May I vent?

As you all probably know, I phased out TV from my daily routines. It’s been about a year now. A few weeks ago I sat down with Maya and watched 30 minutes of TV. Looking for something appropriate to watch with a 4-year-old, I flipped from a rerun of Magnum PI, bits of the 80’s movie Foot Loose (man, do they look ridiculous), and Drew Carry’s Power of Ten. I quickly found that I have no tolerance for commercials, I’m very sensitive to the "men are idiots" theme and the sexual innuendo—which frankly isn’t all that indirect—and I suspected that the questions on Power of Ten were set up to make me think certain ways about certain things.

Radio, specifically 610 WTVN, held my last link to news and moderately interesting entertainment. Last week, while making an evening trip to the grocery, I roamed the FM dial looking for an old favorite station, hoping for some classic rock. I was shocked at the XXX Girls and Viagra commercials stashed in-between the songs—something that I dismissed as it was late and I didn't have the kids with me. But I wondered, what happened to actual music? (I’m reminded of the days when MTV used to play these things called “Music Videos.”)

Yesterday on 610 morning programming, I noticed the same distasteful Viagra commercial that I heard the previous week. Below is the letter I wrote the Program Director today. Perhaps it isn’t “strongly worded” enough, but I felt like I needed to say something. I’m really tired of being a “market” and the world trying to wring every last dime from my pocket in any way possible, with little regard of consequences and no respect for principles.

I am a long time listener of 610 programming. As a mother of young children, I find the Viagra commercial offensive; its sexual explicitness is inappropriate and unnecessary. I was quite surprised to hear it aired during the AM show.

Please keep in mind that members of your audience have young children. While it is possible to turn off a discussion that is inappropriate and come back to the programming at a later time, it is quite difficult for a listener to know when such a commercial will air. The inclusion of this commercial lacks consideration for family listeners.

I regret that I will no longer listen to 610 WTVN because of this poorly placed commercial.

I guess I'll have to read more books.