In November of 2008 I discovered BlogTalkRadio. There was a man on there saying he had snorted cocaine and performed fellatio on Obama. Naturally I had to go listen!
At the time I thought BlogTalkRadio would be a good platform for getting the word out regarding LGBTQIA news, events and discrimination. Little did I realize, discrimination against our community was and still is rampant on BlogTalkRadio. Primarily from the management of BlogTalkRadio, not the listeners.
I also didn’t realize the BlogTalkRadio has constant technical problems and issues.
Over a period of time I have learned that BlogTalkRadio operates under a double standard. One set of rules for the “good ole boys” and another for everyone else.
I remember the time a show titled “Gay Life Coach” was featured on BlogTalkRadio. I was shocked but when I listened to the featured show I was more shocked to find out they dropped the word Gay and referred to the show as “Life Coach”. The Gay part was never mentioned on the feature show.
The person who had that show eventually changed the name of their show. They sold out and in my mind, sold out our community. Since he is a member of our community, he should be very ashamed of himself!
I refuse to insult my LGBTQIA brothers and sisters by changing the name of the show in order to obtain fair treatment. I’ll shut down the show before I end up changing the name to appease others.
There was another issue on the BlogTalkRadio platform where a transwoman was literally embarrassed and insulted by a well known/long time host (Dr. Blogstien) on BlogTalkRadio. Dr. Blogstien’s friendship with the CEO of BlogTalkRadio was also brought up at that time. Needless to say, the transwoman was fighting a losing battle.
Also of interest in that story. The transwoman and her friends had a show on BlogTalkRadio for several months prior to the incident. However, she and her friends never felt a need to come say hello to the other LGBTQIA related shows. However, when she got into the hassle with Dr. Blogstien, all of a sudden, she wanted to be friends with us all. Of course, she also wanted us all to rally in her support! Most of us did rally in her support. But in the end, we didn’t care much for her tactics.
I then heard a story about a show who requested to be featured but was denied because they had the words GAY and SEX as keywords in their show. They were informed to remove those two words in order to be featured.
I left BlogTalkRadio in hopes of finding “greener pastures”.
I found NowLive and started shows over there. Their service was different and seemed to have lots of “unfinished features”. However they shortly went “pay only” without even so much as an email notice. Due to their rudeness I didn’t even consider becoming a pay member.
I then moved the show to TalkShoe. TalkShoe had constant chat room problems and more than it’s fair share of bashers. But suddenly I started to experience problems with no audio. Some of my listeners suspect the TalkShoe management/personnel were sabotaging the show.
In the meantime BlogTalkRadio started to offer premium memberships. I might add, the memberhip was cheaper than NowLive.
Some of my listeners had been asking me to return to BlogTalkRadio and I thought, in my ignorance, that since they were going pay they would offer paying members equal treatment.
So I returned to BlogTalkRadio and the first thing I did was email them asking a couple questions about their new pay service.
One of the features they offered with the pay service was “widget impressions” of your show on the BlogTalkRadio site.
According to the documentation on the BlogTalkRadio site when you signed up for the $40 a month membership you received 2500 “widget impressions” on their site. No restrictions or limitations are mentioned. But I knew better.
I asked them in my message, since my show is called GayTalkRadio (and I know your company has had issues with that word), would I receive the 2500 “widget impressions”.
As expected I received a response stating I would not receive the 2500 “widget impressions” because BlogTalkRadio wants to stay “kid safe” and “work safe”.
Of course I immediately went to Dr. Blogstein’s show which has widget impressions on BlogTalkRadio and the first thing I heard him talking about was David Carradine’s erotic asphyxiation!
Once again, the double standard rears its head on BlogTalkRadio.
The “good ole boy” Dr. Blogstein can talk about erotic asphyxiation and that’s considered “kid safe” and “work safe” but if I talk about DADT, Gay Pride, PROP 8 and a multitude of other LGBTQIA related issues that isn’t “kid safe”.
It’s obvious the folks that run BlogTalkRadio are bigots!
And that’s the bottom line!
Once again I am in search of a platform that treats all hosts fairly, without bias, has few technical issues and doesn’t cost me much.
For now, the show is in limbo.
All the best to you and yours.
-tom
www.GayTalkRadio.org
Firstly, I thank you for tuning into the Radio Happy Hour. In fact, I hope you were around for the last 20 minutes of the show where we interviewed my long time friend Frank Anthony Polito author of Band Fags and the newly released Drama Queers. (please take a look at those books on Amazon before you yell at me for using slurs)
ReplyDeleteSecondly, the scenario with the Tran-show was an overblown incident that they manipulated to try and get publicity for their program. I'm sorry you got roped into fighting their pretend battles.
And thirdly, I agree with you 100% that the word "Gay" in a show title should not preclude you from having your show featured, highlighted or widgetized. I'd like to invite you onto my show so you can get your complaints on the record.
Personally, I don't for a second think that BlogTalkRadio is bigoted. I've always known BTR to be reasonable, professional and fair and hope that having you on the Radio Happy Hour will help get your show all the benefits that you're entitled to, if in fact the only reason that those benefits are being kept from you is simply the word "Gay."
Dr. Blogstein;
ReplyDeleteI am simply looking at this situation from the outside. I realize you have been on BTR practically since day one. I’ve only been around since Nov. 2008.
For additional clarity let me post my recent email discussion with BTR:
Hi,
I have a couple questions in regards to the Premium Plan.
