The Free Talk Live BBS
Free Talk Live => The Show => Topic started by: Aahz on May 19, 2012, 08:46:25 PM
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Are we seriously going to have to listen to a 5-10 minute ad from Derek J every night he's in jail?
I, for one, say enough already.
We know what happened, we know where he is, we know about the movie, we know we can write him, we know he's trying to raise money to support himself since he's been run out of Keene.
We get it.
We don't need to hear it every night!
-Aahz
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They did the same thing for Sam. It will relax after a while.
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I think he's called twice.
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I think he's called twice.
WELL THAT'S ONE TIME TOO MANY!!!!!
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I think he's called twice.
According, to your show descriptions he's called in 3 times, and beau's call the other night makes 4 calls from jail which were basically just Derek J ads. That's on top of the 5/7 show, of which a full 25%+ was Derek J Talk Live. In addition to the full episode of Free Keene Radio News that somehow ended up on the FTL podcast feed.
And there's been essentially no new information given in all of that airtime. The repetitiveness is monotonous.
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Anyone who spends time in jail in Keene is a HERO OF THE REVOLUTION...
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... you insensitive clod!
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Anyone who spends time in jail in Keene is a HERO OF THE REVOLUTION...
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... you insensitive clod!
Then lets hear from any of the others. :? Or hear this "hero's" views on anything that doesn't center directly around the same situation we've heard about again and again. Or hear anything that doesn't sound like an ad for his movie, his online begging, or mail-to-jail.
Mark and Ian are apparently all distraught over the decrease in podcast downloads. I know that my friends who have stopped listening have cited the repetitive NH-centric information as their primary reason for leaving the show behind.
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Hell I wouldn't even mind so much if it was smart effective activism. Bothering grandmothers in the secretarial pool or trying to evade cops on a friggin bicycle is neither - it is just dumb and petty. REALLY??? Make a martyr out of Derrick for trying to outbike a cop car??? I realize y'all like to smoke but it sounds like your product has some additives.
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I'm going to say I like Derek J, but I fail to see the sainthood he seems to have attained in the eyes of at least one FTL host. Then again, as Denis has implied, that host has a tendency to obsess with what he probably considers "Keene heroism." In fact, the focus on Keene and what many of us consider "overboard activism" (not on every occasion, but on a great many) has been a significant controversy amongst many who AMP the show. I, for one, think it probably is not a coincidence that AMP contributions are falling, as listeners see the backlash from the Keene community over what some of us feel are poor activism choices.
NONE of this is a knock on Derek J's personal choices. I think it's more unwise to give marginal choices airtime on a nationally syndicated radio show which depends on AMP dollars to promote libertarian philosophies, and presumably, activism. Put another way, there's a concern that what seems to turn off the locals in Keene could just as easily turn off the national audience, which is presumably less freedom loving, overall, than a New Hampshire neighborhood.
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Amp supports LRN. I would hope people would keep that in mind.
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I definitely agree with the sentiments expressed by Aahz and What's the frequency, Kenneth?
I am not sure if Ian even gets it if his only response it to dispute the number of times Derrick has called in.
I am sure Mark does, but he seems to be a minority shareholder in the entire operation.
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NONE of this is a knock on Derek J's personal choices. I think it's more unwise to give marginal choices airtime on a nationally syndicated radio show which depends on AMP dollars to promote libertarian philosophies, and presumably, activism.
+1
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I think he's called twice.
WELL THAT'S ONE TIME TOO MANY!!!!!
LOL.
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If you guys think this is bad, you should go back to '09 when Sam was in the pokey for 58 days. He was on a lot.
My co host is in jail for not harming anyone and you're saying it's bad to give the guy airtime. Wow. I hope you never go through the same thing. Sorry for caring about my friend, co-host, and tenant.
Actually, just kidding. I'm not sorry at all. Derrick is great talent and some people really appreciate hearing what it is like in jail. Sorry it's not your bag.
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Mark and Ian are apparently all distraught over the decrease in podcast downloads. I know that my friends who have stopped listening have cited the repetitive NH-centric information as their primary reason for leaving the show behind.
What else do you consider repetitive?
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Mark and Ian are apparently all distraught over the decrease in podcast downloads. I know that my friends who have stopped listening have cited the repetitive NH-centric information as their primary reason for leaving the show behind.
No, it's only Mark who is distraught. Life ebbs and flows.
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Sean and WTFK:
I'm sorry you don't like some of the things Derrick was arrested for. He knows it was a mistake running from the police. Just because he made a mistake doesn't mean I'm going to leave him in the cold. He did a lot of things right, but heaven forbid you focus on that! Read: the Dance Party and Cannabis arrests that started it all.
