Why Does KMUD Have To Censor Its Members? Asks Letter Writer
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I’m unpleasantly surprised to see how KMUD has changed, particularly how the feature “All Sides Now” is being run. Yes change is constant but when something has changed for the worse it should be noted, check to see if anyone cares and try to do something about it, or just figure c’est la vie and move on.
It used to be if you wanted to get your opinion or announcement out on the air you called in (932-5276) and recorded it, or came into the station to record it in the studio, and the message would go out to the community after the evening news at 6:30, or at the latest the next day. Everyone was free to say whatever they wanted except for the seven deadly words (shit fuck piss cunt cocksucker motherfucker and tits) that the FCC banned after George Carlin did his thing on WBAI. (The other rules are don’t mention another community member by name and keep it to two minutes or less.)
Now when you call in and record your opinion they may or may not air it and if they don’t, they refuse to tell you why, and if they do air it, it may be in a few days or a week. If the news runs over with extra fire, weather, or covid updates, they won’t play it just after the news, as it had been for decades.
They will not air your opinion if they deem it “inappropriate,” and what does that mean? Whatever they want it to mean. If they don’t like you, your opinion, or how you express it they won’t air it. I find this odd because there is a lot of free speech on regular programming and with the call-ins on the talk shows, yet this feature, All Sides Now (ASN), is brutally censored, ie, KMUD doesn’t respect its listeners, members, or the community, in this instance.
(ASN started in 1989 when there was a fight after a Too Short concert at the Mateel in the liquor store parking lot, rumors and gossip about what happened flourished, and the spot was created to let people talk about that and other issues.)
I’d like to see ASN respected as the most important two minutes on KMUD, and become once again the coolest feature at the station, a place where everyone can express themselves without having one unqualified guy deciding what is “appropriate” for everyone to hear. Believe me, we love to hear what our neighbors have to say in this format and don’t need a gatekeeper protecting us from, umm, what? Having to decide for ourselves if we agree or disagree with our neighbors’ opinions?
I’d like to see ASN return to being a shining jewel of free speech, allowing all voices to be heard, and airing right after the news every night. Is this too much to ask?
I understand that censorship is perfectly legal (because the “Fairness Doctrine” was repealed in the late eighties), KMUD can silence and ban whomever they want for any reason and they don’t have to say why, but I just don’t think it’s a good look for our local station. (For example that irrepressible and talented force of nature, the advocacy journalist and investigative reporter Nikki Norris has been cancelled and not allowed to have a show, and why is this? Limited First Amendment rights for a badass like her? It’s been a year now—is she banned forever? She is tenacious, staff and management is adamant, and it’s probably a lack of clear communication and mutual respect, as in most disputes, which keeps this stalemate unresolved.)
KMUD shouldn’t be afraid of airing dissenting opinions, contrasted to this site, Redheaded Black Belt, which is an example of robust free speech where no voices are silenced, even ones Kym disagrees with. (A staff member at the station recently told me emphatically that “KMUD is not free speech radio,” which was shocking to hear.)
I’d like to see All Sides Now blossom again and return to be the free-for-all which the founders created. One reason management and staff have been able to get away with this unimaginative policy of neglect is that there seem to be few people who actually want to express themselves on ASN. It would be nice if there were a revival of interest and people were actually encouraged to give their opinions, and tell their stories, instead of being discouraged by the “appropriate police” in charge of what we’re allowed to say.
In conclusion my observation about how the station has changed is that before there wasn’t much difference in the community and KMUD, it merged together. Now a layer of bureaucracy seems to exist which is intent on exercising their power to silence voices they don’t agree with. Is it possible to change it back to a radio station which encourages more freedom of speech instead of discouraging it? (How?)
Does anyone know why or when KMUD became this tightly controlled “community organization” which would rather say no than yes?
Paul Modic
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The layer of bureaucracy started decades ago, it blankets the nation. You’ll hear what they want you to hear, pro-tip every politician lies to stay in power, every.
Yea for, Red Headed Blackbelt
I’m tired of having to listen to crazy shit.
You have your dark web, put your indoor glasses on and pale out.
Why would you “have to” listen to anything? You don’t have any controls on your radio?
The controls are working if bat shit crazies are getting screened.
I think bat shit crazies (BSC) should be allowed to express themselves on All Sides Now but instead of having their message disappear into the black hole of inappropriateness they could be contacted and helped to formulate their opinion/presentation in a way that’s more coherent and entertaining. I would volunteer for that job. (Same with boring political opinions, help these nascent pubic speakers with their delivery, why not?)
The staff at ‘Mud likes to use the (abhorrent to me) modern way of communicating, ie, communicate by not communicating–they won’t even tell you if your ASN recording will not be on the air (as the friends you told are excitedly waiting by their radios to hear your rap, which will never happen, and they turn off their radio in disappointment, their whole day ruined, if not their life).
Yes I would contact the BSC’s, interview them for two minutes, get their story, ask them what it’s like being a BSC (I may be an honorary member, if not fool-fledged), and would that mini-interview qualify for an All Sides Now segment? No, why not? Too interesting, funny, intelligent, creative, and entertaining, something they DO NOT WANT….
Which brings up another question: What is news? Everything is news, the personal is political?
As they say: ‘c’est la vie and move on.
(But how can you stand it HERE, The Real Brian, surrounded by daily doses of BSC?)
Nope.
You keep your J6, Jewish space laser, chloroquine bleach solutions..
This reply is a good example of why allowing people to express their opinions is valuable in another way: it lets them tie their own nooses, showing their ignorance and prompting eye-rolls and fast escapes by potential readers.
[edit] I don’t think we need to hear NAZIs talk to know they exist.
Do you?
We don’t “need to” listen to anything. Nothing is force-fed. We do, however, need to allow people to speak.
In case you missed it, though, my comment re: being able to see ’em and ‘call em was referring to your suggesting that Modic’s defense of the right to air an opinion was equivalent to some right-wing, Trumpian conspiracy tendency. Very simplistic black-and-white thinking, in my freely given opinion– which you need not read.
Again, will you open your front lawn to let a NAZI or J6er be heard in your neighborhood?
don’t feed the trolls, cooskey!
I see, you want to promote fascism with the responsibility of promoting it.
