The world is paying attention.

From the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal:

Expletives Undeleted: An Indian call center gets a rude introduction to American vulgarity. Friday, January 14, 2005 12:01 a.m. A nasty radio-show phone prank directed at a call center in India is the latest proof that abusive language is the last resort of the impotent. Something to remember when any of us is confronted on the low road to incivility. The call in question was played Dec. 15 on Philadelphia’s WUSL-FM, which bills itself as “Bangin’ Hip-Hop and R&B” Power 99. Morning DJ Star, aka Troi Torain, dialed the number of a company advertising a hair-beading device for kids and was connected to a lady at an ordering service in India. After ranting rudely about outsourcing, the DJ turned on the operator, calling her a “dirty rat-catcher” and a “bitch” before threatening to “come out there and choke the eff out of you.” Just another day for the lead host of the syndicated “Star and Buc Wild” show, who promotes himself as “The Hater.” But when a station employee posted the recording on WUSL’s Web site this month, it spread like wildfire among Indians around the world. On sites like Turbanhead and SepiaMutiny, people got their first taste of American shock-jockery, and were appalled.

For those in the U.S. sadly accustomed to daily bombardments of such crudeness–not only on the airwaves but in the streets and most every venue of public life–what stands out in this incident is something else, though. It is the witlessness of the caller. Star describes himself as a “powerfully enigmatic individual” with “the audacity to be unconstrained by neo-conservative intellectual influence.” But there’s nothing enigmatic about his call to India, which reveals a man desperately flailing, and failing to score a hit. The Indian lady never loses her poise. Star, growing shriller with frustration over his inability to get a rise, sounds panicky. Not hip at all. …As for the response to the abusive call to India, many people have bombarded the radio station with protest e-mails and calls. Others are writing to the FCC, hoping that parent company Clear Channel will get fined. The best idea involves contacting advertisers for the “Star and Buc Wild show.” Some of them, like most of us, might have an image they think is worth protecting.

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FYI: Two readers responded to the article:

$%^$# Right, Dad Skyler Sheppard – Charlotte, NC

My father always told me that the frequent use of vulgarity was the sign of a simple mind. He was criticizing himself as he was a sailor and cursed like one. There is no greater proof of the common dumbing down of our society than the now acceptable use of profanity as a replacement for wit.

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An Exception to Mom’s Rule Brian Boyd – Morristown, Tenn.

My mother always told me that he who hits first in an argument, has no more arguments and has admitted that he has lost. Personally I’d like to smack the DJ, though.

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Special thanks to Yash, for bringing this humbling, gratifying development to our attention. 🙂