Note: You “beat back” a horde, you do not “beat off” a horde. Pervert.
I cannot tell you the force of will it took not to snicker every time Troy said this. I had to just keep telling myself “We’re not that kind of podcast”.
-Tom
Tell that to Congressmen Frank.
Love Radio Lab. Definitely enables short attention spanners. Quality material, and they do ratchet up the art of production.
And while we’re there (and I realize we’re not just talking game podcasts anymore) Krulwich on Science.
Yeah, dude, I can’t believe Troy kept using that phraseology. On the other hand, it’s a well known thing to hear that a young good-looking nephew will “have to beat [the girls] off with a stick,” and no one bats an eye. Maybe it’s only when the “beat off” occurs together that it provokes snickers.
That isn’t my problem with TAL.
I just wanted to note that adoration for their podcast is not universal.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1C1GGLS_en-USUS294US305&q=“to+beat+off+the”&btnG=Search
Frantically he fought to beat off the lad that he might turn upon the fearsome thing at his back.
Magistrate beat off pack of hounds with her bare hands
I was able to beat off the intruder
I stood astride MacArthur at the 38th Parallel to beat off the Red Menace
It’s like a treasure trove.
You distract hordes of invaders your way, I’ll do it mine.
Troy
It makes for exceptional passive radio - say, while driving. I can’t imagine just sitting and listening to the show exclusively, however.
Strange - I have the opposite effect. Trying to listen to the show and do something else usually makes me bored and irritated with what I’m hearing, but actively listening to the show makes it worthwhile for me.
I have heard the objection frequently raised, though, that the show is much too precious for its own good by people I’ve tried to foist it upon.
Any enterprise Sara Vowell is prominantly involved in has the preciousness needle pinned.
You’re listening wrong? They recently re-played my favorite episode “Mistakes were Made” where they talk to the creator of the doomed cryogenics facility.
Just amazing.
… that being said, I will definitely have to check out Radio-Lab.
dwolfe
1634
Robert. Having understanding and empathy doesn’t mean I have to go seek out and subject myself to things I don’t enjoy, y’know? And it doesn’t mean I have to enjoy hearing about people doing things that I think are stupid. I find stupidity physically, intellectually, and emotionally painful.
So. I choose not to listen to the podcast, and have never gone out of my way to tell anyone not to listen. When someone dared admit they didn’t like it, I jumped right in and explained why I didn’t enjoy it. I’m a monster!
Given how blatantly AWLL mirrors TAL, I can see why you take it personally even though I never mentioned your own project.
Funny how it’s fine to be tolerant as long as that means you like everything.
Jon Danger: I’ve listened to over a dozen TAL’s and while I would happily praise the production values and their ability to find off-the-beaten-path subjects, I just don’t…get it. If one was fantastic, I’d have a friend tell me all about it rather than listen to it.
Quaro
1635
I’ve got hundreds of TAL on my iPod (ever since they started offering the free feed) and I love the show, but even I probably only listen to 1 out of 3 episodes all the way through. If I’m not into one I just skip to another. It’s not like it’s a series – each episode is a standalone work.
Occasionally Radiolab can drive me nuts when they paraphrase a scientific principle completely inaccurately, but generally it’s awesome.
Another cool audio along these lines I don’t think has been brought up: the Night Air
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/nightair/default.htm
Maybe we can clear this up with an example of the “stupid people” you can’t stand on TAL. Sorry to assume that your empathy is lacking, but I’ve found–in the wasteland of super-smart jackasses I live around in San Francisco–that those who are quick to apply the stupid label tend to lack certain human qualities.
And my reaction comes more from the fact that I’m from a working class redneck family in small town Texas, and we used to get uppity comments from geniuses like you all the time.
I’ve met very few truly stupid people in my life. Most of them had college degrees.
“How did they make you crack dwolfe? Was it waterboarding?”
“Naw, being waterboarded was like a gentle rain to me.”
“Electrocution?”
“Ha! As if! I love the joltings, makes me feel alive!”
“It wasn’t…it wasn’t sex stuff was it…?”
“I begged for sexual humilation. What they did was much worse.”
“Oh my god you mean…”
“That’s right, Two and a Half Men…on a loop.”
The first part makes absolute sense to me …
The second, I can’t even begin to understand. The stories generally cover such a huge variety of subjects, I’m don’t see how they could all fit under the blanket of activities you think are stupid.
In fact, often they don’t even cover ‘doing things’, but rather memories and experiences of life … It’s not like it’s This American Jackass or Fear Factor: The Radio Show. They’re anecdotes and reports.
Having to play a little catch-up here, but I really enjoyed listening to the first episode of “OOTG” podcast.