See how that worked out?
Just so everyone knows, I did not throw an insult there.
I merely stated something grammar related in noting that commenting on grammer is not allowed.
I’m surprised it was nixed, but whatevs.
Yep, if people were censored for having disagreeable opinions about just about everything how would we know who we can ignore?
Even GOP Rep Boebert agrees with you.
“ “You know, I’ve been aligned with Marjorie and accused of believing a lot of the things that she believes in,” Boebert told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point USA conference when asked about Greene’s support for McCarthy. “I don’t believe in this, just like I don’t believe in Russian space lasers — Jewish space lasers and all of this.”
start your own station or quit bitching. 7% of the US population does 90% of the complaining online. 4chan and 8chan might be a better place for you.
Kmud is explicitly community owned and operated. So assuming Mr Modic lives in the area, he already has a station
KMUD is owned by Redwood Community Radio, Inc.
Which is a non profit that subsists on the financial support of its community members. It is managed by a board comprised of community members elected by community members. It is owned by the local community
Most KMUD board members aren’t elected due to lack of candidates; 1/3 of the board members are elected (appointed) by the board; i.e., largely unelected directors
I think people are tired of bloated government harassing the tax payers to keep funneling our money out of this country.
there is really no accountability
only if you refuse to fund this circus
thats bat shit crazy
That’s a good idea considering how the anti-science, anti-vaccination Alex Jones acolytes took over KMUD years ago through their sheer stupidity, harebrained hostility towards factual information, and legendarily psychotic behavior (can you say Bud Rogers?). Northern Humboldt needs to replace KHSU already with a community station that operates with a decent amount of wattage so that enough people will be able to hear it over the airwaves to make the effort worthwhile.
I thought the same way about KMUD not posting my “All Sides Now” back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. So since I could not get the local eco-news department at KMUD to air my opinion, concern or discuss it on a program, I went in a different direction. I found KMUD to be hypocritical when talking about protecting the natural eco-systems and health on the South Fork Eel River, especially if the buisness degrading the river and aquatic habitat was underwriting programs on KMUD. So in a way, I need to thank KMUD for not airing my “All Sides Now” segments, it made me look outside the box…
https://criverwatch.org/legal/case_pdfs/settlement_agreement_4-27-05_randall.pdf
Since it’s obvious you are pissed that your remarks were not aired, it would be instructive to know exactly what you said. Maybe there was a reason? In any case, there are talk shows on KMUD that allow listeners to express their views without censorship or screening. Sure the host can cut you off, just like any talk show since the dawn of time, but that usually happens when the caller is ranting on and on without taking a breath for 5 minutes. Thoughtful, reasoned discourse, even if it is contrary to woke narrative (whatever that is), is accepted with respect. Even wingnuts like “Passionate” can get their views on the air on a regular basis. Your letter is a straw man.
BTW, If you think your friends are losing sleep because they missed your “rap”, you might indeed be fool-fledged.
Okay, you asked for it, here’s one which was rejected:
Travelers Then and Now
Travelers on the streets today, so different than when the hippies poured into town in the 70’s alarming and annoying the rednecks with casual airs and long hairs. No cell phones or dogs, just grabbing cheese and granola from Evergreen Natural Foods, hitchhiking out to the creeks and beaches to camp, drinking spring water off mossy mountains.
The founding hippies gave rides in their ’54 Dodge trucks on winding roads through verdant forests, and when night fell took the tired wanderers home for dinner, a joint, and a place to crash.
Families left behind were mildly neurotic, lots of divorces, but generally stable—most could go back home if travel didn’t work out.
Today there’s little room out there for the wayward unless she’s pretty cute, that old story: shun the annoying males while the ripe females blossom.
Those on the streets today trying to escape lives of poverty and dysfunction descend from a mixed bag of parents: drug-addicted ex-hippies, bikers in prison or heading there, mentally ill petty criminals and alcoholics, and then the refugees from suburban nightmares: latchkey kids with pill-poppin’ mommas and workaholic daddies, sneaking into the family liquor cabinet, getting a head start on alcohol, drugs, and sex. Bad choices were made.
Parents went missing, no option to go home. So these lost souls suffer on the streets, a rabble of sun-bleached or wet freezing victims living in trashed out hobo camps down by the river, finding their place in the shabby hierarchy and informal gubment in a lawless territory where the meanest bully decides who can stay and who must go. No one liked that annoying guy found floating in the river, problem solved.
Sometimes talking to themselves and screaming down Redwood Drive the good citizens think, “Hell yes!” the homeless life would drive anyone crazy.
Ask Estelle Fennell and Michell Bushnell if they have any ideas about this and get your questions for them into Kmud for the debates.
OK, I don’t see this as offensive except that the “hobo camps” label could easily be perceived as derogatory to the homeless.
I assume from the last sentence that this was from over two years ago when Fennell and Bushnell were running against each other.
It’s pretty obvious to me that we are brothers, separated by circumstances beyond any control in the chaotic postwar years, also known as the “dirty 50’s”…
We should get together an straighten out all these idiots, ASAP…
that sounds poetic,
okay, it’s a plan, my people will get with your people and
set up a meet…
I’m really curious what you mean by saying my letter is a straw man, in what way? Thanks, if you’re still around. I did write an article recently in which, upon reflection I realized that I might have created a straw man. Can you make a straw man accidentally or does it have to be purposeful, just wondering…
Speaking of bat shit crazy, the communist, anti-American, pro-Putin, Russia-loving culprit at KMUD who is personally responsible for the relatively new pro-censorship policy regarding All Sides Now is that creepy weirdo Michael McKaskle who got stomped when he ran for the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. Michael has been given single authority over All Sides Now for the past couple of years by the station for some unknown reason, and predictably that Moscow-loving moron has destroyed All Sides Now by banning people for the crime of having an opinion that differs from his. KMUD sucks these days, y’all.
I’m curious Brian, where did you obtain the authority to set the parameters of what counts as “crazy shit”?
Cause if we’re just going subjectively on the subject you’ve been the source of plenty of crazy shit.
Brian and ThatGuy and everyone else…please stick to ideas not personalities. And no…I have no idea who started insulting the person not the idea and I don’t care.
