New Stern Show Network site
feeds Howard dialogue, blogroll

The Howard Stern Show’s rallying cry on uncensored Sirius Satellite Radio is “No more bullshit.”

Meanwhile, the fledgling Stern Show Network declares “No more censorship.” Yet the claim is made not in defiance of FCC censorship or meddling terrestrial radio executives, but in challenge to a rival bulletin board’s perceived suppression of critical debate concerning their mutual hero.

Is free speech really worth all of this trouble?

Dueling fan sites

TSSN founder Mike (aka That Computer Dude) touts the new board as “a site for the fans, by the fans.” He preaches tolerance for divergent points of view while providing capacity for 2,000 simultaneous visitors. (Some 641 people had signed up as of late March 7.)

In contrast, Stern Fan Network lists more than 122,000 members — as well as a reputation for stifling those who dare to criticize the Stern show.

With both a title and mission statement uncomfortably similar to SFN’s (italics added) “For fans, by fans: We pick up where the show leaves off,” Mike might reconsider just how he’ll differentiate his site from the competition.

However, he writes, “this site is about the Stern Show Network and will include other sites as we grow. SFN is a forum. TSSN is going to be a network of sites. That’s why we took this name.”

Look who’s talking

So, what’s all the fighting about?

The unofficial bulletin boards and discussion groups (see alt.fan.howard-stern) that have risen up around the Stern show tend to devolve into reactionary communities focusing their vitriol on Democrats, each other and Howard Stern himself.

For a rationale, consider the ambivalent program host who serves as their inspiration. Stern concurrently favors gay marriage and flattening the entire Middle East with nuclear weapons.

But he’s a fearless comedian, invoking racial and sexual stereotypes to skewer hypocrisy and race hatred, aware that his irony is lost on a certain, massive segment of society. And he manages to work in a few fractured Yiddish phrases as well.

That’s why I listen to Howard Stern. But you might have something to add to the discussion. If so, post a comment here — or at the Stern show bulletin board of your choice.

Posted in: Radio at 1:10 am Thu, Mar 8, 2007.

3 comments

1. 

   Luther says:
   

   2:01 pm Thu, Mar 8, 2007

   Cheers to Mike! It’s about time my brutha!

   Reply
2. 

   Ken Turetzky says:
   

   3:07 pm Sat, Mar 10, 2007

   Doc at Howardshrine re-posts this entry here:

   Saturday, March 10, 2007
   

   Reply
3. 

   rob enderle says:
   

   10:48 pm Wed, Mar 12, 2008

   I listened to Stern on Sirius since he got on but stopped following the decision of the Stern Fan Network to stop the sharing of interviews and clips.

   For those immersed in the Stern universe, these excerpts from the mammoth 5 hrs daily show were great for people who couldnt listen to all day and missed a particular segment.

   There is always the possibility of torrenting the whole episode but then you would have to find the cue among the 300mins of audio.

   You lose bits and pieces here and there and finally I stopped going. Sometimes when I hear that a guest will go on, Ill turn it on but its rare.

   Apart from hardcore Stern fans, those audio clips had little value yet the idea that something free was out there was too much for the Stern who has proven to be adept at technology yet totally out of touch with the internet, viral marketing and such.

   You make it hard for paying customers to get waht they want, when they want and you lead them to torrent sites and privates DC++ and IRC channels where episodes are available.

   Stern is just like the radio/TV/movie industry, stuck in the ways of the previous business model.

   Reply