I'm Against Podcasts • Hacker News Board

Re: I'm Against Podcasts

#241

Post by grotsnot » Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 4:51 PM UTC

bovermyer wrote: post #101

smt88 wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree about unedited podcasts where people just talk to each other, but there are excellent podcasts that are closer to documentaries or audio books (Hardcore History, for example). They're pre-written, heavily edited, and performed well.

And that's just fine, except I don't have any interest in sitting and listening to such things. Other people are totally welcome to enjoy them; I just spend my free time on other things.

Generally, you don't just sit and listen. You do it while doing something else that is non-audio, like commuting or exercising or cleaning or cooking or...

Re: I'm Against Podcasts

#242

Post by techrich » Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 4:52 PM UTC

Ironic that the Washington post are complaining about alternative media! Its almost like they have revenue issues!

Re: I'm Against Podcasts

#243

Post by coldtea » Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 4:52 PM UTC

metamet wrote: post #188

coldtea wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I couldn't be happier to see the elites complaining about podcasts. Especially when the elite's journalistic production (e.g. WP articles) are not really higher quality: just follow some long established conventions, are self-congratulatory, follow the norms of polite talk, try to not ask the "wrong" (elite-wise) questions, put into use all the BS they've learned on "essay/creative writing" class, etc, which is why…

I think you're oversimplifying the trade of journalism and massively underselling the value and importance of it. WP isn't "the elites". They're journalists. They have a trade, which is on a completely different plane and set of standards than a random blog.

>I think you're oversimplifying the trade of journalism and massively underselling the value and importance of it

That's because I have about 15+ years experience with it (until relatively recently) from various roles (and family in the business).

>They have a trade, which is on a completely different plane and set of standards than a random blog.

From a random blog, yes. From a good blog, no. And there was no real training required in being a journalist (the same there is in engineering for example), anybody could become one (and even worse today) no matter how ignorant about the topic they cover. What little exists "school of journalism" style education used to laughed at by old school journalists (and not the worse ones either) -- and still doesn't make you an expert in politics, or tech, or whatever you get to cover.

>WP isn't "the elites". They're journalists.

Still the ten-percenters (or percenter wanna-bees), and all commingling with the elites and eating their crumbs.

Re: I'm Against Podcasts

#244

Post by dls2016 » Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 4:54 PM UTC

49531 wrote: post #186

dls2016 wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course a jean-wearing, podcast-listening, village-idiot wouldn't understand the Washington Post's high-brow takes. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04...

This is such a wonderful piece. Thank you for sharing.

The best part is that 1/3 of it is simply quotes from a WSJ piece published a few weeks prior.

Re: I'm Against Podcasts

#245

Post by ghaff » Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 4:59 PM UTC

leftyted wrote: post #192

nickelcitymario wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the popular stuff seems milquetoast Isn't that true of any medium? I don't know who the Velvet Underground of podcasts would be. I wouldn't have recognized VU when they were getting started either. I suspect this is the sort of thing that's easier to recognize when looking back. I certainly didn't understand punk the way I do now back when I was a punk rocker. All I knew was I could play a little bass (badly) with…

You've convinced me that "I'm Against Podcasts" is a stupid statement. I think you're absolutely on-point for saying that, 10-20 years from now, we'll look back on podcasts that are widely acknowledged as classic. At the same time, I think criticisms by this author are mostly valid and probably helpful (inasmuch as they push people to innovate and take risks with the medium). The criticisms are just overly broad and…

And TBH I'm not at all sure every podcast needs to be innovating and taking risks. There are lots of podcasts out there that are just interviews with interesting people or a bi-weekly panel-type discussion with sometimes guests in some topic area. Sure, some are good, some not so good but even the best aren't really breaking new ground; they're just interesting.

