GCN Ads

[Kim323]

I write this with some trepidation, and somewhat tongue in cheek, because I appreciate The Paracast branching out, the reality of the presence of ads, and I don't want to offend Gene and Chris. And this is partly a vent, too, but any info appreciated. In short: the GCN ads are DRIVING ME NUTS!!!! It's the same ads over and over, the volume and repetition seem to rise as any given ad progresses, and most of all, the sheer assault they seem to share on rational thought, and even basic intellectual decency, is beyond the pale (to me). They demean the listener, they ask him/her to buy into all sorts of bogus nostrums concerning health, consumption of food, and financial well being, some of the most basic needs of any human being. I even question the legality of some of the health claims. Now, of course, yes, I can "tune it out," recognize that this is the American way, it's my choice to buy into them or buy the products, etc., etc. But they still are, I think, indisputably an assault on intellectual integrity at the most basic level. George Orwell, in one of his superb but lesser known novels (Keep the Aspidistra Flying), introduces us to Gordon Comstock, the main character who gives up a "perfectly decent" job to live the life of a struggling poet in 1930s England. Here Orwell first taught me the word "puling," as in "puling silliness." Gordon is gazing at a huge billboard that exclaims "Kiddies Clamour for Their Breakfast Crisps!" and feels the hopelessness of it all and tells us what puling silliness the ad and phrase are. Multiply that by a thousand and you have the GCN ads. A few questions: Who owns GCN? JUST WHERE do these ads come from? Are they FOR REAL? Is it possible that people actually CONSUME some of this stuff, and take back America's health care one person at a time, and rid themselves of atmospheric radiation, etc.? Are these same ads on other radio programs on the network? I emphasize that I exclude any ads read by Gene, who has a real voice for them, and whose ads are for tech products, etc., that seem quite legit. It's these over the top ads that are keeping me from catching up on the last four episodes of The Paracast, and I do look into the mirror and honestly absolve myself of any passive-aggressiveness or mere childish petulance. These ads are really infuriating. I know, I could fast forward through them, but I enjoy listening to The Paracast and a few other paranormal podcasts in bed as darkness beckons me to sleep. It's an atmospheric thing, and I can't keep jumping up and fast forwarding. Or am I nuts, truly, a lone voice in the wilderness, who refuses to get in lockstep with the program and lifestyle these ads promote? I stress that this feeling has nothing to do with politics. It's not a red state/blue state thing. I've researched GCN online, and it's impossible to really ascertain who owns it, what it stands for, etc. Ok, I'm done, but the ads still persist, I assume, or did they somehow disappear during the last four episodes?

 

[Angel of Ioren]

You're not nuts and the ads are terrible, and they're necessary for Gene to get his show out there. I can sympathize with you in that it can be irritating to have to fast forward through them. If I'm listening to the show while I'm walking, I'm subjected to the ridiculous claims of some of the "health" oriented ads. I also wonder who is actually buying these things.

 

[tyder001]

I say we set up a committee to study the validity of the adds. Then we stop em where they stand. Anybody who actually buys a product advertised is a undesirable and we should deprive them of their priviledge to make up their own minds about what is good for them. That is a first step. But, until we make that first step we can't go on to the glorious revolution of the people. To rid the lower thinking among us from our ranks. Also, we should watch closely to see who goes where to worship and to vote and also the accent. I say that once we idenify the southern drawl of the racist redneck and the midwestern backwards hicks who would bring the discourse down, that we put them with "others" of their own kind. We are tolerant and we will not oppose their right to live but we don't have to let them contaminate society. These are the first steps...take these and then we shall march lockstep into a glorious society of "true" humans. Neigh, should I say "ultra" humans.

 

[Angel of Ioren]

I say we set up a committee to study the validity of the adds. Then we stop em where they stand. Anybody who actually buys a product advertised is a undesirable and we should deprive them of their priviledge to make up their own minds about what is good for them. That is a first step. But, until we make that first step we can't go on to the glorious revolution of the people. To rid the lower thinking among us from our ranks. Also, we should watch closely to see who goes where to worship and to vote and also the accent. I say that once we idenify the southern drawl of the racist redneck and the midwestern backwards hicks who would bring the discourse down, that we put them with "others" of their own kind. We are tolerant and we will not oppose their right to live but we don't have to let them contaminate society. These are the first steps...take these and then we shall march lockstep into a glorious society of "true" humans. Neigh, should I say "ultra" humans.

I don't think we need to take it that far. I don't really care if people do buy the products. I just sort of feel bad because they might as well be placing that money in a savings account.

 

[pixelsmith]

Kim323 I have no clue what you are talking about because I never listen to the ads. With the amount of time it took for you to write this rant you could have fast forwarded thru a dozen Paracasts.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

And, in short, we run the same network ads as other GCN shows, and those ads aren't so dissimilar from other networks; they are entitled to earn a profit, and that's how you do it on free radio.

Further, we do not get to pick and choose network ads, nor are we compensated for them. Indeed, our ad schedule, or network clock (which specifies the number of ads run each hour) is identical to the one used by Clear Channel affiliates, even for such shows as Rush Limbaugh, Randi Rhodes and, yes, C2C.

If you don't like the ads you hear, nobody forces you to buy the product or service. Just Fast Forward. If an advertiser isn't making a living, they'll change their promotional methods, or the product or service itself.

I do hope, however, that you'll listen to our own ads (usually the first minute after a break), and perhaps buy those products and services, since those companies help us pay the bills.