[BC] Destroying history

[Rob Atkinson]

I've dealt with both types.   there is the type who thinks absolutely 
nothing should ever be thrown out because someday, in some inconceivable 
circumstance, it will be needed.  Then there are the ones who like a desk 
with a single sheet of paper on it and nothing else, and anything that 
hasn't been used for two weeks--out it goes.   I believe these people aren't 
trying to hide anything or dislike the past; they just don't think about 
history at all.  they are grounded in the present, view anything unused as 
"clutter" and regard a cleared out space as an efficient office.   I'm 
somewhere in between.  so both types bug me.

Decent storage and preservation of gear, paper records, magnetic recording 
tape etc. takes some time and effort.   At small broadcast enterprises, 
everyone is so consumed with the day to day operation, historical stuff just 
gets pushed to one side.  When it starts to get in the way and encroach on 
needed space for work, a manager makes a snap decision to do something here 
and now, to free up space because there isn't any time for organized 
storage, so the snap decision is to throw stuff out and move on.    It's the 
same in other businesses as well.

rob atkinson
st. charles IL


From: "Harold Hallikainen" <harold at hallikainen.com>
Reply-To: Broadcasters' Mailing List <broadcast at radiolists.net>
To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Subject: Re: [BC] Destroying history
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:19:44 -0800 (PST)


 > Gary, KØCX wrote...
 >>
 >> I'm not certain what emotion prompts the destruction of historical
 >> material,
 >> but I have seen new owners do everything possible to eradicate *any*
 >> material relating to previous ownership, call letters, formats, etc.  I
 >> suspect some are neat freaks and throw anything for which they don't see
 >> an
 >> immediate use.  Maybe some don't feel they have storage space.
 >> And...some
 >> probably never want to be in the position of being compared to a much
 >> more
 >> successful predecessor.  I guess I could understand it if the previous
 >> licensee and the station had a really sordid past.
 >
 > Add my name to the list of those who fail to understand those who throw
 > away history.  But then again, I'm such a packrat I never throw away
 > anything.
 >

Which is why I call my site
(http://sujan.hallikainen.org/BroadcastHistory/) "Saving History From The
Dumpster." I'm trying to come up with a logo for it. Maybe I'll pile a
bunch of manuals in front of a dumpster and take a photo.

Harold

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