Sorry, I am trying to stick to the ideas. When did the political left in this country adopt the (historically conservative) notion that it was acceptable or productive to appoint one self the final word on appropriate speech?
As Brian has been among the most vocal proponents of the sentiment on this site, I figured it might be instructive to hear where he believes he derives the authority from.
Conservatives typically leaned on religious or moral notions. But Brian has self identified as extremely anti religious so I know he’s not drawing on that imagined authority.
Cough…political left here…Free speech advocate.
But, in general, whatever group is in the majority/power wants to stifle those whose speech might shuffle the deck. Here is California and in liberal Humboldt, the majority is liberal ergo…In Siskiyou, I think you’d find the deck shufflers/anti deck shufflers are not the same parties.
Yes kym, you remind me of the political left I was raised by. Liberal, in the sense of believing that people should given respect and wide latitude to make their own choices and express themselves – even in ways that we personally disagree with. My grandpa (“vote the straight democrat ticket” was his electoral advice, he died in the late 90s) was adamant that “I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend with my life your right to say it” was an essential American ideal. That’s the political left that I identify with.
The more prominent political left these days is exemplified by people like Brian, adamantly calling for the silencing of those voices they deem “wrong”. Quick to ascribe all sorts of physical harms to people who hold and share opinions they don’t like. Intolerant and hyperbolic and so smugly self righteous. It’s a net loss to the political culture of this country.
And if you’re thinking that I’m somehow letting the political right slide then you’re missing that my point is that the political right was always like that. American conservatives have always wanted to police the expression of others they didn’t agree with, they’ve always wanted to claim that “wrong” opinions were ruining everything and causing physical harm. It’s not surprising coming from them, unfortunately as the mainstream left has joined them in those sentiments the Overton window has shifted and all of a sudden many people seem to take it for granted that silencing your political “opponents” is appropriate. It’s not a positive development for the health of our society
Do you think our Grandfather’s who faught NAZIs in WW2 would die to let a NAZI speak on their front lawns in America?
Really?
Yes. The ACLU defended the right of literal Nazis (not just people you don’t like) to hold a rally in an American city in the 70s. My WW2 veteran grandfather taught me about the case as an example of the above cited quote.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Party_of_America_v._Village_of_Skokie
I’m not sure of what you’re referring to Arcata Guy, when you say I’ve been a source of plenty of crazy.
Regarding my experience (not authority) with crazy shit, few here have actually studied and experienced the rabbit hole and left to denounce it as I have.
I’ll be knocked for answering – but you asked. I’ve been covered in the NY Times, Discovery Channel, Huff Post, USA Today, AL Jazeera, local and out of country papers.
No shit.
An example of your type of crazy shit is on this very thread accusing a regular poster of lying about where they live. That’s some crazy shit right there.
The larger point is the absurd level of self importance that would lead a person to conclude their personal preferences and beliefs describe some sort of objective boundary between reasonable and unreasonable. Such an idea is anathema to the ideals that underlie the best intentions behind this nation. And that inflated sense of self, and the attendant dismissal of the other as “less than” (typically accompanied by short hand dismissive nicknames like “nazi”) is an essential element in all the worst atrocities in human history.
I miss when there was only one prominent political faction in the US that seemed poised to devolve into a totalitarian nightmare. Anymore it seems like the only question is whether the jack boot thugs coming to our American streets will be leaning on “religion” or “science” to justify their crimes.
An example of your type of crazy shit is on this very thread accusing a regular poster of lying about where they live. That’s some crazy shit right there.
Now, that is an example of something you or I can’t prove.
But, the commentor has lied intentionally about such little things like carrying a Swiss Army Knife to change a flat that absolutely nothing should be trusted out of her keyboard.
Plus, it’s not abnormal for trolls to seek websites that don’t moderate or require accounts, so, unless you want to argue that that commentor is VERY credible, why trust a dog-damned thing from them?
Haven’t you learned that lying is a tool?
An old and banned commentor with similar style once outed herself as living in Sonoma County, not the Triangle, by saying (in past-tense) when a wildfire forced her evacuation. Of course I was the only one to check what wildfires were forcing evacuations at the time.
I find exposing lack-of-credibility the most worthwhile sport with a few commentors here.
You know, when the trolls spread Government-lasers-starting our wildfires – I said it was dangerous.
When the trolls pounded harder PRE-COVID about anti-vax rhetoric and misinformation – I said it was dangerous.
When the trolls started pushing civil-war themes and vernacular – I said it was dangerous.
When Trump became the Republican nominee, I left the Republican party.
When Trump became anti-science during Covid, the anti vaxxers were thrilled and emboldened – I said it was dangerous.
When Trump began saying (months ahead of the election) that “the only way he’ll lose is if the election was stolen” – I said it was dangerous and I said he would try to steal it.
When J6 happened….
Well…
I told you so.
Keep giving them inches.
They appreciate it.
Yes and when the closet authoritarians like yourself repeatedly insist that their desire to control fundamental aspects of your life is not only objectively the right choice but also for your own good people need to speak up. Otherwise we end up with millions of people losing their job for not accepting experimental injections produced by criminally fraudulent companies with a history of blithely treating humans as throw away test subjects.
And the fact that you doubled (and probably tripled) down on your obsession with your own elaborate conspiracy theory that RHBB is beset by a literal army of trolls dedicated to spreading disinformation and pushing a political narrative because…*checks notes*… some unidentified political force has a deeply vested interest in swaying the political feelings of an obscure corner of rural America that couldn’t even sway their state’s political decisions if they all acted in concert? Was a great example of the type of bat shit crazy stuff I’m talking about. I’m sure that, to you, it all feels very profound and important. If you practice your empathy you may come to realize that that’s how the people you disagree with (and call nazis) feel about their pet theories.
There’s enough authoritarian bullshit going around these days Brian. If you want a hollow echo chamber where you aren’t subjected to the horrors of opposing viewpoints there are literally thousands of places for that. There’s even a news blog that covers the same region as this one that will absolutely protect you from the horrible trolling nazis.
KMUD is a resource that expressly claims to serve our entire community, as such it is wildly inappropriate for them to be arbitrarily restricting the expression of community members. And as a long time member it’s sad to me because I don’t think it’s a path to long term viability. If I want milqtoast democratic opinions there’s already like 3 or 4 NPR affiliates on my dial.
