Comments on: diane rehm http://dan.hersam.com/2004/09/09/diane-rehm/ A computer programmer's commentary on news, Linux, programming, music, web design, trivia, humor, usability and whatever else strikes his fancy at the time. Tue, 22 May 2012 06:10:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Deborah http://dan.hersam.com/2004/09/09/diane-rehm/comment-page-1/#comment-149298 Deborah Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:18:20 +0000 /?p=1016#comment-149298 Sheesh. Diane Rehm is a great interviewer, and yes her voice is unusual, but really these people who "can't stand" her voice are a little over the top. And she doesn't speak THAT slowly for heaven's sake. And yes I agree with the person who is dsiabled who questions the comments that seem to want her to get off the air. How intolerant can you get? Leave Diane the heck alone and go listen to someone else if you don't like her. Sheesh. Diane Rehm is a great interviewer, and yes her voice is unusual, but really these people who “can’t stand” her voice are a little over the top. And she doesn’t speak THAT slowly for heaven’s sake. And yes I agree with the person who is dsiabled who questions the comments that seem to want her to get off the air. How intolerant can you get? Leave Diane the heck alone and go listen to someone else if you don’t like her.

]]> By: nealnbob http://dan.hersam.com/2004/09/09/diane-rehm/comment-page-1/#comment-148878 nealnbob Thu, 26 May 2011 19:04:50 +0000 /?p=1016#comment-148878 i don't think she is that interesting. i think she has the job due to sympathy and the need to be inclusive of others not her skill. why not let blind people direct traffic while we are at it. come on people. i'm liberal but not ridiculous. i don’t think she is that interesting. i think she has the job due to sympathy and the need to be inclusive of others not her skill. why not let blind people direct traffic while we are at it. come on people. i’m liberal but not ridiculous.

]]> By: Orlando http://dan.hersam.com/2004/09/09/diane-rehm/comment-page-1/#comment-148862 Orlando Tue, 24 May 2011 16:36:55 +0000 /?p=1016#comment-148862 it's very hard to listen to her, I turn her off immediately. It's sad she has a disability,but I just can't listen to her it’s very hard to listen to her, I turn her off immediately. It’s sad she has a disability,but I just can’t listen to her

]]> By: Matt http://dan.hersam.com/2004/09/09/diane-rehm/comment-page-1/#comment-148831 Matt Thu, 19 May 2011 23:47:52 +0000 /?p=1016#comment-148831 Like many of these commenters, I just don't get it. I come across her on Sirius all day long when I tune into NPR to see what is being played. 99% of the time I tune to another channel when she is on. She gets a lot of air time on Sirius. There must be other talent in radio that can do what she does. I could see giving her a small amount of air time but on Sirius it is all day long. Her voice is highly distracting. I don't see why her disability should be overlooked. I feel for her, but there are just some job requirements that trump the desire to be inclusive. Like many of these commenters, I just don’t get it. I come across her on Sirius all day long when I tune into NPR to see what is being played. 99% of the time I tune to another channel when she is on. She gets a lot of air time on Sirius. There must be other talent in radio that can do what she does. I could see giving her a small amount of air time but on Sirius it is all day long. Her voice is highly distracting. I don’t see why her disability should be overlooked. I feel for her, but there are just some job requirements that trump the desire to be inclusive.

]]> By: dave http://dan.hersam.com/2004/09/09/diane-rehm/comment-page-1/#comment-148643 dave Thu, 07 Apr 2011 03:04:49 +0000 /?p=1016#comment-148643 Unlike conservative radio, NPR is not interested in employing a smooth talking pundit host who is capable of influencing uninformed people. That is why Diane Rehm has a job. Unlike conservative radio, NPR is not interested in employing a smooth talking pundit host who is capable of influencing uninformed people. That is why Diane Rehm has a job.

