10 things I hate about NPR.
WFMU puts together a fairly solid list, though I disagree with 1, 2, and 3.
Comments
You’d like the Radiolab podcast if you aren’t already listening to it, John. It’s This American Life, but with science.
There’s a lot to hate about NPR (though, of course, I love it so). The fundraisers are probably the worst of the lot, though. I understand the need to raise money, but the frequency of their endless week-long money grabs are made all the worse by their grating, wheedling, smug, horrifically earnest nature.
I keep hearing about them, but I’ve never heard them. Are they on WHYY at all? Or do I have to look for them online?
I’m still waiting for the technology that will let me pay a donation and give me access to a fund-raiser free station. I’d donate at the drop of a hat. Cause it’s not just that I don’t get my regular news and programming. It’s like you said — “their grating, wheedling, smug, horrifically earnest nature” that so completely infuriates me on my morning/evening commutes (all 10 minutes of them).
It’s the same reason why I went to a Coldstone Ice Cream store once several years ago and will never ever go again. I dropped a meager tip into the jar and the employees’ faces lit up and they broke out into a song and dance routine thanking me for a tip. It was embarrassing and pathetic, my friend and I stared at them awkwardly in silence while they demeaned themselves for 15 cents apiece. I only tipped so I wouldn’t have the remainder of my dollar noisily clanging around in my pocket.
Radiolab runs on WHYY at some point in the week, but I just download the podcasts through iTunes.