I did the same.
I told them so.
I wish more of them had listened.
You’ve never heard of the neo-Nazis marching through Skokie, Illinois thanks to the lawyers of the ACLU? Seriously? (You must be Gen Z.) Even the Blues Brothers movie made a point out of highlighting that well-known historical event! Jeez…. I hope you’re young, because that’s your only excuse for ignorance on this subject.
I give a fuck.
KMUD thank JAH its friday, co host OWL ,is the biggest offender at censoring conservative call ins. They usually interupt right off the bat if you mention anything they deem negative..”THEY DEEM ” case in point “The Passionate One” and others.free speech censoring is always the barometer of agenda.They have one agenda..thier opinion rules. Dont buck them or prepare to be cut off.
That [edit] gets his minutes every single friday. Such a bore. We all know what he is going to say every time
Yeah, Thank Jah is predictable, but after All Sides Now didn’t know what to do with me, except to say no, Owl gave me a two minute slot on Thank Jah, which I rocked ad ranted for six months very unpredictably, an interesting experience. (To be fair, KMUD played my four mellow uncontroversial contributions, just not my nine political and provocative ones.)
Call KMUD management and complain about having your political views censored. If they receive enough complaints, maybe they’ll finally fire the pro-censorship Michael McKaskle. Or if he’s working for free, maybe they can just finally tell him to f**k off!
You nailed it. If a caller is so irretrievably OCD (talking to you “Angry One”) that you insist on calling the same radio show EVERY TIME IT’S ON to say THE SAME DAMNED THING, you clearly need a new hobby. And you need to give the listeners a break from that boring garbage already. Make way for new callers who may be interested in having their say for once. [edit]
It’s possible that if you attack people personally as you have in several recent comments, whoever is running ASN, feels your commentary is not appropriate to air. I’m open to lots of opinions but the sheer landslide of personal attacks that you just dumped is a bit worrisome. Please consider not doing that again.
He’s the reason I stopped tuning in to that show. So insufferable and incredibly rude. A hippiecrit of the highest order
Speaking of censorship..Red Headed Blackbelt is a close 2nd in censoring.
Hmmm. I haven’t been aware of that. I do know that Kym runs a pretty tight ship in terms of decency. In other words, it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it that matters here. So you can express any viewpoint you want to… just not in a nasty or violent way.
This is in stark contrast to that other county-read news blog (see how nice i’m being? Not mentioning any names) that somehow manages the opposite scenario: opinions are shamelessly censored (moderators will respond to questions about missing posts with arrogant “Because we’re the mods and you aren’t” assertions or simple rude silence– no excuses at all), yet at the same time, the hatred and vitriol, the crude, crass, intolerant proselytizing and character attacks, go on unabated. Just as long as they agree with the politics or personal preferences of the moderators.
I don’t know what you mean, precisely, about Red Headed Blackbelt censoring, but i suspect that if you said whatever you have to say in a coherent, decent way (without profanity or personal attacks on people by name), you’d have no problems.
Keep.it simple.Allow ideas,political discourse, religious discourse, facts of testimony from victims and suspects, anything should go, except filthy language,personal filthy attacks.Personal names should be fine to mention when local politics or criminal investigations are discussed.This site is not really true investigative journalism like Vice, or PBS etc.This site simply repeats what has already been released.If you want real journalism do not censor comments from sources that have potentially vital information.like from a confidential informant or witnesses .etc. I.e. Murder mountain
Just our $.02 cents
Implicating people by name regarding criminal activity would open the site to lawsuits for libel, besides being unethical.
When commenters on this site drop hints that they have information about crimes, Kym tells them to contact law enforcement. Repeating unverified accusations is not news, it is gossip.
Comparing RHBB to Vice and PBS with their teams of reporters and producers and their financial resources is not really logical.
Incorrect…
Well…I noticed KMUD starting to pick sides and censor back around the time of the Reggae War. Then it got worse. And worse. Oh boy- they know everything over there, can’t tell them anything and I got tired of listening to all the dimly lit yapping voices instead of music years ago. It was a great and mighty station! KMUD!! Back in the 80’s…sad what happened there.
Wasn’t it the KERG back then?
The Urge was back in the early 80s. Reggae Wars broke out, what, 20 years later. Those were Estelle’s last years as news director.
ROTR Mateel ‘war’ was 2005 -2007.
Yeah- Healy’s station was great! And we needed that right then! Not sure when it switched to KMUD. KMUD was awesome for awhile and I loved it, volunteered, supported. My timeline might be a little off but I did first notice an editorial lean during that Reggae War (Community Community Community!! Believe my side or YOU don’t care about Community!!! LOL). And that editorial lean got steeper, the crazy people talking got crazier and more self-obsessed…I got older and crankier and just finally couldn’t stand the noise anymore ha ha…there are still a few MUSIC shows (and the gardening show, not cannabis-real gardening) I like but I never remember when they are and all I seem to catch is noise from hill-crazy people who refuse any counter-argument. End rant.
Yeah I don’t remember the timeline either. I just caught that you said something about KMUD and the ’80’s and I knew that we had a station called KERG before the ‘MUD. Reggae Wars? I thought it was great having 2 Reggae festivals to work security for, I didn’t caught up in all the politics
I had a lot of fun at KERG and made some Grateful friends…
On this we can agree.
I do agree with the letter writer that many on the left, who used to identify as ‘rabble rousers’ ‘subverting the dominant paradigm’ seem to be very churchy nowadays about trying to police the thoughts of other people.
Most of it I liken it all to nascent personality types, the rest to currently predominant tendencies among our liberal brethren to believe that some types of people or certain values should not be criticized or interrogated EVER.
This cultural trait makes for a fairly bulbous protrusion if one is prone to comedy, and reminds me of my earlier days making fun of the Bible and how seriously everybody took it.
I get it, the rabid-right wing can be worse, But I’ve lived in California for 50 years, so there’s that..
The Amy Goodman lifestyle is so boring and predictable!
Like,.. Berkeley radicals kind of regressed to being squares?
the anarchists can’t rant anymore?
might be oppressive if they aren’t anarcho-liberals?
I’m all for the collective project and group values, but who gets to define the narrative and the objective?
