did not hear the actual broadcast, but did see the TV coverage Thursday night about the public reaction and pressure on the station. The radio station did not make any announcements in response to the inquiries from the news media.
Also remember, when you start that "people are dumb enough to believe anything these days" argument that the same observation can be applied to those "personalities" that are hired by radio stations. I was skeptical that a puppy drowning would actually take place, but then, ya never know how dumb these radio DJs really are nowadays.
They are still being dishonest by claiming it was "for the kids" when it really was for their own publicity.
Only if you are a Christian. Some people are not and to them god is just another word. If you wish to practice your religion feel free to do so, but don't try to preach to others please. The man was merely repeating a well known phrase from the Cinninatti WKRP sitcom, it was extremely funny episode and of course wild turkeys can fly. If you find the lower case g on god abjectionable please feel free not to read any post that contains it.
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