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I am not sure if Ian even gets it if his only response it to dispute the number of times
Seems an appropriate response to a post that begins with the following hyperbole:
Are we seriously going to have to listen to a 5-10 minute ad from Derek J every night he's in jail?
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NONE of this is a knock on Derek J's personal choices. I think it's more unwise to give marginal choices airtime on a nationally syndicated radio show which depends on AMP dollars to promote libertarian philosophies, and presumably, activism. Put another way, there's a concern that what seems to turn off the locals in Keene could just as easily turn off the national audience, which is presumably less freedom loving, overall, than a New Hampshire neighborhood.
Well damn, if the show is all about promoting libertarian philosophy, then perhaps we should stop taking calls from people that aren't doing that. Oh wait, it's an open phones show, so no, we won't do that.
Do you also get upset when we talk about non issues-oriented things or self-improvement? How about discussing Mark's family life?
Also, if we're going to start worrying about what might turn off a "presumably less freedom loving" audience, then we better stop talking bad about the military, police, etc. Wouldn't want anyone to tune out! :lol:
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Personally I think the whole Derrick J debacle is a good example for others to learn from. Sam made himself into sort of a guru with his little adventure, and then it kind of blew up. It was kind of a disappointment to me anyway. I like the humble lessons of the Derrick J thing better and think it will have a more rewarding outcome. Shit happens. FTL has more competition, I think that is the reason for any less downloads they may have.
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P.S., when asked, not one person has ever said, "you talk to much about Keene/Shire activism" as their reason for quitting AMP. Usually its just that they can't afford it.
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Personally I think the whole Derrick J debacle is a good example for others to learn from. Sam made himself into sort of a guru with his little adventure, and then it kind of blew up. It was kind of a disappointment to me anyway. I like the humble lessons of the Derrick J thing better and think it will have a more rewarding outcome. Shit happens. FTL has more competition, I think that is the reason for any less downloads they may have.
According to Feedburner, nightly downloads are about the same. It's the general libsyn stats that were down - which probably means that more people were downloading back episodes for some reason for some time, but it has slowed, again for some unknown reason.
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You mean just clicking on the description and getting the show to stream in? That hasn't been working for me lately. I usually right click and download the show in a file and that still works fine. That lipsyn stat could just be a stream snafu.
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Sean and WTFK:
I'm sorry you don't like some of the things Derrick was arrested for. He knows it was a mistake running from the police. Just because he made a mistake doesn't mean I'm going to leave him in the cold. He did a lot of things right, but heaven forbid you focus on that! Read: the Dance Party and Cannabis arrests that started it all.
Read where I said his activism is up to him, and where I said it's you broadcasting it to the world I'm not crazy about.
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NONE of this is a knock on Derek J's personal choices. I think it's more unwise to give marginal choices airtime on a nationally syndicated radio show which depends on AMP dollars to promote libertarian philosophies, and presumably, activism. Put another way, there's a concern that what seems to turn off the locals in Keene could just as easily turn off the national audience, which is presumably less freedom loving, overall, than a New Hampshire neighborhood.
Well damn, if the show is all about promoting libertarian philosophy, then perhaps we should stop taking calls from people that aren't doing that. Oh wait, it's an open phones show, so no, we won't do that.
Do you also get upset when we talk about non issues-oriented things or self-improvement? How about discussing Mark's family life?
Also, if we're going to start worrying about what might turn off a "presumably less freedom loving" audience, then we better stop talking bad about the military, police, etc. Wouldn't want anyone to tune out! :lol:
Oh, come on. You've got a "Derek J segment" just about every day. It's not about "taking calls" and you know it.
Who said I get upset? It turns out it's a piss-poor advertisement for liberty, and you're deliberately skipping over that, particularly by ignoring the difference between taking calls and having a virtual Derek J segment.
Laugh about it if you want, but AMP is down, you're getting tons of negative feedback from SANE libertarians, and you're pushing it.
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P.S., when asked, not one person has ever said, "you talk to much about Keene/Shire activism" as their reason for quitting AMP. Usually its just that they can't afford it.
You've completely forgotten the two-page email I sent in when I suspended my AMP. Besides, it' snot it's not "Keene/Shire activism" as much as it is the stupid shit that constitutes the majority far too much of the Keene/Shire "activism."
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Sorry you think some of our activism is "stupid shit". Maybe you could call and tell us about your activism so we can be inspired and duplicate it.
