Todd Fawcett
I am posting this for Jeff McHugh, Program Director, 105.1 The Buzz:
"Todd,
Thank you for your note. I have been trying to respond to the group,
but the website you send me does not seem to be working for me. I would
like to respond to you, and I would appreciate it if you would post my
comments on the board for me. Could I ask that favor of you?
I have been able to review the segment that aired concerning bicyclists
on the Nelson And Terry show. This is a case of comments made in jest
being re-told secondhand and out of context. I recieved only ONE
complaint call about the segment. And that was from the person who
posted a complaint about our station on the internet - without hearing
the segment himself! Of course now, people are reading this on the
internet, and mad without reason.
If you're not familiar with the Nelson And Terry show, there are jokes
made about just about every subject. It's a comedy-based show, so the
expectation of taking any comment seriously is not the same as it would
be for NPR, for example.
At around 7:55, during a topic called "what would you change about
Portland," a caller named Marcy said first that she would change all the
buildings to mirrored exteriors, so that instead of big buildings
blocking your view, you would see the reflection of sky and other stuff.
Nelson joked that the bright sunlight would reflect off the buildings
and then half our population would end up blind, so he was against it.
(You can see that this is clearly not a substantive discussion, right?)
Marcy's second suggestion was that she wanted to change the laws about
bike riders. Her comment was that if there wasn't a bike path, they
should not be able to use the street. Marcy said that her husband never
rides in the roads without bike lanes because vehiclists do not pay
attention, or they get backed up behind bikers and they get ticked.
Marcy said that she thought it would be safer for everyone.
Nelson then joked, (in a character voice) "we should have a track where
they all could ride in until they get tired and then take a cab home!"
Marcy chimed in, "So if it doesn't have a motor it shouldn't be on the
road! Nelson added, (again, in a character voice) "They shouldn't be in
the road! I feel the same way about CATS!"
There was laughter throughout, so I think it was clear to everyone that
Nelson was pretending to take a rediculous position for comedic effect.
He also joked about the bicyclist's apparel. But he then added, "I'm
just kidding," and later said "God bless you for riding a bike and not
polluting," and expressed sincere concern about the bicyclists safety.
There were other comments sprinkled throughout, some agreeing with
Marcy's concern about mixing traffic and bikes, but that's the major
part of it.
I am myself a bicyclist, and I am satisfied that while our hosts made
jokes that not everyone found funny, they made every reasonable effort
to make sure that they were not taken seriously, and meant no harm.
If you, or anyone else wants to call and discuss this with me, my
office number is 503-535-0315. Thank you.
Jeff McHugh
Program Director
1051 The Buzz"