We just called the XM satellite radio service number, posing as a customer who wants to cancel. After waiting on hold for over 45 minutes, we spoke for about 10 minutes to a customer service representative who offered us a 30-day credit, if we’d stay with the service. We declined, and then decided to ask for an update on the number of people who have cancelled their subscriptions since Opie & Anthony were suspended.

“I can’t tell you that,” the rep said at first.

After we tried out a few more ways of asking the question, she said that managers have told reps not to mention the number.

“Why?” we asked.

“They want us to pretend it’s business as usual around here.”

“So, they want you to lie?” we asked.

“Yes,” she replied. “The numbers are really bad.”