This is the rub when social gatekeepers amass in institutions and try to de-platform rebellious, subversive or contrarian speech.
It’s true, rabble rousers are irritating and not always constructive..but it’s a inevitable part of nature, in a way the mutation that give options to the next generation…
But what do I know, I didn’t study approved science or documented facts, and I’m not the alumni of any state thought factory.
I do agree with rabble rousers
subverting the dominant police
your churchy thoughts of personality types
criticize our liberal brethren
with the comedy of bulbous protusions
while Amy makes fun of the Bible
the rabid rightwing is boring and predictable
so the anarchists define the narrative as
the social gatekeepers have been subverted,
mutations are part of nature but as an
alumni of State You what do I know?
(Collage of Perish)
Once upon a time they were great radio, no longer!
I am often censored at kmud and other media. Due to the lack of a filter. I own it. Me opinions often negative and/or violent isn’t acceptable in most quarters. But I say them just the same. Because I believe in them. We have the right to say what we want. Just as someone else has the right not to listen to me rant and rave about greedy, mindless humans or talk about chickens. Don’t like kmuds handling of such, then go to the BOD meetings and tell them about it. Don’t feel happy with that outcome then there are so many other media outlets to give your attention and resources to.
For the most part I don’t listen to kmud being of an Iron Maiden spirit, but I still support them financially with a donation “slid under the door” and occasionally a home baked treat or two; all the while not being a member. In times of emergencies they are a proven valuable resource and that’s when I move the dial to 91.1fm.
Cetan- Well said. In emergencies I am glad they are there…and I’d love it if somebody went to their meetings and opened them up to the greater community
Farce, I’ve been attending KMUD board and committee meetings for many years. The problem seems to lie with their “problem-solving” policy, which KMUD holds is the key to identifying issues of conflict and moving them toward resolution.
Common sense and many years of experience in litigation, advocacy, and conflict resolution is not enough to move these issues through the hierarchical design of this policy. KMUD has not cherished, protected or served its volunteers, listeners or members to a fraction of its potential but this failure is not a “done deal.” I encourage everyone who wants to save KMUD to show up for meetings, become familiar with the issues, and speak your mind.
If KMUD is YOUR radio station, then YOU need to show up.
I LOVE the clucken report but I haven’t heard one in too long. xoxo I, too, no longer listen as I once did but donate annually and tune in to a few shows routinely.
I would guess you have not stepped up to be part of the board.
I think the dissemination of false information is one of the reasons for censorship.
Actually, when I wrote the board a letter saying I want to run, on this issue, the All Sides Now censorship, they strongly discouraged and threatened me not to run. I couldn’t understand why they would play so dirty just about one person seeking change on one issue. I decided I didn’t want to associate with people like that and withdrew my candidacy.
The All Sides Now policy was changed in April 2021. It gave sole discretion to paid staff to determine the appropriateness of each submission, but gave no guidance with regard to media law, etc.
Policy is an area of great concern at KMUD because policy is curated and rewritten to reflect the novice abilities of those chosen to serve on the board. This pool of talent comes from board members; contested elections are rare. As a result of this insularity KMUD’s growth is stunted and warped.
But I still think there’s a decent foundation in the mission and vision statements, and the bylaws. The board needs a Human Resources committee to advise the station manager, and the station manager needs to be relieved of solving every conflict since it’s too much responsibility and liability for one person.
in similar news were are learning that The Twitter Files are nothing more than babbles and youtube vids by babblers. there is a reason why most stayed under a rock historically with this type of shit.
Really, you know that how?
I have always enjoyed Mark Twain and his wisdom. For example, “In America–as elsewhere–free speech is confined to the dead.
– Notebook, 1904
And with a bit more exposition, It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them.
And I don’t have to listen to anything since I discovered most things have an on-off switch.
Almost everything “used to be” better.
It’s a hard lesson for the over 70 crowd, but, you, are irrelevant.
Nobody wants a spirited discussion, they just want to call you a racist or a sexist or a fattist or something else labelist…
Especially, they want you to STFU and go away! Baby Boomers are asked to immediately die and leave us all your shit…
Sorry Mr Modic, but feel free to write any batshit crazy stuff you want, in your newspaper, and we will be sure to read it immediately!
I always thought KMUD was pretty unlistenable, but I don’t like most modern music any more than I like tattooed women or Diesel Pickups or Subarus or Garberville…
Since Spotify, I don’t listen to FM, ever, and I was a DJ on KDVS in Davis, once upon a time…
Nowadays, everyone just wants to use proper pronouns and respect everyone’s feelings, not at all like things used to be, back in the good old days…
It’s a stupid world, and old people with no money might as well just forget about it and enjoy whatever they can, in the few minutes we have left…
Well, you may be on to something: Even though I don’t consider myself an actual adult, because of living in the woods too long, the Peter Pan syndrome, and not having kids, the fact of the matter is I DID attend the founding meeting for KMUD in the mid-eighties at the Health Center meeting room in Redway, my denial of impending old age is not authentic, and I’ve been writing a lot recently about Senior Issues like sleep, health, drinking, diet, money, and etc.
There’s a lot of material there because we’re living it every day and if you’re not now you will be some day, hmm, that might be an interesting subject for an occasional column…
Honestly, nobody gives a shit about seniors, and we might as well be invisible by the time we are 60.
The first time I realized this, was shopping at Chautauqua in 2012…
Young people act like you are not there, and old people act like you are going to take their place in line at the doctor’s office, the Post Office, the Grocery and the goddamn crematorium, so they gotta scoot and get in there first…
I relate to that comment about not feeling “grown up”, and I have detailed memories about things I still regret 50 years later, like not getting with that gal because I was feeling guilty about another one I was supposed to be with…
It all goes by too fast, and I would do a few things differently next time but mostly I got what I chose, so I can’t complain…
Seniors don’t want advice, IMO, they just want more money or a lower price, and they love to complain about nearly everything just before they talk about the trip to Cancun or Kona they are about to take…
So if your biggest problem is being unable to express your angst freely on the American Airwaves, buy your own transmitter, play whatever you want and then you, yes you, can censor everyone else’s comments, which is, I suppose, why Mr Musk paid $44 Billion bucks for a stupid internet platform which nobody cool pays any attention to anyway!