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Oh, come on. You've got a "Derek J segment" just about every day. It's not about "taking calls" and you know it.
Maybe you don't listen to FTL or maybe you are just being hyperbolic. I don't remember the last call from Derrick - probably been at least a week.
We'll take calls from anyone about pretty much anything. We say that every night, multiple times. Go ahead and give it a try.
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Sorry you think some of our activism is "stupid shit". Maybe you could call and tell us about your activism so we can be inspired and duplicate it.
I have, and it wasn't (pretend) beer games at city hall, sitting on the hoods of cop cars that are soon to be in motion, goading cops into driving me off the road, or anything like that.
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Well, what was it?
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Oh, come on. You've got a "Derek J segment" just about every day. It's not about "taking calls" and you know it.
Maybe you don't listen to FTL or maybe you are just being hyperbolic. I don't remember the last call from Derrick - probably been at least a week.
We'll take calls from anyone about pretty much anything. We say that every night, multiple times. Go ahead and give it a try.
You're skirting the issue, pretending what you've been doing is "taking calls." You're promoting the most scandalous form of activism you can market and we all know it. It's not like people haven't told you this.
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Well, what was it?
It? I've called in probably a dozen times. I sent a "tax bill" in enclosed in epoxy. I got myself arrested insisting on not "just shutting up" after being kept in the cold without a jacket on a DUI stop in which I obviously wasn't drunk. I insisted on not opening my car for a search on another occasion and waited for the fucking drug dog to scratch up my car to find nothing, because there was nothing there. I've reported from 420 events. I've called in about my medical use of cannabis.
You managed to remember me as a "drama queen" when I sent you a two page email about the bullshit going on in Keene and suspended my amp for about 9 months, then resumed it later for more money after you calmed that shit down. I don't get understand the amnesia act.
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I remember the epoxy thing. I know who you are online, but not necessarily when you call.
Also, I report on all exceptional activism happening in my purview. You just don't like some of it. And to suggest that we don't take calls from anyone is just paranoid.
I'm promoting Derrick J's activism because he's a doer and he's my friend and co-host. Maybe if you lived here and were doing activism that would get talked about too.
In the last two weeks we've talked about the Biden event and the Memorial day protest. Are those offensive to you too?
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Obviously when you do as much activism as I and my friends and associates do, you're going to offend someone. It's just how it goes. Here's Ridley's opinion:
Annoying Keene crazies probably do more good than harm (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_0o6nL52g8#)
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I remember the epoxy thing. I know who you are online, but not necessarily when you call.
Also, I report on all exceptional activism happening in my purview. You just don't like some of it. And to suggest that we don't take calls from anyone is just paranoid.
I'm promoting Derrick J's activism because he's a doer and he's my friend and co-host. Maybe if you lived here and were doing activism that would get talked about too.
In the last two weeks we've talked about the Biden event and the Memorial day protest. Are those offensive to you too?
I never suggested you "don't take calls form from anyone." Where did that come from? You're actively marketing Derek J. Stop pretending you aren't. This "victimless crime spree" is cute, and I get it, but the vast majority of people don't, and they're not thinking it's funny.
"Offensive?" This is your problem. You project on people what you *think* they are griping about without actually paying fucking attention. That makes people angry. As I said before, it's your pushing of "stunts" that's the problem. I can take them or leave them, in general, but your greater audience is gonna leave them. I simply ask myself "Why am I supporting this?"
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I'm just asking - are those stunts? What about walking with peace signs in a parade?
I never know what is going to upset people - I just talk about everything I think is interesting that's happening here.
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Read: the Dance Party and Cannabis arrests that started it all.
The Dance Party was the wrong thing to do. Hopefully he learned his lesson and doesn't try to pull that stunt again.
Should he have been arrested the way he was? No. However, a better question is should he be rewarded for making mistakes? Or perhaps, is it worth hurting your show to reward him for making mistakes?
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I'm just asking - are those stunts? What about walking with peace signs in a parade?
It would be interesting if people did something like that. Anyway, I try to help activists understand what potentially could upset people but some activists don't seem to care.
The military, and especially fallen war heros are the most respected members/institution in the US. This is pretty well known by people that think about such things. Perhaps I've failed to get this info in front of new folks. I'm bump the thread.
http://forum.shiresociety.com/general-discussion/trust-in-major-institutions-survey-results/ (http://forum.shiresociety.com/general-discussion/trust-in-major-institutions-survey-results/)
Activism 101
Have a goal(s) to use a message(s) to reach an audience(s).
