Smash is a local radio personality who was entertaining with his band at Ted's Motorcycle World. The place was jamming, hundreds of bikes, free food, and live band. You won't believe what happened. I'm pasting the email I sent to the Senior Vice President of the radio station Smash works for below.
-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Heidler [mailto:dheidler@centurytel.net]
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 6:53 PM
To: 'john@stl.emmis.com'
Subject: Smash's "Public Service" Announcement
Dear Mr. Beck,
I am writing to inform you that I will no longer be listening to your radio station based of the actions of Smash today at Ted's Customer Appreciation Day. I listened to Smash when he was on DC 101, after moving to St. Louis, found Smash and Karen on one of your competitors, then followed him to your station. Today was the first time I had the opportunity to see him live.
My friend and I were enjoying ourselves at Ted's. Then, we walked in front of the stage where Smash was performing. He stopped what he was doing to single us out of the crowd to ridicule us because we were wearing proper motorcycle riding gear. In front of hundreds of other riders, at a motorcycle dealer, representing your station, Smash's used us as the focus of his "Public Service" Announcement. I don't remember the comments word for word, but his message was that we must not know how to ride a motorcycle because we were wearing gear on such a hot day. Only someone expecting to crash their bike would wear heavy gear when its 95 degrees out. He continued to tell everyone in the crowd that we were planning on falling off of our bikes on the way home. We left Ted's because of his ridicule.
If he feels that wearing helmets and protective gear is foolish, that's his opinion and he has every right to believe that. If he wants to ride around in shorts, tee shirt, and sandals, that's his decision and he will live with the consequences. However, he does not have the right to promote that from stage while representing your station. He does not have the right to use the power of the microphone and your station to belittle people who do not believe the same. At a time where motorcycle accidents and deaths are increasing at an alarming rate, I would expect a radio personality to behave professionally and responsibly. If he doesn't believe in wearing gear, all he had to do is say nothing. I would ask for Smash to apologize, but I won't be listening to your station to hear it. I will also be posting this message to several of the local motorcycle club websites and the AMA.
Thank you,
Dennis Heidler
-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Heidler [mailto:dheidler@centurytel.net]
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 6:53 PM
To: 'john@stl.emmis.com'
Subject: Smash's "Public Service" Announcement
Dear Mr. Beck,
I am writing to inform you that I will no longer be listening to your radio station based of the actions of Smash today at Ted's Customer Appreciation Day. I listened to Smash when he was on DC 101, after moving to St. Louis, found Smash and Karen on one of your competitors, then followed him to your station. Today was the first time I had the opportunity to see him live.
My friend and I were enjoying ourselves at Ted's. Then, we walked in front of the stage where Smash was performing. He stopped what he was doing to single us out of the crowd to ridicule us because we were wearing proper motorcycle riding gear. In front of hundreds of other riders, at a motorcycle dealer, representing your station, Smash's used us as the focus of his "Public Service" Announcement. I don't remember the comments word for word, but his message was that we must not know how to ride a motorcycle because we were wearing gear on such a hot day. Only someone expecting to crash their bike would wear heavy gear when its 95 degrees out. He continued to tell everyone in the crowd that we were planning on falling off of our bikes on the way home. We left Ted's because of his ridicule.
If he feels that wearing helmets and protective gear is foolish, that's his opinion and he has every right to believe that. If he wants to ride around in shorts, tee shirt, and sandals, that's his decision and he will live with the consequences. However, he does not have the right to promote that from stage while representing your station. He does not have the right to use the power of the microphone and your station to belittle people who do not believe the same. At a time where motorcycle accidents and deaths are increasing at an alarming rate, I would expect a radio personality to behave professionally and responsibly. If he doesn't believe in wearing gear, all he had to do is say nothing. I would ask for Smash to apologize, but I won't be listening to your station to hear it. I will also be posting this message to several of the local motorcycle club websites and the AMA.
Thank you,
Dennis Heidler
