[chuck]Since no Mormons were man enough to talk to us, we decided to round up some news of interest to atheists. We found plenty.
For reference purposes, here are the articles we discuss in the podcast:
Special Olympics takes on use of the “R word”
Texas School Board members really, really stupid
ICR wants to award advanced degrees in science
Religious dying patients most likely to delay their trip to Heaven
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9 Responses to “Podcast 13: Atheist News Roundup 2”
I’ve followed your podcast for a few months really admire what you’re doing. But with your opening bit of the latest, my respect for you guys dropped through the cellar. I don’t know exactly where you guys are
broadcasting from, but I’m guessing somewhere in the southern United States. I’ve got to tell you that while that faux-macho bit might work for you, it comes off as a trailer trash posturing to the rest of the world.
Sure, taken too far, being overly-careful with language can be stupid and useless. But it seems that you Yanks are a bit behind the rest of us in terms of learning how to treat others with a bit of basic courtesy and respect.
I’m not sure why this is. Maybe it’s a combination your society’s unresolved racial hatreds; and one of the worst standards of education in the industrialized world; and an ingrained two-party non-representative
government; and the internalized guilt of the cultural, political, and economic garbage you Yanks are continually pushing onto the rest of the world.
Well, it adds up to the fact that you might have some inadequacies that you haven’t found a better way of getting past than by petty name calling.
It’s particularly strange that even intelligent Yanks can’t rise above the habit. Well, I suppose it’s true that “You can take the Yank out of the trash; but you can’t take the trash out of the Yank”, as we say.
If you find this a bit insulting, I think you might have a bit of a recantation to make. If not, well… good luck.
No worries, mate. Discussions are always welcome. And no, I don’t find your comments insulting in the least. You’re absolutely correct, there is a bit of “trash in this Yank” as you put it, but there is trash in all of us. Take me for example, I am an educated man. I’ve written ten novels, four of which I actually think are good enough to read, I’m a published author and photographer, a history enthusiast with a great love of Egypt and Greece, a world traveler, etc. However, I am the same man who is able to drop all the world’s engendered “sophistication” for a good laugh. There is a time and place for everything.
You have taken a look at this all the wrong way and that is perhaps our fault. You see, the ANN isn’t about serious discussions concerning religion, it’s about making fun of the lack of critical thinking in many religious views and how it affects the news. Our serious conversations are contained within our religious discussions.
This kinda reminds me of a comedian I went and saw with my family. We were all having a real good time laughing along with the jokes being tossed out and then when the comedian moved on to sexually related jokes I soon discovered I was the only one of my family still laughing. After we left they could do nothing except talk about how horrible this comedian was for even bringing up such a subject and making light of it. Despite the fact that I seriously doubt the comedian believed/acted on the things he was discussing, they allowed themselves to get offended and I do stress the “allowed” portion of this sentence.
You see, that’s all Charley and I were doing; making light of the situation through comedy. If you actually believe some of the “farther out” things we were saying you should rest assured this is not the case. They say America is the melting pot of the world and I grew up in a melting pot of a family. There were African Americans(Blacks), Native Americans(Indians), Koreans(Don’t know any slang for that one), Mentally Handicapped(Retards), etc., etc. Hell, in my travels I’m pretty sure I’ve dated the entirety of the United Nations which is why I always find it vastly amusing when someone calls me a racist, bigot, or what have you. I’m a jester at best that even the greatest of psychiatrists would find completely bereft of prejudice. Those of you out there who would like to believe otherwise, that’s all right with me. Do as you please.
I’m sorry to hear you were offended, but a recantation would be frivolous due to future ANNs. We are little more than sophisticated brigands Charley and I. In one instance we are completely scholarly and upright, but in others we are “trashy Yanks” / jesters / bastards / comedians / shitheads / “Insert feeling here”. Feel free to ignore those aspects of us which rub you a little raw, these probably being ANN and our Blasphemy page.
Thank you, Ben. Always delightful to engage in conversation. In fact, to get beyond the satire, I agree with you concerning many of the points you brought up about our society, but such discussions are for another day seeing how this response is long winded enough. Have a good one, mate.
I am, as I said, of two minds on the issue. I can see a strong argument for consciousness-raising on the word, like Richard Dawkins argues for the term “Catholic children.” If we raise our consciousness enough about the inappropriateness of the term, it stops getting used.
I also think that there is a trend afoot to avoid all possible offense — as if we human beings are fragile eggshells who will crumble at the mere mention of a single word. I think we’re tougher than that, and we have to be to exist in this world.