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What was wrong with the dance party? The only people it disturbed was Keene Police.
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I'm just asking - are those stunts? What about walking with peace signs in a parade?
I never know what is going to upset people - I just talk about everything I think is interesting that's happening here.
I don't know what "those" refers to. I've got no problem with peace signs AT a parade. I'd suggest it's counterproductively "in your face" to try to be PART of their parade. It's not "wrong," it just annoys people you should want to persuade, making persuasion far less likely. The italicized comment really summarizes the whole issue.
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Please fund Derrick J Freeman's self-imposed Year in Exile Tour. Please give money for Derrick to leave New Hampshire and travel around. Derrick will be looking to record activism that other people do in every place except New Hampshire. Hopefully, we can fully fund this trip. The more you can give, the better. Please consider stopping drinking and smoking to help raise money for this non-New Hampshire activism tour. Derrick cannot smoke or drink in jail so this will better help you understand his situation.
https://www.wepay.com/donations/exile-activism-tour (https://www.wepay.com/donations/exile-activism-tour)
Information
After serving a 75-105 day sentence in jail for his victimless crime spree, DerrickJ will be in self-imposed exile from the Shire and touring the continent in search of exciting activism.
Are you already getting active for the cause of liberty? Perhaps you're part of a liberty community. I want to travel to you and report on the cool ideas and projects that you're working on. I'll be using agorist cabs whenever possible, but I'll need some money for Greyhound busses, too.
While on the road, I'll be producing one video per day covering the status of my trip. I'll also be producing an episode of Fr33 Agents Radio News, your 5-minute update on the peaceful resistance happening around the globe, 5 days a week. Finally, I will also produce a once-a-week higher quality update highlighting the most exciting activism in my current local area. All of these videos and podcasts will include space for advertisements for your liberty organization.
Specific details about my route and agenda will be listed at LiveFreeOrDance.comand FreeKeene.comas they develop. The trip will be finalized in late July, when I am released from jail. Thank you for supporting liberty activism with your investment today.
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I've never posted here before, but I've been a listener of the show for several years and I'd like to throw my two cents in concerning FTL's declining podcast downloads, and FK activism. I don't generally like to criticize for criticism's sake, and I certainly don't want to be mean, or underestimate the value of 'doing', as Ian likes to say. However, I feel that FTL is indeed heading in a really unfortunate direction. I hope the following will be taken as it is meant, that is, as constructive criticism from a non FSP regular listener's perspective.
I currently listen to the show a lot less and turn off the podcast before it is over much more often than I used to. There are two primary reasons for this. First, Ian seems to be becoming quite insular, such that his arguments all orient around a network of catchphrases that only make sense to other libertarians of his particular strain, but leave other listeners befuddled. Saying this like "the state doesn't exist" or "the state is the most successful criminal gang" is not only a) seemingly contradictory, but b) completely inaccessible when it lacks explanation or qualification. Imagine listening to a democrat or republican talk about the nature of politics, and trying to understand them, if you were not already intimately familiar with the structure of assumptions and cultural biases that they were working from. For libertarians, this approach is boring in the same way that hearing a bunch of philosophically ungrounded cliches over and over again would be boring to anyone familiar with them. It is not thought provoking. For non-libertarians, it is boring because it doesn't make any sense within the context of their cultural reality. They are either severely mistranslating what is being said so that they can make sense of it, or they are just registering it as gibberish and moving on. That is a really bad combination of effects, because it puts a shelf life on regular listeners, and bars the attraction of new one's.
The second reason that I have been curtailing my listening is that, in my opinion, the caliber of guest host has declined precipitously. Ian and Mark have a great dynamic together, but it seems as though they have no screening process or standards whatsoever when it comes to choosing the people who will sit in the guest chairs. At this point pretty much all of the regular guests with the wonderful exceptions of Stephanie and Brad come off as bumbling, inarticulate, and imprecise 'thinkers'/speakers. It is hard to listen to someone when it is obvious that they don't even clearly understand what they are trying to say, or when what they are saying is so painfully obvious that it hurts to listen to how difficult it is for them to spit it out. The co-hosts used to be people like Gardner Goldsmith, Dale Everett, and Sam Dodson--thoughtful people who had interesting, unexpected, and unique things to say about issues, even if disagreeable. No more.
