A few comments I have to write about that might be of interest should you be thinking about joining a community discussion group wherever you are. I recently moved to Oceanside NY (as you may know)and in hoping to find some social contact that I missed from my old stomping (I never really stomped) ground and joined the local JCC and their weekly discussion group. It started so well w/a wonderful intern who ran the group (OK she was also gorgeous) but her internship ended and now we have this elderly bright gentlemen---oh, yes, the intern never had a mic. (a gavel) and our new "moderator has a mic..
The above is mentioned only as background. Doing 2 radio shows on WFDU (89.1 fm) and www.wfdu.fm I can telll you that when there are guests we all have mics and I can also tell you that if one party has a mic and others do not you are surely able to surmise who commands the conversation. Which brings me to the point of all this. The local JCC and the alleged discussion group.
When the very nice intern left she was replaced by a very intelligent elderly man (and another rather pompous putz (I like alliteration) and gave them mics. Now, the discussion group has turned into a monologue and comments by the holders of a mic---just as in life.
Just today I politely raised my hand after a 15 min monologue of "news"(some 10 yrs old) and said---"..."Respectfully I thought this was a discussion group and not a reading of the news we have heard on radio/TV" The reply---true reply---""Just sit down".
The nice part many of the people there came over to me and complimented me on my comments. Frankly, it just seemed proper.
I left shortly thereafter and discussed w/the office staff and their response was that they see my point and will contact the person who handles these things and, "...how would you like to start a group?" I think they missed the point but I am flattered.
Bottom line----never give one person a mic and denying the rest----the result is self inflicted show biz pain or dictatorship ala Charlie Chaplin
Honesty required here---I just finished writing this in my home studio after recording this wknd's WFDU TRADITIONS & SUNDAY SIMCHA radio programs---1 mic/no guests. W/a guest I would have used a 2d mic---equality is the watchword
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