The rude attitude towards the caller seems to be a standard feature of syndicated call-in shows. I think the call-in format is a profoundly stupid waste of air time. I don't care what the ordinary man on the street thinks about issues; I want to know what someone who knows more about it than I do thinks about it. And I certainly don't want to listen to a show where the game seems to be whether the attention-seeking caller can manage to get a dig or two in at the guest before getting smacked down by the host who controls the mike. Of course, it's of a piece with the level of discourse when two or more "respected experts" have a "debate" or "panel discussion" on a show. The networks who regularly host these unregulated shouting matches they call debates might as well stage them at a table full of food and let them have a food fight; I think the ratings would go up and the intellectual content would not go down.

All that ranting aside, there is a huge double standard about the N-word, and double standards tick me off.