The other issue I wanted to touch upon was FK civil disobedience. CD can be an extremely effective means for change, if it is done with a mind for strategy, and if it is backed up by a rigorous intellectual tradition. Ian's point that you can't please everybody is, of course, well taken. However, people who argue that CD must be intelligently employed, such that it is generally persuasive are not suggesting that any activism that doesn't please everyone is inherently bad activism. CD is a form of communication. Its point, as I understand it, is to highlight a meaningful contradiction between two strongly held moral convictions. That is to say, the role of CD, where it concerns the state, is to find an activity that the state either de-facto or de-jure prohibits, but that people believe very strongly should not be prohibited, and then to publicly engage in that activity so that the state will use violence where the people in general believe it has no right to do so. The point is to challenge people's allegiance to the state by appealing to a more strongly held moral conviction, to make them choose one or the other. Of course, CD cuts both ways. This is why just DOING activism without proper forethought and reflection is massively more dangerous and counterproductive to the forward momentum of the ideas of liberty than not doing anything at all, especially when it comes to CD. Since CD is in every instance a pitting of contradictory ideas against one another, it always runs the risk of backfiring, that is, reinforcing people's allegiance to the state, and alienating them from the ideas and issues of liberty. Activism that does not persuade a large enough segment of the population of its righteousness is even ineffectual in promoting liberty to people who would otherwise be quite amenable to it, simply because taking a stand on its behalf is too socially isolating. Also, and this is a side point, it is understandable why FK activism, which seems to value 'doing' over thinking, is so threatening to many other FSP members. Everything you do affects everyone's prospects for achieving liberty positively or negatively, and randomly throwing shit at the wall, hoping that something will stick is extremely disrespectful of that fact.
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Well said, PCH, and I'm not just saying that because you mentioned me in a relatively positive context.
On my show, I try to speak largely in liberaleze, as that is a significant target audience for FF, and then give the libertarian perspective. I still cringe now and then when my co-hosts start to speak in libertarianeze which I know is going to be misunderstood but I just do my best to explain it when it comes up.
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Keep posting here with your wisdom Harris!
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Harris for President 2016!
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I don't remember the last call from Derrick - probably been at least a week.
And this thread was started 9 days before you posted that comment. At that point he had been a major topic of conversation 4 out of the previous 7 days. And if you'll go back and read my first post, you'll see the complaint isn't about Derrick or activism. The complaint is about the repetitive 5-10 minutes of free advertising given to Derrick J related projects every time you spoke about or to him.
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I currently listen to the show a lot less and turn off the podcast before it is over much more often than I used to. There are two primary reasons for this. First, Ian seems to be becoming quite insular, such that his arguments all orient around a network of catchphrases that only make sense to other libertarians of his particular strain, but leave other listeners befuddled. Saying this like "the state doesn't exist" or "the state is the most successful criminal gang" is not only a) seemingly contradictory, but b) completely inaccessible when it lacks explanation or qualification. Imagine listening to a democrat or republican talk about the nature of politics, and trying to understand them, if you were not already intimately familiar with the structure of assumptions and cultural biases that they were working from. For libertarians, this approach is boring in the same way that hearing a bunch of philosophically ungrounded cliches over and over again would be boring to anyone familiar with them. It is not thought provoking. For non-libertarians, it is boring because it doesn't make any sense within the context of their cultural reality. They are either severely mistranslating what is being said so that they can make sense of it, or they are just registering it as gibberish and moving on. That is a really bad combination of effects, because it puts a shelf life on regular listeners, and bars the attraction of new one's.
This is exactly the kind of thing I keep hearing from people I personally turn on to FTL. Over the 6 years I've been listening, that's a couple dozen people (of varying degrees of belief in Liberty) who have listened for a month or more and then quit because of things like this. It doesn't matter what the callers bring up, a large number of calls resolve (devolve?) as described above.
You guys don't get hear why people stop listening, precisely because they've stopped listening. They don't care enough to let you know. And when fans and supporters of the show try to tell you, your response is "I've never heard that". Maybe it's because you're simply not listening.
-Aahz
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Good comments, all. Thank you PC Harris for the time you put into your comment. Hopefully it penetrates, where our message has not.
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This is exactly the kind of thing I keep hearing from people I personally turn on to FTL. Over the 6 years I've been listening, that's a couple dozen people (of varying degrees of belief in Liberty) who have listened for a month or more and then quit because of things like this.
Me, too.
I used to be a tireless FTL evangelist.
Now ... I hardly listen myself, and I sure don't want people I know to associate me with Ian/FK in-your-face "activism" and weirdly insular, cultishness.
I like the BBS, though.
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I agree wholeheartedly with what Harris wrote.
