Reason Writers on Minnesota Public Radio: Matt Welch and Michael Shermer Talk Conspiracy Theories

Matt Welch | 5.24.2011 11:01 AM

Happening now through about 11:45 EDT; listen here, and call in!

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MNG 15 years ago

You think we don't know this is all part of the conspiracy?
James Ard 15 years ago

Unfortunately for Matt, calmer heads will not prevail in this discussion. There's a conspiracy crisis despite any real evidence Matt produces.
Name Nomad 15 years ago

... and of course Hercules Decathlon Savignon posts in the thread below this one, rather than in the thread where his crazy is almost asked for.
1. Pro Libertate 15 years ago
  
  He's actually quite willing to engage in discussion. I asked him if, since he indicated an imperial future, I had a chance at the Duchy of Florida. He told me that Florida wouldn't be independent but would be part of some greater Caribbean province.
Fist of Etiquette 15 years ago

I question the timing of this.
Episiarch 15 years ago

Chemtrails?
Joshua 15 years ago

Neuroscience origin of conspiracy theorism? Are they going to start mandating medication?
Joshua 15 years ago

Snopes is better than NYT?!

well... yeah. Obvy!
Joshua 15 years ago

I hate call-in shows. Everybody's an idiot.
1. Pro Libertate 15 years ago
  
  You ever notice that the caller is rarely brilliant? I mean, more rarely than demographics would indicate? I think one universal trait among radio talk is their aversion to being humiliated on air. Even screening out obvious intellect doesn't always save them, as we see particularly in sports talk.
  1. Joshua 15 years ago
    
    I dunno - I suspect that the act of calling into a radio show turns normal sensible people into raving madmen.
  2. SugarFree 15 years ago
    
    Self-selection bias. Most people with nuanced opinions don't listen to it, the ones that do don't call in, the ones that call in are culled for the bombastic morons. Talk shows will always de-evolve into The Jersey Shore.
    1. Pro Libertate 15 years ago
      
      Oh, sure, in part. But I've listened to enough during commutes to suspect excessive intelligence is on the screen-out filter list. Besides, smart people don't necessarily equate to high ratings.
      1. SugarFree 15 years ago
        
        HOW DARE YOU ARGUE WITH ME! I SHOULD PUNCH YOU RIGHT IN YOUR WHORE MOUTH!
        
        Pro Libertate 15 years ago
        
        Yes, that's what happens when they get through by mistake and don't agree with the host.
        
        SugarFree 15 years ago
        
        My rage could drown stars!
        
        Pro Libertate 15 years ago
        
        You have the plak tow.
        
        Joshua 15 years ago
        
        but only after you greet the host "Hi, how are you?"
        
        He's answered that question 40 goddamn times in the last hour!
      2. Libertymike 15 years ago
        
        You're missing some things:
        
        1. The format does not lend itself to comprehensive expressions of ideas.
        
        2. Dialogue is a one-way street with the majority of talk masters.
        
        3. There is no "fairness doctrine" for callers who, in the timid view of the talk master, pose an intellectual threat to the host.
        
        Pro Libertate 15 years ago
        
        I miss nothing. . .but your mother! [Hangs up on Libertymike.]
        
        Libertymike 15 years ago
        
        Yes, that has happened, more or less, to me. I bet you have heard many variations on that theme as well.
        
        It happens a lot with sports talk. If you were to ever listen to WEEI, 850 AM, in Boston, you would be in for a treat. There is one notorious Yankee fan by the name of Frank from Gloucester. All of the station's regular hosts make sport of him. They won't let him complete a sentence before they pepper him with irrelevant interruptions.
2. Aresen 15 years ago
  
  That's because the Illuminati cull out the sensible callers so only the idiots can get through.
  
  They control The Phone Company Monopoly? after all.
  1. Pro Libertate 15 years ago
    
    I was going to tell you that you had it backwards, but the Phone Cops are running up the stairs.
James Ard 15 years ago

Of course the death panels phrase bothers the crap out of Kerri, she's an NPR anchorette.
Joshua 15 years ago

Perpetuate the crazy!
Joshua 15 years ago

People love to believe bullshit! Surprise!
Joshua 15 years ago

but! but! authority never lies!
Joshua 15 years ago

"We're going to follow up this story on conspiracy theories with a discussion of the interconnectedness of this crazy ass weather"

eh... so no lessons learned then.
1. Joshua 15 years ago
  
  Yep, they're going there.
  
  Climate change is making for bigger badder storms. But maybe fewer of them.
2. Joshua 15 years ago
  
  A lot of "I don't know" and "We don't know how it works" but OF COURSE it's all because of the man-caused climate change!
Joshua 15 years ago

Murricans have no excuse for believing bullshit because we have NPR.

Riiiiiiight....
Joshua 15 years ago

Pretty good job Matt. I think you were effective in sneakily sliding in the idea that all of are a better source than the "elite" of us.
1. Matt Welch 15 years ago
  
  Thank you, and thanks for listening!
James Ard 15 years ago

So they follow up a segment on crappy journalism and conspiracy theories with a segment on global warming causing the tornadoes?
Otto 15 years ago

Nice tie.

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Reason Writers on Minnesota Public Radio: Matt Welch and Michael Shermer Talk Conspiracy Theories

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