Generalize, much?
You are right to call out what you beleive to be censorship. Thats what Americans are supposed to do. However..ahem…
Its worth remembering that KMUD is one of the VERY LAST independent radio staions in this entire nation. And as such they are free to choose what they air. Correct me if I’m wrong but I dont think they are supported by public dollars.
Its too bad more people arent aware that radio is one of our last AND most importand freedoms, and we are letting all slip away to Sinclair, iHeart (Clearchannel), etc.
The nazis want the media. All of it. And we are watching it happen, right now.
So be glad we even have KMUD.
KMUD does get hundreds of thousands from grants etc, at least last year they did. Yes, you and everyone else can love and appreciate KMUD, as I once did, this issue is really about just a few people who want to express their opinions uncensored, so for 99 % of the listeners it’s a nonissue. That said I think even Trumpers should be able to express their opinions on the air. I have a Trumper friend and he should have a show, at least once, I would have to be there to “mind” him as he often gets “the facts” wrong, like his hero Donny…Anyway, this happened last year, I’m over it, just finally getting it out of my system.
F**K THAT! KMUD SUCKS THESE DAYS! That’s a rather obvious, unfortunate fact, folks. And I say this as a person who wrote a fat check to KMUD just a few months ago for old times sake, and I’m a long-time listener whose All Sides Now messages used to run on an almost weekly basis for like 15-20 years on KMUD, until 2020 when my insistence on leaving All Sides Now messages supporting first Elizabeth Warren then later Joe Biden (and being critical of Bernie Sanders) was the impetus for being banned from All Sides Now permanently for daring to be anti-Bernie. (How dare I? Wanting to actually defeat Donald Trump? What was I thinking?… Thinking that I was 100% correct about a sure loser like Sanders is what I’m thinking now.). The guy who used to handle All Sides Now was awesome, just like KMUD used to be. He was open-minded and totally opposed to censorship. Once Michael McKaskle got his ass kicked big time in the county Board of Supervisors election, KMUD apparently handed sole control of All Sides Now to McCaskle as a consolation prize. What a mistake that was. At least the voters didn’t make the same mistake as KMUD.
Oh, my how things have changed. It used to be people like Paul would be in Mexico living off the weed he sold that year with nothing to complain about, instead we are all home broke and bitching about the community we live in.
That’s my last complaint, goddammit!
Okay, here’s another one: where I went in Mexico wasn’t on the beach, it was up on a godforsaken mountain at 9000 feet! I was cold and suffering! Boo fuggin hoo…
All Sides Now should have remained for All Sides. When someone has something important (or not) to express there ought not be any individual or committee that has the arrogance to decide whether or not it is “appropriate”. I have always believed in the rights of idiots and savants to prove themselves.
Hi there, first time caller and longtime listener, may I please request Rebel Yell by Billy Idol – thanks so much!
Have heard some hilarious moments on ASN over the years. Mostly from shut-in lefty hippies, but not all. The angry oppressed fisherman comes to mind
I have been watching this pattern for years at KMUD, with some sadness. I have concluded that in general the source of much of the discriminating at the station comes from old timers who (while remaining unnamed, for now) have been there for decades and use their positions to impose such restrictions.
I believe it is their undue influence that causes much distress for station management. People are afraid to stand up to them so, while they do some good things for the community with some aspects of their service, they do not support a fair and democratic environment…. because THEY ‘know best’.
(If your main concern is about virus/ vaccine and subsequent ‘conspiracy’ related issues Paul, that is a more complex matter).
And…. I can think of one long time volunteer who still brings his best to keep the ship upright. So it is not all the old timers are disruptive.
The ‘old timers’ hang on to their positions and control on the board, in committees, etc. And this rings true to the idea that when people aren’t being paid, what they get from their work at KMUD is their ego and power. In general from my communications with, and without direct inside knowledge, I believe the younger, newer people are more positive to get along and may more easily adhere to the foundational values of KMUD.
It is disappointing to hear that All Sides Now is being censored. Rapping? ASN is a venue for opinion, so if there is not a message in the lyrics, the caller may be better served by an open mic night. But in general, it should be open to all opinions. …..Have you asked KMUD management for their rule or the criteria in which they determine if ASN content is ‘appropriate’ or not?
Overall KMUD is offering a great service to the community. It has not lost its soul and its quirky nature, even as it has been damaged by the types of people I reference above. Good for you, Paul, in an effort to ask the questions to help keep Redwood Community Radio close to the people, open and accepting for all to participate.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
No, I haven’t asked them anything, when I did before they never answered any of my questions, not board, management or staff.
So I’m done with this, it was such an enervating experience that it took me many months to finally write this letter to the editor.
Here’s my conclusion: You can’t fight city hall.
Oh really, the boomers are still running it?
I thought it was a millennial takeover.
No, not into the vax debate, that’s boring
and predictable to me…
There are mostly millennials in the office (I believe that one last boomer staff member recently resigned – 🙂 BUT some old time boomers are pulling the strings and pushing their ‘IMPORTANT!’ opinions to sway the decision making, excluding the opinions or people they choose.
Do you have a list of other people who have been excluded? If you do, have a meeting or create a list serve to coordinate and then ask for a meeting with management, not with the Board.
I believe you want KMUD to survive and thrive, Paul. Me too. Yet it is important that they should get pushback, hopefully with kindness, to help them make good, community conscious decisions.
No, got no list, though it would be easy to round up the anti-vaxxers who felt like their voices weren’t heard, I suppose. They should be able to have their voices heard though droning on quoting something they saw on the internet doesn’t make for good radio.
And some of the boring politicos might be easy to find, I’m the only one I know who was entertaining and actually not boring, as far as I know.
(Nikki should be taken back for a show and is always up for an issue. She’s like me in a way: she pushes it to the limit but I’ve been noticing that whenever I go up against power, power always wins.)
I lobbied for six months just to be able to do a two minute uncensored All Sides Now and the response I got seemed inordinate: Banned from doing a show, banned from calling into a talk show, banned from the premises, named a member “not in good standing,” and discouraged and threatened from running for the board. (I do think I was gaslighted.)
I would accept a medal for most banned, is that one of the awards?