I'm going to take it a step farther. I've been listening to this show for at least 5 years. Lately, within the last year or so, something has been nagging at me about the show. The last few months have been especially hard to listen to. Harris hit the nail on the head, and made me think about why I'm skipping segments or sometimes whole shows on a more frequent basis.
The quality of callers and number of callers has seemed to drop steadily. Remember Sunfest? Scott the Bigot? Yeah, they were crazy, but they made the show fun to listen to because it gave these crazy people a place to voice their opinion and then a chance for Ian and Mark to show why their crazy views are crazy. It almost feels like calls are being screened and more prepared content is taking over. This is just from a listener standpoint.
The other problem is it gets tiring listening to the show 7 days a week. It's starting to become a news commentary show rather than a call-in show from what I can tell. It seems the more stations the show gets, the lesser the quality becomes. With the exception of a couple of current 3rd hosts, the current crop is not up to par of what the old ones were. Again, just a listener's observation, I could be completely off my rocker on all of this.
This is not to take away from how successful the show has become. Mark and Ian, you guys are some of the hardest working radio hosts from what I have seen. I'm concerned there might be some burnout taking place on both listeners and the hosts. I'm tired of hearing about the CD, because it seems like you guys are banging your heads against a brick wall and getting nowhere, which could be contributing to the burnout.
I wish I could offer solutions, but frankly I have none. The show seems to have reached its peak and I fear it might be on the downward spiral. I'll continue to support the show, because I still think it offers at least a little bit of value to new listeners, but it does seem to be moving away from teaching people about liberty and towards how liberties are being taken away without much solution other than join the FSP.
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The show needs more laughs.......... and boobies.
Oh, and you dont need to come back with "YOU'RE A BOOBIE!" cuz I already thought of it, so it wouldn't be all that funny.
The show needs to entertain as much as it needs to educate. Once you get the basic message of the show, its kinda hard to listen day in, day out if theres not alot to stimulate your brain in another way seperate from that.
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Mark is incorrect about the downloads being down. People come, people go. That's how its always been. Some people like some co-hosts, dislike others.
Usually if someone says "the state doesn't exist", that idea is explained, so it's not just dropped on people without explanation.
Some people call in to thank us for helping them find liberty, so despite all your complaints, we're still accomplishing what I set out to - bringing people principled ideas in an entertaining format.
If the show has burned on you, there's really nothing I can do about that.
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Also, I'm sorry FTL isn't exactly what you might want it to be. If we did the show exactly how you want it, then it would just disappoint a different set of people. Perhaps you should consider looking on the bright side:
-FTL airs on over 100 radio stations coast-to-coast, plus XM.
-TALKERS named us #52 on the "Heavy Hundred" list this year, up from #79.
No other program with a principled, liberty-oriented host can claim anything close to that. I wish there were more liberty-oriented programs on national radio, but I'm afraid that's just not the case. Some day, I'd like to help make that happen for other shows, but I don't have the $100,000 per year that it would take.
If you think you can do it better (surely someone can), feel free to enter the market and give us some competition. I'm really not a great talk show host, but I'm a persistent businessman, and Mark and I have made this work.
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The other problem is it gets tiring listening to the show 7 days a week. It's starting to become a news commentary show rather than a call-in show from what I can tell. It seems the more stations the show gets, the lesser the quality becomes. With the exception of a couple of current 3rd hosts, the current crop is not up to par of what the old ones were. Again, just a listener's observation, I could be completely off my rocker on all of this.
I don't blame you for not listening to 21 hours per week - that's a LOT of content! Remember, this is a radio show first and foremost. We offer seven shows per week because that helps us get on more radio stations. You already know what liberty is about, but the people "scanning the band" in their hometown do not necessarily. Seven days of content increases our chances of reaching *their* ears.
If we aren't taking calls, it usually means we have none to take. Yes, we have over 100 stations but not many air us live during the weeknights. Without callers, yep, it's a news commentary panel discussion show.
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Also, it's nonsense that we talk too much about CD. There's hardly any of which to speak! Within the last week, the only CD we discussed was the profanity protest in Middleboro.
Seems the objections here are regarding the type of CD that tends to happen up here in the Shire. Fact is, people move here because of the people doing CD. I call that effective.
All the CD critics have valid points about planning and considering one type of CD over another. To them I say, show us how its done! Give us a good solid example of effective, well-planned CD that wins over the majority of people. I'd love to talk about YOUR CD on the air. I'd love to interview you about what worked for you.
Call anytime and tell us all about it!
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Once again, you're conflating doing activism with broadcasting the most offensive activism all over the world and implying that it's going to persuade people to accept "the ideas of liberty." IMO, there are several examples (some of which I've enumerated repeatedly) that drive people away from "those kooks" more effectively than anything.
