I think part of the point of what I was saying about all this, is that I'm under the impression that the show isn't as much about the callers anymore. It seems that caller driven topics are now handled more as an interruption to the ongoing conversation (initially brought up by a host usually), rather than a change of direction.
I'd also like to point out that the polls are reflecting EXACTLY my beliefs on this.
- That people believe the show is heavily weighted toward politics... and that the split between people who like that and people who would like to see it be SOMEWHAT more hot talk-y is about 50/50. Many of the votes being simple "I like the status quo" style votes.... If the show is, as the poll suggests, weighted about 80/20, a slight increase in different topics and a slightly lighter mood to the show would generally make the show better, as it would compromise to the overall audience. This is exactly what I am saying is needed, NOT that FTL needs to return to the old days, or that the show needs to be primarily hot talk - that has been put into my mouth.
Ian likes to call me "too sensitive..." I call it "in touch". I talk to the listeners enough, and pay attention to subtle things in places like the cam chat room, or IRC, and on the BBS... Or simply friends I know online who don't participate in those things, but I know when theylhave been bothering to listen. So, I notice when I see a TREND occurring of people being in the chat rooms or onliine, but not caring to actually LISTEN to the show... or when the BBS dies down... When sales for products slow...
Those things aren't all directly related, but when big swings in trends occur in multiples of those things.. I notice. I tend to have a finger on having a pretty good idea of what the pulse of a lot of things are.
There is also just my OWN gut, when I think to myself "Goddamn this is repetetive..." I know FTL needs to be repetetive to continue to get a message out there, and that's good for the politics... but it isn't as good for a radio show trying to hold on to long term p1 listeners. I think repeated topics need to be handled from new and different angles.
Back in the old days, FTL was MORE Hot Talk and issues than political talk, but it was still CLEARLY Libertarian. That's what DREW ME to the show, so, I'm speaking from experience.
I'd probably place FTL in the first seasons at 30 p /70 h. Based on what I'm hearing from talking and listening to people... I think the split now, should be closer to about 50/50. That's where I generally believe our listenership is at. I'd be perfectly happy if it were about 65/45 or even 60/40.
I doubt most of the political types would even notice a 10-15% increase in more varied topics, and I say that because I know the political types are always going to be focused on the fact that a MESSAGE is being conveyed...
At a 60/40 split, or a 50/50 split... that message is still being conveyed... It's simply being conveyed to a wider audience.