So no, I’m over it, just wanted to finally write my letter and raise the issue.
(So who left the station, Rob or Dennis?)
Thanks for your comment, you have reasonable ideas.
Maybe I’ll try ASN again some time, see if it’s still an afterthought,
you know what they say about the news hour: Critter Corner Rules, All Sides Now Drools…
Keep it up Paul!
Paul. You are an important long time contributor to local media. There MUST be a place for you at KMUD! Maybe they don’t ‘get’ your quirky way of communicating.
People should NOT be limited, nor certainly not banned, from KMUD unless they are a threat or possibly if they repeatedly violate KMUD rules. There is though a program selection process that might exclude people. And yes, it can be political.
KMUD’s mission is in part to provide access to all of the community. They say and present themselves that way often. And sure, organizations can get off track at times (this exclusion issue has gone on for well over a decade, so the pattern is getting a bit entrenched!), so people like you are needed to, hold up a mirror and their feet to the fire.
One viable option is to find a show where the host will give you a regular commentary time (different from a venue where anyone can call in). Yeah, call it ‘Paul Sides Now’ as one commentator suggested. lol. Then the forces of the station cannot interfere as long as you don’t violate the rules.
As for Nikki, she has recently done some good work, yet is challenging in many ways. The person who I understand has left his position recently, but not the station, and whatever influence he may impose, is Simon. He does a good radio show though.
PLEASE keep raising your voice! Not for negative, but for the positive effect of keeping our beloved station on track as a beacon of freedom of speech to all!
Hey, I just want to do an ASNow whenever I feel like it, like anyone else, by the rules, once a week if I want ( though I probably wouldn’t do it often) played in a timely manner, ideally same day, not have it reviewed for appropriateness, and if it’s rejected be informed promptly of that and told why. In other words back to square one and the “run around,” be re-accused of being pushy just because I wanted to do an ASN by the rules. (That all said I have no plans or issue to proclaim, I just wrote this letter to finally tell about what I had found out about the station)
Dude, the little petty power brokers don’t want me, they want to say no, not yes, it’s all about something which I don’t understand, some peer group pressure within the station, everyone behaving so one or more “important” people get their approval, I don’t know, and thinking about this stresses me out because if I even tried anything I’d be back to this battle just to do my two minutes on ASN, and I don’t want to do that fight for free speech again because it was very draining, in case you don’t know the word enervating.
I don’t want to organize people, find a show at some weird hour, I want prime time, as I am, like you said, a long time media person, which I see as the ASNow slot, or create another little segment during the news hour if I get inspired.
That’s why I even tried ASN in the first place, just to try radio and see if I liked it, my goal was to do an ASN once a week for a month and see how that felt, but they kept not playing it so I couldn’t do that test.
(Later I got a two minute gig on Thank Jah and that was pretty cool, Owl was nice to invite me, but then after a few months I got greedy and decided I wanted FOUR minutes a week and tried to start back up with ASN, the board chased me out of trying to run in the election, I criticizing their censorship a few times on Jah, and then they got rid of me.)
(I had always pondered ASN as a way to break into radio, should i choose to, and after I submitted the weed ballot measure, Estelle called me from the Supes, John Ford knew where I lived, Ed Denson said I was his hero, and Nikki said I was amazing, ha, she was probably wrong but nice to say it, a nice woman if i ever reallly get to know her, and I decided I didn’t have to hide anymore so I’d try radio.)
I think the people at the station are probably stressed out, busy, serious, defensive, and the payoff, besides their salary and visibility, is wielding their minor power for this tiny radio station; I’m not serious, I just want to keep things light and entertain, hopefully zany if not funny…
Anyway I’m politically incorrect, I think for myself, not what “my tribe” tells me to think, so take me as I am or not at all.
In other words, not at all.
Fun saying hi, I guess, do I know you?
Power lies not in the authority and ability to say, “no”…
True power exists in the authority and ability to say, “yes”…
Some people just haven’t figured it out yet…
Hey PM. Belated response. You know. The ‘holidays’ and all.
I think the station needs to publish the ASN rules of conduct. The point (and the pride of that segment) was intended to present ‘ALL sides now’. A few years ago they started saying, ‘ASN is for opinions and not to promote local events’, since people would often speak to highlight upcoming a local VFD BBQ or whatever. So, you may need to begin your commentary with “Hi. I’m Paul. And I believe that…..”.
I’ll model that now! 😉 – ‘I believe that….’ you are right about the staff are are “probably stressed out, busy, serious, defensive…”. They are good people trying to do a tough job (and dancing with the elder control freaks).
You sound pretty certain your commentary should be on ASN and/or otherwise in primetime. Another suggestion would to try to get few minutes, weekly, on Monday Morning Magazine. Or maybe ED or George M. will give you 2 on their show….. Dude!
If you are serious about your questions as to the ‘why?!!’, and are willing to invest energy on how to correct the ways the station may be misguided, I am willing to brainstorm with you more about this…. off line, as they say.
Does your town phone still end with 20?
Oh, and, yeah. You know me. Lol.
I looked at the KMUD website. No reference to ASN, which means they may not want to promote it. There isn’t even a ‘search’ tool/option (that I could find).
Best info I could find is below (link at bottom) when I did a quick search online about ASN rules. It’s not directly about ASN, but broader rules….. which, as written, have higher aspirations than some of the ways they are applied…..
Vision: Redwood Community Radio envisions a community of listeners who, guided by the example of RCR programming, work together to create better, more just and sustainable world systems to ensure that all humans and other living species on earth move toward a higher quality of life and are able to survive challenges in the time ahead.
Mission Statement: Redwood Community Radio will encourage a communication center of open airways (KMUD) for all voices to inform, educate, entertain and inspire the listening community through quality programming.
https://kmud.org/board-meeting-3-10/
Is this person just waking up?
Kmud is super lame, the content on there is an echo chamber of a few individuals who think they speak for the community but in reality they are a disassociated group of nepotists. I stopped listening to all things Kmud many years ago.
KMUD is obviously hard up for money as witness the loud and obnoxious ad for the Harvest Ball before the evening news.
So if their money gets them airtime I suggest Paul sponser his own show He can call it “Paul sides now”.