You mention 2500 impressions of the Promotional Widget on your site. Since BTR has previously had issues with shows which contain the word GAY in them and the title of my show is GayTalkRadio I must ask, would my show be provided the 2500 widget impressions?
My second question is regarding copyright ownership. As I remember the TOS mentions BTR retains copyright on all content. Is this also true for paying memberships?
Hi Tom,
Thanks so much for writing. The promotional widgets are a great tool to get your show out there. Depending on the content of the show, the widget takes into consideration your genre for promotional efforts. At this time because we aim to keep the site kid and work safe, we only promote shows that are classified as “Everyone” in the maturity rating.
Thanks so much!
Shannon Dingee-Kramer
Assistant Director of Customer Relations
Dr. Blogstein, when I heard your recent show I thought to myself how can BTR consider my show not “kid and work safe” yet your show is “kid and work safe”?
Also Dr. Blogstein, is your show rated “EVERYONE” in the maturity rating? Because if it isn’t then BTR just told me a bold face lie!
It definitely sounds like a double standard. I have had a few shows that were definitely mature in nature, but the majority of them are simply LGBTQIA News.
I have heard excuses my entire life for oppression. They are all rooted in bigotry.
I thank you for the invitation to be on your show but I really doubt it would change anything.
I also apologize if it sounded as if I was attacking you in my post. I am simply using your show as an example. After all, to me it looks like you are getting preferential treatment!
I didn't think you were attacking us, in fact, I'm pleased that you used us as an example. I'm an egomaniac when it comes to my show :)
ReplyDeleteI really don't know if I get preferential because I'm unaware of how anyone else gets treated. But I will say that if I do get preferential treatment that I deserve it for the number of listeners I bring in and the length of time that I've been bringing in those listeners. After all, BTR is still a business.
While I don't speak for BTR and am loathe to try to read their minds, if it were me running this business, the only problem I would have with the show title "Gay Talk Radio" is that to the outside world and potential sponsors it could sound like a sex show where as "Gay Issues Radio" or something like that sounds safer.
I rate my show "Mature" but again, its a very popular show and has celebrity guests so it does help draw more people to their site, which is their goal. So if an exception is made on a case by case basis, you can't really blame them. You can, however, blame them for poor communication.
But again, I don't think that they're bigots, they're business people. In otherwords, even if your show was called "Gay Talk Radio" and interviewed Neil Patrick Harris, Barney Frank, Elton John, etc., you'd be featured too.
PS, let me know if I need to reply on both sites?
I have to say Tom, I agree with you in this situation, I can see the preferential treatment of some host, take the example of blowstein, just because another hosts gave him so much hell for a having a guest on his show, BTR was so gracious enough to give him a premium account for free because they did not want this person to leave btr or whatever they feel fit? wow is that a double standard or what? why does he get a free premium account just because someone chose to fight against his crap that he spews to everyone else at BTR and people think he the greatest comedian on the planet, I have to say I have been to his show, and listened and I still have not found anything funny or anything close to being the best comedy show at BTR, heck even pinkie is funnier than this guy, all he is looking for publicity and in it for the money, whatever he tells you here? he's in it for the publicity and will make fun of you over. my two cents. I hope you find a platform Tom and if you need anything let me know
ReplyDeleteSportsGeeks
always and forever your friend
Frank
Frank, AKA SportsGeek: Please know that the only reason I'm not going to respond to your poorly written and less than knowledgeable account above point for point is because this is not the venue to do so--I don't want to hijack Tom's post with the kind of childish arguments you like to lure me into.
ReplyDeleteFor someone who claims to hate me so much, you spend a ridiculous amount of time thinking about me, writing about me, talking about me and coming up with clever nicknames for me.
Please do me a favor and ignore me. Perhaps you should spend more time with your hilarious "pinkie" because if its half as funny as you say it is, its only a matter of time before it gets its own sitcom and has to move out to California.
Tom: I apologize that I had to take up even this much of your bandwidth to deal with this.
Tom,
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why in any way the word "Gay" would be offensive to anyone. I think society has a warped sense of what the word Gay and being Gay is chalk it up to ignorance. There is in my mind no reasoning and or good explanation for refusing to feature or place widgets on the site..... In this day and age that seems ridiculously discriminatory.
My kids have listened to your show many times and I have yet to feel uncomfortable with the subject matter on your show. As far as them seeing the word "Gay", I can't see how this would affect them in a negative way, if anything it promotes tolerance and help for them to remain open minded.
Tom, I support you, and feel that if BTR were to take a monthly payment from you and not allow you the same respect and benefits other shows receive would be unfair not to mention poor business practice.
It seems that at the end of the day business is business....
BTW,I feel far more offended by other shows for example, Jihadykillerhour? WTF? WHY WHY WHY?
Thank you for calling me Hilarious, I should start a sitcom.
Collie AKA Pinklatex, not Party, maybe Stalin?
I love you Tom, and I think "gay" is a beautiful word that describes so many awesome people on this earth. What I do not find beautiful is discriminatory practices in any capacity, disgusting, keep on keeping on, you know, being our super kickass Tommy and all, you have a great show and the earth is filled with yuckiness, keep being our sunshine!!! And I apologize for the rest of the world being so ugly and mean.
ReplyDeleteRusty, can you please stop calling me ugly... you are so mean....
ReplyDelete;) sitcom