Thursday, February 7, 2008

Don Imus

It appears that Don Imus has returned to radio pretty much in the same manner he left it. From what I understand and the bit I have heard not that much has changed. He still has “A” list guests and the show still has a similar edge to it. Don Imus is not the first personality to be banished and make a comeback. In fact it is common fare that many celebrities come back bigger and even better than ever after they fall.

I think fortunately or unfortunately (depending upon how you look at it) those who transgress can feel comfort in knowing that there is a good chance for rebirth if not redemption. I think more importantly the public has and will continue to become numb to people who transgress. Psychologically, in the long and perhaps short run it will have a collective effect on our psyches. It will in short make people less fearful, reticent and thoughtful before they act as they too realize that their downside risk is so small.

Additionally, we all can take comfort that with our ever decreasing attention spans that our actions will be forgotten in a nano second and we will be back page news, or no news before you can blink and eye. In short, what is the downside risk of acting out? It seems there is very little downside risk and in the case of Imus etal, there appears to be a large upside.

Posted by Dr. Richard Lustberg at 02:39:20 | Permalink | No Comments »