At more than one radio station I’ve worked for, the official policy is to NOT tell people on the phone whether school has been cancelled. Make them listen to the radio. Don’t take into account that they may be in a desperate hurry, that they might really NOT have a radio (or even electricity in some communities), or that they may be calling from work where radio is forbidden. Years of experience have shown me that such policies don’t do anything to lessen the calls, but it does piss people off, one at a time. This policy came from the same folks who would fire you for making a political joke, because they don’t want to piss people off!

I ignored such rules, and just told people what they wanted to know. That may be one reason I am unemployed now, but it made my job easier. Arguing with a stranger on the phone to defend a dumb policy is a waste of my time, pointless, and does not make me or the radio station look good.

Mack Leighty at Pointless Waste of Time has written of one of his adventures in mixing cyberspace with small-town life. Specifically, a small-town radio station, which landed him in jail.

"Well, we're going to have to arrest you, so as of this moment, we're going to read you’re your rights. However, we're not exactly sure what charge to give you. So let me make a call to the District Attorney, and I'll be back with you in a few minutes."

I was processed and put into a holding cell, pending my bail and was allowed one phone call. I honestly considered calling the radio station and asking if Whopflopple Elementary School was closed, but I decided against it. Instead, I called my wife to let her know I was in jail.

Incidently, I had time to write this because my kids’ school was delayed for an hour this morning. I found that out on the internet.