All some of us are asking is that you consider what you're saluting, on air, as productive activism that's consistent with liberty. Occasionally, there's something that doesn't need to be pimped on-air for its scandal value. Occasionally there's something that drives "fellow travelers" to say to themselves "now, there's a bunch of jerks I don't want to be like--their 'philosophy' must be a bunch of shit!" (Or worse yet, "What would the world be like if everyone behaved like that?") We know that's not true, and rests on false premises, but some of them never will, because they've tuned out the shenanigans, and principled libertarianism along with it.
Now, I know you're going to come back with "everybody's got an opinion," but there comes a time when you want to persuade those not yet persuaded, as opposed to those of us who are already in the choir. You probably aren't appreciative enough of the echo chamber you live in. It's very easy for people otherwise sensitive to libertarian ideas to get "tired of those fucking hippies and their stunts."
I hope this response reaches you in an open-minded state, as you seem to be a bit more thoughtful (on this topic) this morning. Lest it sound like I'm just trying to heap on negativity, there's a reason I'm an amplifier--it's because I want the message spread, and as you've indicated, there's not a wealth of alternatives. In general, I think you do a great job as a show host, and I don't doubt your sincerity. I just think you sometimes fail to grasp how easy it is to have a negative impact that counteracts all the hard work you do, along with [that of] a great many others, to have a positive impact.
One more thing. Liberty oriented people are more likely than others to give you "the straight scoop" on what they think. It's probably in our DNA. There's something more to it, however--we're like lost family. We'll tell each other when their shit stinks. We wouldn't tell "outsiders" the same thing because we don't care about them, or what they're doing, as much. I know it doesn't feel good to hear it, but you should probably be glad that people who care are willing to give you what you may not recognize as a heartfelt, salient opinion.
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Why not call in and give us your opinion when you hear us talking about something you don't like? Wouldn't that be more productive than just complaining here and hoping we talk about something else?
Hear something you don't like? Call the show and tell us why. "Here's why I think this is bad activism...x,y,z."
That would make for a better show, IMO.
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Why not call in and give us your opinion when you hear us talking about something you don't like? Wouldn't that be more productive than just complaining here and hoping we talk about something else?
Hear something you don't like? Call the show and tell us why. "Here's why I think this is bad activism...x,y,z."
That would make for a better show, IMO.
First off, I listen to the podcast, not the radio show, and I'm generally busy during those hours. I used to have a lot more time to sit and wait to get on the air for a minute or two. Second, I'd prefer not to be airing the "family business" as "dirty laundry" on the air. Finally, of course, critique of the show is pretty bad radio, and I'd like the show itself to stay more positive. I'd be the first to say that threads like this are a real downer (however important.)
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Disagreeing with hosts is great radio. You can always call the next day. If I think something is worth talking about and you think it's terrible, I think that would be entertaining to listen to.
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Obviously I am oblivious to what people think is bad activism, so if no one calls to give their opinion, then the audience will only get the opinion of the hosts. (obvious)
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They're giving you their opinion right here! You're free to change your opinion a bit in response.
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If you want your opinion represented accurately, don't leave it to me to paraphrase.
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If you want your opinion represented accurately, don't leave it to me to paraphrase.
We're not asking you to restate it. We're asking for you to take it to heart (or at least, I am.) Do you understand why it seems like you're not listening? What did I just spend 20 minutes writing? You might want to read it again.
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You think it's bad to talk about certain forms of activism. I tend to disagree. Sorry. Feel free to call in to talk about the specific activism you think is bad and why.
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You think it's bad to talk about certain forms of activism. I tend to disagree. Sorry. Feel free to call in to talk about the specific activism you think is bad and why.
No. I don't. I'm talking about it now. I think it's counterproductive to air the dirty laundry to the people you're trying to persuade. Once more, it's not about the activism itself, but about pimping it to people it will obviously dissuade from libertarianism. Since you obviously have a reading comprehension problem or are not as sincere as I gave you credit for, I'm not going to continue this charade.
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You want the show to be something it's never been. FTL's a reality program. This freedom thing is messy, and I'm not going to clean it up for you. We talk about the good and the bad.
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What I can't figure out is why Ian is on MWD's side on the fight in court debate. His stance between there and this thread seem contradictory to me.
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What I can't figure out is why Ian is on MWD's side on the fight in court debate.
Cult of personality.
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I don't think Ian looks up to MWD that much, maybe he is starting to see the silliness if civil disobedience.
