# My radio station is doing this really creepy thing **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 14, 2002, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869 "2002-08-14T17:12:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2002, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/1 "2002-08-14T17:12:16Z")
I listen to a talk radio station in Orlando (Neal Boortz, Clark Howard, etc.) They’ve started doing a “Countdown to Sept. 11” in which every day they say something like: “It was exactly one year ago today that the Sept 11 hijackers met in Las Vegas to map out their final plans.” “It was exactly one year ago today that the Sept 11 hijackers withdrew money from their various accounts to buy plane tickets.” etc. etc I know the anniversary of Sept 11 is going to be a big deal…but I found this Countdown thing very macabre. It’s not like we’re counting down the days to New Years Day or something. Does anyone else find this a little disturbing? ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2002, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/2 "2002-08-14T17:16:17Z")
That sounds kind of freaky to me. I know people will deal with the day in different ways - some more public than others - but this seems more like an attempt to show they “care” and recognize the importance of the events that led up to the day last year. Doesn’t seem altruistic, just seems opportunistic. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/3 "2002-08-14T18:47:52Z")
Agreed. Creepy. And I thought my radio station was wack. * * * Dammit! I have somehow become drunken without my knowledge or involvement! ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2002, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/4 "2002-08-14T18:54:39Z")
That’s in pretty poor taste. Most DJs (morning guys especially) think they’re so fucking funny but in reality they just plane suck. I’d bitch to management, but I wouldn’t expect anything to change. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2002, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/5 "2002-08-14T18:58:26Z")
Call them up one hour after such an announcment and say, It was one hour ago today that I stopped listening to your station. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2002, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/6 "2002-08-14T20:02:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bernse \* > **Most DJs (morning guys especially) think they’re so fucking funny but in reality they just _plane_ suck.** Not that this is a laughing matter, but that’s the most appropriate typo ever. ---
**Author:** ![Myrnalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@Myrnalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrnalene)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2002, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/7 "2002-08-14T22:50:49Z")
I find that completely fucked up. And stupid. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/8 "2002-08-15T01:19:02Z")
And I thought Celine Dion on-the-hour-every-hour was bad…maybe the only station I get at work is pretty decent compared to that! ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/9 "2002-08-15T01:51:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*Not that this is a laughing matter, but that’s the most appropriate typo ever. \*\* :smack: Gaah! ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/10 "2002-08-15T02:28:11Z")
Rises to the level of almost-but-not-quite vile. Just a skosh away from true vileness however. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/11 "2002-08-15T03:21:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WSLer \* > \*\*Rises to the level of almost-but-not-quite vile. > > Just a skosh away from true vileness however. \*\* I disagree. I think it achieves vile. Do not waste time calling the station; listen for one hour, make a list of all sponsers, and inform them that you are going to boycott their products for one year. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Bad\_Astronomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@The\_Bad\_Astronomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bad_Astronomer)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/12 "2002-08-15T05:12:10Z")
If they are doing it as a joke, then yes, it’s in extraordinarily poor taste. However, think of it as if it is serious. What if this were done to remind us of the chain of events as they happened, in real time? I think this puts into perspective how we (that is, everyday citizens of the US) were totally naive to what was going on around us. While we were feeding our cats, complaining about our shampoo, wishing our lawn looked as nice as the neighbor’s… dozens of men were plotting to kill us. It’s chilling, and a good reminder that the world is a dangerous place, and it’s time we knew about it. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/13 "2002-08-15T12:39:30Z")
No, they’re not doing it as a joke. They’re a talk radio station and I think they’re doing it like **Bad Astronomer** said, as a documentation of the chain of events. I just thought it was a little macabre. The BC/AD of Sept 11 reminds me of a cartoon I say last year. A little girl was sitting on Santa’s lap, and he asked her what she wanted for Christmas. “September 10” she said wistfully. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/14 "2002-08-15T12:54:22Z")
If this had been done by any other station, I’d have said that they’re working up to something. They’re teasing you into tuning in tomorrow to see what the next thing is going to be. But on a talk-only format? I have no idea. Unless they’re trying to illustrate that these hijackers carried out their plans without some much as a raised eyebrow from an unsuspecting public. Now that we’re “on alert”, if these same actions were to take place again as a buildup to a terrorist act, someone should be taking note of it. Right? \ ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/15 "2002-08-15T13:11:28Z")
I agree with the stargazer above. It is kind of creepy, but does not rise to the level of vile or offensive to me. It is a good way to show the timeline leading up to Sept. 11, and the planning and legwork that went into it. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/16 "2002-08-15T13:21:32Z")
If they were planning some kind of commerical-free tribute, that’s one thing. But this makes my skin crawl. I agree with **j66**. If it bothers you, let their advertisers know that you (and hopefully others) will boycott their products for sponsoring this crap. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/17 "2002-08-15T13:41:53Z")
It doesn’t bother me that much. It’s not like they devote an entire hour to it…I just thought calling it Countdown to Sept 11 was a little odd…akin to “Only 54 shopping days left until Christmas!” ---
**Author:** ![OESGal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecae2f/32.png) [@OESGal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OESGal)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/18 "2002-08-15T16:15:51Z")
I think that if the people on the radio are taking it seriously, as seems to be the case here, then it is a good reminder of what a long time was spent preparing for the attacks and how oblivious our government was to the threat. I hope this awareness doesn’t wear off, we shouldn’t go back to feeling like no one can hurt us because we are the big bad super power, that kind of thinking is what gets people killed. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/19 "2002-08-15T16:35:14Z")
Yeah, it’s disturbing. It’s probably meant to be, actually. A lot of talk-radio guys like to remind us about “they” who are out there to get us–the government, usually. So, now they have a “they” who they know specific details about–one year later, but that’s not so important. If “they” (the terrorists) could plot and carry out these plans last year, then who knows what sort of “they” is plotting against us _right now_? Be paranoid. Be very paranoid. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869/20 "2002-08-15T17:33:22Z")
Did you know there’s 126 shopping days until Christmas? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-radio-station-is-doing-this-really-creepy-thing/123869.md?page=2)