Subject: RE: Ditzy radio listeners (Re: [BC] TV news)

[First Step Productions - Dave Golterman]

Scott Bailey wrote:

> Some people that call radio stations have personal problems!

That's exactly why I tried being as nice as possible when I answered the phone.  There were always some you wanted to strangle.  I had an apartment in the basement of KVCK AM & FM in Wolf Point, MT and while it was convenient, answering the phone at 1:30am to get a request from a drunk for a song you couldn't possibly play was the worst.  

However, when I was working at KMHK-FM in Billings, MT back in the late 90's, I was surfing the net after my shift (I didn't have a computer at home yet), and a woman called in for her "last" request.  Something about the tone in her voice told me this woman was serious and so I gave her the friendly ear she was looking for.  When she told me that she had taken a bunch of pills I knew the police & ambulance had to be called.  We didn't have caller ID, but she had told me one of the things she was upset over was a car accident about a week before (she'd told me what day it happened).  I had her first name already and with that information, I told her I had a call coming in on the other line that I had to take...I think I may have told her it was the hotline that only the boss had, so I had to answer it.  She let me put her on hold while I called 911 and told the dispatcher what I knew.  The dispatcher got in touch with the Montana Highway Patrol dispatcher and they looked for accident reports from the day in question and got the woman's name and home address.  

I stayed on the line with the woman until the Sheriff's Deputy picked up the phone and told me that the ambulance crew was working with her.  

That's why I have tried to be polite when answering stupid questions from people on the request line.

Dave Golterman
First Step Productions
Plentywood, MT
406-765-1002