Re: I'm Against Podcasts

#246

Post by sholnay » Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 4:59 PM UTC

alimhaq wrote: post #143

It's pretty clear what's happening here: the author prefers music to podcasts, and then tries his best to make some sort of argument to justify this. His arguments are at best nonsensical and at worst completely contradictory. I was considering writing out a response to each of his points but it's honestly not worth my time. A lot of what the author says is a blatant slap in the face to podcasters that spend so many…

> It's pretty clear what's happening here: the author prefers music to podcasts

So true. It seems like people fall pretty hard in to one or the other, music or talk. People like the author here doesn't seem to understand or accept this? Or he just has a word count quota. I fall in to the talk side of things, my husband falls in to the music side of things. He gets to arrange all bbq, get-together playlists and I get to arrange our road trip queues that keep me awake at the wheel.

> I was considering writing out a response to each of his points but it's honestly not worth my time.

I, too, want to talk at length about this. Ultimately, that would cut in to my podcast time so I'll just grumble to myself and leave my reply at this.

Re: I'm Against Podcasts

#247

Post by matwood » Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 5:01 PM UTC

mbrock wrote: post #209

leftyted wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lou Reed made it pretty big though. I agree with the article. Especially this part: > Forget the lousy microphones and the dinky interstitial stock music — the thing that derails most podcasts is the blab. There are two kinds, more or less. The first is that soft, inquisitive staccato popularized by Ira Glass on “This American Life,” the source from which so much pod-voice appears to have sprung. The second mode is p…

Weird. The podcasts I listen to are mostly improvised long form conversations between interesting people: EconTalk, Partially Examined Life, Primo Nutmeg, The Henry George Program, Software Engineering Daily, A16Z, Track Changes, Joe Rogan, Tyler Cowan, and so on. Mainstream anything is kind of bad, but the supply of truly interesting podcasts is quite tremendous.

Agreed. Podcasts let me listen to longer form conversations about topics I'm interested in.

Re: I'm Against Podcasts

#248

Post by Slippery_John » Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 5:02 PM UTC

inapis wrote: post #207

jordanpg wrote: post #109

What an edgy, contrarian critique. Watch as the author translates his criticisms of some podcasts that he doesn't like into a global criticism of all podcasts. I wonder if this guy still insists on listening _exclusively_ to LPs and lossless audio formats. Here are some things about podcasts that I love: * some podcasts are true gems -- extremely high quality content * free * no ads or ads are trivial to avoid * blat…

Can you point me to some high quality podcasts? Most I have listened to have so much fluff and unnecessary banter that I subconsciously tune out. I have been trying to get on the podcast bandwagon but having a hard time finding something to like.

Welcome to Night Vale

The Black Tapes

Within The Wires

Myths and Legends

Ear Hustle

The Allusionist

The top four there are fiction if it matters to you.

Re: I'm Against Podcasts

#249

Post by mrbassman » Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 5:04 PM UTC

asaph wrote: post #3

Podcasts are talk radio on demand. If you're against podcasts, you're against talk radio. Or at the very least, you're against making talk radio more convenient and accessible.

The on-demand feature changes the nature of the medium. With radio you are often joining mid-stream, whereas with a podcast you always get to hear the whole thing. Plus the live callers, as others have pointed out.

Re: I'm Against Podcasts

#250

Post by ghaff » Wed, Apr 24, 2019, 5:08 PM UTC

biztos wrote: post #214

ianai wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When do people take in their podcasts? I’m thinking it’s during he work commute or at work?

I listen while: * cooking or cleaning (usually politics or culture stuff) * working if the work isn't too intense (usually lighter stuff) * on the treadmill (30 minutes of tech stuff) * doing random stuff and just want a voice in the background, like some people keep a TV on. I don't listen while commuting because my walking-and-public-transit commute requires that I stay alert and doesn't give me any sit-down time.…

I only take public transit rarely but I've never been able to adapt to wearing earphones while walking about--especially in a city. I just don't feel comfortable being isolated from my environment in that way. Probably a pretty minority opinion these days.