I think most libertarian types are kind of immune to cult of personality syndrome, hence the hearding cats simile we so often are compared too.
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What I can't figure out is why Ian is on MWD's side on the fight in court debate. His stance between there and this thread seem contradictory to me.
I'm not sure what this post means. Can you clarify?
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I mean are you for self sacrificing to the mercy to the system to prove how evil it is or not?
Saying "Just in New Hampshire." is a fair answer.
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I think activism outside the Shire is a waste of time.
I don't believe that by not taking the plea deal that I am sacrificing. It's an investment in the future of liberty.
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I realized the flaw in my post when I typed the response. With that said, you have to see the folly of making yourself a target even in New Hampshire.
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No, I think CD is very important to the future of liberty. Begging is not going to stop the aggression.
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Poking the bear with a stick probably won't help. Having done what you can to avoid the bear and documenting being mauled by the bear anyway might get you slightly more sympathy, too. It might even get the bear euthanized.
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Begging is not going to stop the aggression.
If by "begging" you mean, the political process, the facts keep indicating otherwise.
http://freestateproject.org/content/nh-rejects-obamacare (http://freestateproject.org/content/nh-rejects-obamacare)
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CD is important to moving along the political process. I think I've acknowledged that politics is having success in NH. However, that doesn't mean people should cower in the meantime. Stand up for what you believe.
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When dealing with a bully, You can avoid them or try and kick their ass (beat them at their own game). Getting in their face and putting yourself at their mercy so they can beat you up more won't work, in fact it will probably make them worse.
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You can also stand up to the bully, peacefully, with large numbers of people.
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That would work in high school. I like my little similes, so it would be nice to just agree, but I don't.
Back to Derrick, That is one tough dude. Imagine if he had used his work ethic to build up a business. He has the personality and looks to be the next Gok Wan or some other no nonsense gay business person, admired and respected. He went down the CD road and turned himself into kind of a joke who gives school crossing guards grief and tries to run from cops in a car on a bicycle. He is a young man so He can still do anything he wants, I would prefer if he would turn himself into something more then a punching bag for the state.
It would be awesome if CD worked but I can't see how peacefully going through the system can ever help when in the enemy's court they seem to manage to fill the juries with statist, morons or sheep. It doesn't matter how many people are booing when they arrest activists. I am willing to bet they are getting used to it, and any cop who does see the light will wash out. TSA Jorge is a hero, as we found out at porcfest. What if activist showed up forcing his hand every day? It would make it harder for him to save people when he gets the chance. A good cop has to live a lie and work damage control to save lives from within.
Any perusing of history shows that people in power will do any unimaginable evil to keep it. These people you are up against have armies and nuclear bombs. Egomaniacs that claw their way to power have shown themselves to be more nasty and self justifyingly horrible then any serial killer.
If some of the energy given to CD was concentrated on agorism and practical politics instead, there would be better progress. People would start to respect the people in the movement. At some point activists and freedom lovers could deal with the state on equal footing.
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Michele was telling me she was at the home of some affluent members of the Keene community to talk to them about renting a home they are trying to sell. She'd never met them before and the FSP came up. Civil disobedience came up as M7 told them that some people were getting burnt out on doing CD. The woman of the house was disappointed and encouraged us to "keep it up".
Remember, the people who hate what you do are going to be the loudest. All the while, more people who appreciate it will tend to keep that quiet.
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Those silent CD supporters will stay silent as you rot in jail. If they depended on you for a product or service they wouldn't.
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Back to Derrick, That is one tough dude. Imagine if he had used his work ethic to build up a business. He has the personality and looks to be the next Gok Wan or some other no nonsense gay business person, admired and respected. He went down the CD road and turned himself into kind of a joke who gives school crossing guards grief and tries to run from cops in a car on a bicycle. He is a young man so He can still do anything he wants, I would prefer if he would turn himself into something more then a punching bag for the state.
WORD!
Derrick is a great co-host, but I think Ian has been a horrible influence on him.
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Just shows you don't know Derrick J.
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Wasn't Ian in jail when Derrick started his victimless crime spree? I don't think Ian was influencing much more then clean dishes at that point.
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Just shows you don't know Derrick J.
We know what you've pimped on the air versus him being on the air. I think there are plenty of us who prefer the latter. Hell--give him Stephanie's seat--that would be an incredible improvement!
Wasn't Ian in jail when Derrick started his victimless crime spree? I don't think Ian was influencing much more then clean dishes at that point.
No, deciding to work with him to make a movie starring dumb decisions isn't influencing him at all.