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XM suspends Opie and Anthony

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OCBucksFan;843531; said:
Hrm... well, I have mixed thoughts on this subject. To be honest, I feel Freedom Of Speech should be just that, freedom to say what you want. If you make yourself look ignorant then that's your problem and the public will judge you on it. Now, should there be a line? That's where the issue gets tricky, saying you want to violently rape someone could scare someone, and will if nothing else, most likely offend that person.

However, when does this become an issue where when you say "I'd hit it" is suddenly offensive and dangerous? Rape isn't funny, I know that, there's nothing funny about it, however, does this mean that someone should be fired for what they said?
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I agree about freedom of speech. It is a very hard topic to determine where the line should be. I don't believe they are getting their walking papers for what they said, specifically. I think it is due to the backlash that XM is getting. These guys aren't looking at jail time, but as with any business, you are responsible for your actions. They had the freedom to do and say what the wanted, if they were on their own radio station I doubt anything would happen to them, but since they work for XM, it's within their rights to decide what is best for their company. When they lose advertisers and the merger is hanging in the balance to where something like this that is directed towards the fed govt, could tip the scales against the merger, they are going to do what is best for business.
 
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Freedom of speech is a right given to you by the United States Bill of Rights. (Actually, if I remember correctly, it is a right you were born with, and the Bill of Rights simply states that the government cannot take that away from you.) The federal government cannot punish you for speaking your opinion. (Note: not all speech is covered by this, as is shown in the example of walking into a crowded theater and shouting "FIRE!!!")

The radio channel, however, CAN punish you. They're selling a product, and if you alter their product in a way that they don't like, they can fire you. It would be like a chef at a restaurant changing the recipe he's supposed to follow.

In other words, the radio station is covered by "free speech." The employees are not. If they don't like it, they can go start their own radio station.
 
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Big Papa;843541; said:
I agree about freedom of speech. It is a very hard topic to determine where the line should be. I don't believe they are getting their walking papers for what they said, specifically. I think it is due to the backlash that XM is getting. These guys aren't looking at jail time, but as with any business, you are responsible for your actions. They had the freedom to do and say what the wanted, if they were on their own radio station I doubt anything would happen to them, but since they work for XM, it's within their rights to decide what is best for their company. When they lose advertisers and the merger is hanging in the balance to where something like this that is directed towards the fed govt, could tip the scales against the merger, they are going to do what is best for business.
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Good point, I can see that side, it just sets an example that really hinders true freedom of speech. How would the reaction be if this was said about Paris Hilton or Britney Spears? Would those two have the same effect?

I agree this is a business, no one is going to jail or being punished legally, however, all of the people mention were political figures. I can understand XM's standpoint, basically you pick and choose your battles and this one isn't a fight they want, but XM/Sirius are subscription services, I would hope this came from listener complaints rather than letters from lawyers with threats of legal action.
 
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XM facing subscriber, sponsor backlash over Opie & Anthony suspension

It looks like XM's suspension of Opie & Anthony earlier this week is causing a few more headaches than the company may have anticipated, with customers apparently canceling their subscriptions in droves and a number of sponsors now reportedly pulling their advertising. While it's not clear exactly how many customers have jumped ship, anecdotal evidence suggests that hundreds if not thousands of subscriptions have already been canceled. Orbitcast is also reporting that those trying to cancel their service are facing up to a 1.5 hour wait while they're on hold (a few have also taken the extra step of actually smashing their XM radios). The sponsors pulling out seem to be equally displeased with the move, with one of them, The Nashville Coffee Company, saying that XM "is beholden to crybaby special interest groups who cannot separate humor from reality." Of course, all of this is also happening in the midst of a little merger, although it's not clear what impact, if any, it may have on that.
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Interesting. Maybe XM should have chose to fight that fight, but we'll see what happens in the end.
 
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OCBucksFan;843569; said:
XM facing subscriber, sponsor backlash over Opie & Anthony suspension

Interesting. Maybe XM should have chose to fight that fight, but we'll see what happens in the end.
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I doubt they really lose that many subscribers over this. I think the use of the word DROVES is a little overstated. I bet in the end they will have lost more subscribers for losing NASCAR to Sirius then suspending/firing O&A.
 
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Has anyone seen the big "call to action" groups of the "PESTS" and other O&A supporters. There were supposed to be a huge coming together of their fans to protest against the actions against O&A. I saw some videos of their gatherings on YOUTUBE, and there looked to be about 2 dozen losers holding up signs and looking like jackasses. Too funny. Maybe O&A over estimated their popularity and their worth.
 
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