Callers in to radio shows - there's no need to ask the presenter how they are!

[A580Hojas]

Stupid bloody question and a waste of airtime. The presenter is never going to say "not doing so good today, I've got a headache and a nasty situation going on in my personal life that's worrying me" are they? So just leave off, it doesn't make you a nicer person.

AIBU?

I agree, it's ridiculous. It seems to be a thing now though. It happens when someone from a company calls as well.

"Hello, this is Tim from Vodafone, how are you?"

"I'm crap actually, my piles are killin' me and auntie Susan's run off with the postman".

😄

Agree. It's ridiculous especially when the topic of conversation is something tragic.

Also "I'm a first time caller". We honestly don't care.

Also, "I was just saying to your producer...". FGS. Just effing say what you called up to say.

I find all excess chat on the radio v irritating. Small talk is so boring.

Ha! @pastypirate is like me.

Bloody well hate a call in and chat on radio program. No, I actually do not give a fuck what Dennis from Kettering thinks about (insert pointless discussion topic here).

So obviously OP I also agree with you.

Scotty McClue would tell you how he was, in great detail!

I used to love the radio. It's all become very much the same thing now though so I do see your point, OP.

Howard Hughes - on TalkRadio, "The Unexplained" - on a Sunday night is the only thing I'll go out of my way to tune in to now. He's an old fashioned radio "pro", that lad, and I dread the day he's not on-air.

@Forion

I agree, it's ridiculous. It seems to be a thing now though. It happens when someone from a company calls as well.

"Hello, this is Tim from Vodafone, how are you?"

"I'm crap actually, my piles are killin' me and auntie Susan's run off with the postman".

😄

I ask people when I call them for work but I am genuinely interested nosy I've had a chat with a guy that was waiting for the same spinal surgery I had, a woman who had broken her ankle and was bored and asked for Netflix recommendations... On the other side I've had a woman burst into tears on the phone (nothing I did) and I wasn't letting her go off the phone upset if I could help

Scottie McClue*

Oh can I do some shout outs?

For my mum, my dad, my daughter in Wales on her school trip, my dog, my granny, my next door neighbour doing their garden, all my colleagues in the office working while I'm skiving on the radio, my partner and everyone else on the bus.

None of these people are likely listening, but I have maybe 20 seconds to talk and I'm going to make use of every one of them.

When Talk Radio first started they had a curmudgeon called Mike Dickon who when a caller asked how he was snapped," My health is not in question". I rather liked him.

I used to answer the phones at radio station there were a lot people who were so used to hearing the presenters or speaking to me they thought we were friends. I did the late shows. My regular callers were taxi drivers, bakers and other night shift workers. They may not get speak on air but they did get to speak to presenters fairly often. We got cards and presents sent to us. It was a nice community feel so when people ask a presenter how they are it might be because they are already friendly behind the scenes.

@drudgewithagrudge

When Talk Radio first started they had a curmudgeon called Mike Dickon who when a caller asked how he was snapped," My health is not in question". I rather liked him.

Ah good old Mike Dickin. His put downs used to make me laugh out loud. I was sad to hear he died in a car crash. In that era, early 2000s, my guilty pleasure was listening to James Whale - I loved how he just cut anyone off he couldn't be bothered with. Scotty McClue! He's the one and only radio host I ever actually spoke to on air when I was a slightly inebriated student. Oh dear! I used to listen to Nick Abbott on Radio Luxembourg (really showing my age here) and was delighted to discover him again on LBC all these years later. Can you tell I like talk radio shows?

Small talk like this is just polite. I despair at the lack of manners in this country. I know that makes me sound like an 80 year old woman even though I'm not. By saying 'why ask if you don't care' you show you're self up to be self absorbed and rude.