]]> By: James http://dan.hersam.com/2004/09/09/diane-rehm/comment-page-1/#comment-148561 James Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:08:23 +0000 /?p=1016#comment-148561 Diane Rehm's voice disorder imposes a burden on many (most, I would guess) listeners who are willing or able to listen to her show despite her voice disorder (which, as would be expected in a prime NPR time slot, includes outstanding guests), but prevents many people (myself included) from listening, because her voice disorder makes listening just too frustrating. My question is, why does NPR choose to continue to impose such a burden on thousands of listeners, and provide such a powerful deterrent to others who would love to listen to wonderful content in a great time slot, but are simply unable to tolerate the frustration involved in listening to the host as she continuously struggles to slowly enunciate her words? It's not only frustrating to listeners (& a powerful deterrent to would-be listeners), but it also compromises the host's (& NPR's) effectiveness during this time slot. When conducting more controversial & adversarial interviews, a host with a weak and uncertain-sounding voice is less able to firmly and unequivocally exert control during heated discussions, and hold guests "accountable" for unfair &/or incorrect assertions. Diane Rehm’s voice disorder imposes a burden on many (most, I would guess) listeners who are willing or able to listen to her show despite her voice disorder (which, as would be expected in a prime NPR time slot, includes outstanding guests), but prevents many people (myself included) from listening, because her voice disorder makes
listening just too frustrating.

My question is, why does NPR choose to continue to impose such a burden on thousands of listeners, and provide such a powerful deterrent to others who would love to listen to wonderful content in a great time slot, but are simply unable to tolerate the frustration involved in listening to the host as she continuously struggles to slowly enunciate her words? It’s not only frustrating to listeners (& a powerful deterrent to would-be listeners), but it also compromises the host’s (& NPR’s) effectiveness during this time slot. When conducting more controversial & adversarial interviews, a host with a
weak and uncertain-sounding voice is less able to firmly and unequivocally exert control during heated discussions, and hold guests “accountable” for unfair &/or incorrect assertions.

]]> By: Fred Friendly http://dan.hersam.com/2004/09/09/diane-rehm/comment-page-1/#comment-146604 Fred Friendly Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:57:36 +0000 /?p=1016#comment-146604 I can't understand with all the potential talent in radio why they let this lady continue to mangle each of her shows. I can't listen to her and only tune in when she has a guest host. Would you hire a blind pilot or a pianist with one hand? Why hire a radio talkshow host who can't talk?? I can’t understand with all the potential talent in radio why they let this lady continue to mangle each of her shows. I can’t listen to her and only tune in when she has a guest host. Would you hire a blind pilot or a pianist with one hand? Why hire a radio talkshow host who can’t talk??

]]> By: squashrot http://dan.hersam.com/2004/09/09/diane-rehm/comment-page-1/#comment-146438 squashrot Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:07:32 +0000 /?p=1016#comment-146438 The problem with Diane Rehm's voice is that it creates a subliminal link with Susan Collins, who sounds substantially like her. Except that Collins talks rubbish. The problem with Diane Rehm’s voice is that it creates a subliminal link with Susan Collins, who sounds substantially like her. Except that Collins talks rubbish.

]]> By: Richard Frechette http://dan.hersam.com/2004/09/09/diane-rehm/comment-page-1/#comment-146193 Richard Frechette Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:01:53 +0000 /?p=1016#comment-146193 I've begun listening to the Diane Rhem show only in the last year. At first, I was irritated by the halting, shaky voice. Then I soon came to realize that the substance of her questions and her dialogue-guiding skills were impressive enough to overcome the voice issue. More recently I've come to realize that her slowness in delivery actually gets me to listen more carefully to each of those words. So, in some sense, I've benefited from her physical challenges. Thank you, Diane. I’ve begun listening to the Diane Rhem show only in the last year. At first, I was irritated by the halting, shaky voice. Then I soon came to realize that the substance of her questions and her dialogue-guiding skills were impressive enough to overcome the voice issue. More recently I’ve come to realize that her slowness in delivery actually gets me to listen more carefully to each of those words. So, in some sense, I’ve benefited from her physical challenges. Thank you, Diane.

]]> By: Francyne http://dan.hersam.com/2004/09/09/diane-rehm/comment-page-1/#comment-146192 Francyne Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:37:14 +0000 /?p=1016#comment-146192 I'm another person who can't stand listening to The Diane Rehm show. I first heard it years ago on Raleigh/Durham's public radio. Time to shut off the radio. Now it has reappeared on WNYC's new night time AM line up Ugh! Time to change to their FM station. I'm thankful thatNY public radio gives us this choice. Yes, it's too bad and all that Ms. Rehm has this disease. A person of her intelligence and experience could surely find media work not behind the microphone. I’m another person who can’t stand listening to The Diane Rehm show. I first heard it years ago on Raleigh/Durham’s public radio. Time to shut off the radio. Now it has reappeared on WNYC’s new night time AM line up Ugh! Time to change to their FM station. I’m thankful thatNY public radio gives us this choice.
Yes, it’s too bad and all that Ms. Rehm has this disease. A person of her intelligence and experience could surely find media work not behind the microphone.

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