Good one. The KMUD advisory group will take it under consideration. 😉
I have lots of ideas, lots of content, but…
Actually, maybe I’ll listen again, doing this letter
to the editor might have gotten me past my gripe stage?
Join the CAB!
Paul, I can sum up the new suck-ass KMUD in two words: JASON ROBO.
I’m pretty sure it’s just one girl now who monitors all sides now, and def in the woke crowd
That was 2020, get your facts right, or
your brain chip adjusted
Don’t brag about sexually harassing women. The lack of self accountability in this community is next level.
IMHO (maybe not so humble) about the discussion in the comments – we all missed the point that “censorship” needs definition, nor can I see how any of this meets a common definition of censorship. Opinions are valid and everyone has a right to have them and state them, which does not imply a right to have someone else publish them.
More practically – time and space on the radio or in any publishing medium – is a scarce resource, there is always more content than space or time (even on a “slow news day”). Selection of content is editorial control – it doesn’t make it censorship. No, I’m not going to go track down an appropriate definition and engage in that debate… my opinion is the issue here should be self evident.
Note how many opinions were posted here and not aired at KMUD – so the opinion was posted in public – just not in where some of the posters wanted… Also of note – very nice to see nearly all the commentary content was respectful, with great perspective.
Last – if someone wants change, particularly in a volunteer or community service organization, change and influence comes from those with the passion to put in the time and effort needed to service an organizations mission and objectives. Want something to change – do the work.
There’s HOURS of music, HOURS of everything else on the air, you’re implying that there’s not enough time, on a listener-sponsored community radio station, for five “All Sides Now” a week, one a day, for ten minutes total? I disagree. All the rest of your points are good…
Well, that was the point at the end. If you want the programming to be different, to allow and enable greater participation and inclusion of mover perspectives – do the work to have it changed. Someone had to make the editorial choice about the programming – even the music competes with people’s opinions… ergo, it is a constrained resource.
Paul, you asked for a show (or at least a one-time, one-hour appearance) and they wouldn’t even let you sit in on a friend’s show as a tryout? What could they have possibly come up with as the lame B.S. excuse for refusing your request? Yes, it’s true – KMUD really does suck these days! What a shame. And I used to sincerely enjoy listening to KMUD… But any media programming usually gets old and boring after awhile (a few years is plenty) and should be replaced relatively regularly – even the overpaid idiots running the television networks in America understand that much!
Speaking of commercial media networks recognizing change is good not only for ratings but for programming quality, I’m going to go ahead and disclose some personal information now just because it’s truly hilarious (not to mention the personal vindication part of it). In the 15-20 years that I was a regular unpaid contributor to KMUD programming by being on All Sides Now nearly every week, not to mention being a regular caller to multiple call-in programs on KMUD, not once did they ever ask me to go on the air as a news subject (I can’t say why that would have been appropriate, since it’s a dead giveaway as to who I am), a news talk radio host or guest, or ANYTHING for that matter. After many years, I honestly felt disrespected by station management, when I kept hearing one new show after another THAT SUCKED popping up on the KMUD airwaves. Again, I’ll sum this sad psychotic situation at the station up in two words: JASON ROBO. ‘Nuff said. KMUD is dumb.
I even personally ran a pirate radio station out of Eureka with several other DJ’s that rocked on two separate, non-consecutive year-long occasions during those same All Sides Now years and did a mighty fine music/political talk radio show on a regular basis on Eureka Pirate Radio, I might add, without disguising my voice which had become quite recognizable locally due to my many years of serving the local public, participation on the KMUD airwaves, the KHSU airwaves, the KGOE airwaves, the KGO airwaves, etc. But still no love (or even a modicum of respect) from ANYONE in the so-called “KMUD Community” was to be had. I’m not a member of their self-important, self-righteous clique, and neither are you, Paul. That’s the real problem those hillbillies/hillhippies have that they’ll clearly never be able to get past, that they’re afraid someone might have more knowledge and wisdom on a subject than they do and will expose their ignorance live on the air in the process of speaking freely. Therefore, cultish craven cowards find censorship to be simple and easy and preferable to being shown up or having their childish preconceptions blown up by a better radio talent than themselves.
But as it turns out, there’s truly a silver lining in the KMUD cloud, and – no – there are no chemtrails involved. After personally being banned (unofficially by Michael McCaskle as far as I’m aware) from All Sides Now for criticizing Bernie Sanders’ 2nd doomed, quixotic campaign for the presidency in 2020, I took a break from calling into talk radio shows almost entirely until recently. And in the interregnum, I’ve focused almost exclusively on writing about political topics and getting those various writings published in well-known newspapers, etc. which has been wildly (and widely) successful. Now I’m back focused on personally participating in call-in political talk radio, but this time not locally – instead in another region of the country that is much more competitive electorally speaking where my personal communications contribution might actually have a real world effect, unlike in the unreal world of Humboldt County where the goofball Green Party actually still exists (barely) for some reason.
And now as a result of taking a different path (and “the road less traveled”, perhaps), I’m in preliminary discussions for a potential regular political talk radio show of my own with a COMMERCIAL radio network! Did you hear that “commercial radio network” part of the paragraph? I’m not talking about having a little show on some hippy dippy community station or pedantic public radio station no one listens to! I’m talking now about the personal possibility of actually being able to speak to a widespread, relatively large regional listening audience about whatever I feel like talking about on a regular basis WITHOUT CENSORSHIP (except for George Carlin’s 7 words).
P.S. – I’d tell you more, but I really should keep my mouth shut about this thing for now since things are in the early stages, and since discussion of it is supposed to be on the down low. So, until next time…. Plus, mentioning earlier in this thread that I was a regular contributor to All Sides Now for 15-20 years might have already tipped off some to my real name, so I’ll go back to keeping quiet for a little while.
BUD LIGHT ALERT!!!! LETS ALL CANCEL KMUD FOR GOING WOKE AND PUSHING CHILD MUTILATIONS AND SEXUAL DEVIANCY THRU ITS PRIDE EVENTS AND BRINGING GENDER CONFUSION TO SOUTHERN HUMBOLDT!!!! PROMOTING HOMOSEXUALITY AND RACISM ISN’T ENOUGH F0R THEM, NOW THEY SUPPORT MUTILATING CHILDREN.