At the moment, consciousness-raising is winning out, so I see your point, Ben.
Well, Leighton, if you’re taking my “Yank Bash” bit at face value I suppose I have no choice but to admit that both irony and humour are indeed in the subjective eye of the beholder.
But even so, there’s a difference between ‘making a point’ and ‘making a point well’. That’s where I take issue with what you’ve done:
If, in retrospect, you think this piece of rhetoric was well-grounded and effective, that’s your prerogative and I can’t argue with it.
On the other hand, there’s a very real possibility that you might’ve come across as a total blowhard with very little to say other than “Hey! Look at me! Ain’t I edgy makin’ fun of the dumb retards!”.
And, if someone were to see it that way, well, they’d probably consider it stupid. And pointless. And a big disappointment compared to the brilliance of the show up to this point.
I can see your point, mate, however, I must agree and disagree in the same breath. You see, there’s a problem with the internet and this show; it’s difficult to get a full sense of someone’s personality just by listening to them discuss intellectual topics. Where my personality is concerned, there are times when I make a jackass of myself for the sake of laughter. That’s what I meant by stating we were jesters. Think of it this way, you ever go to a party and see a loudmouth out there making an ass of himself with everybody shaking their heads and laughing at them? On occasions on this show you’ll see that loudmouth in me. Do I believe everything I’m saying? Nah, sometimes I’ll state something just to get at Charley’s craw.
The honest truth of the matter is this; I do have mentally handicapped brothers as well as family of different races. I’ve come to blows defending them and others against racism, and I’ve done the same for my brother Greg who out of all of my family has earned my respect more although he has the mind of a sixth grader. The real retards in my opinion are those of my family who are normal minded and those in the news who make decisions based on bronze age ethics without a single shred of critical thinking. This is one of the reasons I love doing the Blasphemy animations so much; it’s a way of poking holes in a mythology that in many ways people haven’t taken even a moderately close look at.
Funny thing is you’ve hit on the point of my comments exactly. There are going to be two groups of people after they’ve listened to that podcast; those who realize I’m making a jackass of myself and laugh and those who become offended. Either way I consider that a win for Charley and I. If people laugh then I have entertained them and through that entertainment made them realize how much of a jackass I was. This may, in a small way, educate them on a subject brought forth. If nothing else it will make them think on it even if for little more than a moment. I think the real win is in those who become offended because they are the ones who are going to be so irritated they’re going to go around telling their friends and family how wrong I truly was for those comments. Nothing spreads a concept more than when you come face to face with the very thing that causes the conflict. Now, I will admit I think in some ways society is becoming hypersensitive to some things, but in others we are making great strides.
It is my intent with this website to entertain, educate, and just plain piss off people because in every aspect a thought is evoked. In continuing with honesty, I am rather sorry you were offended because in the small contact I’ve had with you I think I’d like you, however in the same thought I welcome your offense because that is the opportunity for you to discuss things with others and plant a seed of thought. Good on you, mate. It’s sad, but I’m looking forward to future contact with you not only for intellectual discussions of a religious topic brought forth, but also for the outrage sure to come by a future comment made.
Have yourself a good day, my friend.
All good points, Leighton, and there’s a lot of good in your hard-boiled way of dealing with this stuff. I think you’ve hit on the problem: it being impossible for people to really know what you’re about and where your attitude is coming from.
But I think you might be being a bit unreasonably selective in looking at the result. Sure, there’s some truth how you anticipate people reacting, but the reality may be a bit more subtle and less positive.
My point is: What you’ve done with this podcast is thoughtful and honest; this bit wasn’t. Is it worth degrading your work for the sake of an anti-PC statement that’s way too old and tired to come across as anything other than a crass cheap shot?
It’s all just opinion. But because I like you guys and your show so much, I thought it worthwhile to give you a bit of a hard time on this – to keep you honest.
But I’ve had my say and, if we don’t agree, I respect your attitude. Looking forward to the next show, you trashy Yanks.
I understand where Ben was coming from, although I didn’t find offense in anything you were saying, I was disappointed in what I thought to be a lost opportunity for an intellectual discussion of language and the meaning of words beyond their definition.
You know, Matt, you’re absolutely right. That would have been a wonderful opportunity because there are quite a few words out there people find offensive that make me chuckle because they don’t understand the underlying root of the word. I blame Charley for this. I don’t know why, but I’m sure he had something to do with distracting me.
aw Chuck, responsible once again from endumbing of mankind. and chicks too.