Podcasts (not the Iron Bru)

[Siderite]

It was so frustrating at a time when I was trying to argue against Corbyn as someone who leans to the centre. It was hard to get taken seriously, because online people would assume I meant I was like Rubin. If he is going to hold such beliefs fine, but presenting himself as a centrist and a true liberal, when it was clear he wasn’t, and arguing against such would have his fans calling me a ‘regressive leftist’ was dishonest. He has guru tendencies in that his fans treat critique as a personal attack and respond with character judgements.

He was too dumb, boring and uncharismatic to climb to larger fame in the manner of Peterson, Brand or Neil Oliver. I remember him arguing against government intervention on environmental issues because we don’t need that; individuals can shame polluters into good behaviour by posting pictures on snapchat of pollution by big industry.

That’s the infuriating thing. He clearly isn’t an old school centrist, he is a conservative, and such pretending to be otherwise is dishonest and that grates. His opinions are poorly thought; the snapchat solution he presented was mind boggling in its idiocy from failing to understand how pictures cannot get an idea of pollution really (a lot of it is hidden, it says nothing of concentrations) and won’t stop businesses with bad practice. And his fans treated measured criticism of these stupid ideas as angry tantrum throwing of lefties who couldn’t take another opinion. No, I just think is ideas are dumb and harmful, but he’s welcome to his dumb ideas. The ‘very sensible’ people who treated critique of him and claims as him not being a liberal as some hard left smears are silent now he’s openly supporting Trump and DeSantis, making Russian apologism and anti-vaxx woo. On top of this he is so cringeworthy. Check out his stand up routine!

[Siderite]

A break from the gurus pod. A great podcast on the Tavistock scandal on trans care for children:

https://www.blockedandreported.org/p/episode-155-hannah-barnes-on-the#details

[64]

I tend to not look at political idcasts as they lead you down blinkered alleys but I enjoyed this video one Today ,an interesting take from them both about the state of politics

Last podcasts series I listened to was Louis Theroux in lockdown.
I tried the Athletico mince one to and Richard Herring,that’s my lot I’m afraid

[Siderite]

I thought Jon Stewart and especially Ian Hislop would be too neoliberal for your taste, 64? :-)

[64]

I don’t know what a neo liberal is,part of the reason I don’t listen to poltical podcasts as they talk a whole non inclusive language.
These two people may or may not be politically polls apart but their sense of the ridiculous in Politcal discourse attracts me

[Siderite]

I was only being tongue in cheek. ;-)

[64]

I assumed that but thought worth replying

[Iron-awe]

Watched that podcast on you tube Sunday night, both certainly don’t have a lot of good to say about Messrs Murdoch and Trump, very funny in places, Hislop and Merton always make me chuckle on HIGNFY.

[Deereyme66]

On the subject of Murdoch, sober Bri talks removal from the planet and double standards:

[Iron-awe]

Ha ha good old Cloughie, bet he had a couple of whisky’s in him when he did that interview. Maxwell walked off a boat to meet his fate, maybe somebody could send Murdoch on a one way cruise 🤷

[Deereyme66]

One influencer the world would be better without.

[Deereyme66]

Could be an interesting 2 parter. Only listened to the opening chat about what’s coming up include Chomsky and Matthew McConnaghy, who’s got some self stuff out apparently

[Deereyme66]

Might have misheard the McConnaghy stuff. I see he’s got an autobiography out now that looks worth reading. Ordered a copy.

A mate just sent this, a piece about how Peterson uber fan became disillusioned with him through critical thinking. Haven’t read the piece as yet myself.

Haven't written about @jordanbpeterson in a while. Once he had been exposed as a charlatan, and ducked a debate, seemed no point repeating myself.

But just had a fascinating conversation with an ex-fan who explained how he came to see through Peterson:https://t.co/1ZgodbDNZE

— Nathan J Robinson (@NathanJRobinson) June 3, 2023

[Just Iron]

I just read it. I might get the writer’s book. I really like Jordan Peterson and the contribution he has made in public discourse … but there are no pedestals I’m happy to fill. It’s interesting to me that this guy describes him as ‘right wing.’When I’ve mentioned Peterson to a couple of friends that’s how they’ve seen him too. I never did see him like that. Maybe that just confirms how far gone I am!!

[Deereyme66]

Just read the piece, quite rushed. This extract encapsulates what I think about Peterson well:

‘He’s also able to weave in a lot of different topics together, where he’s got the self-help, he’s got religion, he’s got psychology, and then the politics…If you listen to one of his lectures where he’s in this lecture hall talking for  an hour, two hours, he’ll go across all these different topics and weave them, like he’s trying to give the impression that they’re all unified together. But it’s this hodgepodge of different things that maybe aren’t related. It gives this feeling of “Wow, this guy knows about everything, and he’s just so knowledgeable, and he’s giving this profound insight that other people just don’t have. I think there is definitely an impression that you’re getting genius insights from this person. I think that’s what leads to over-trusting of his information, because if he’s a genius, then why look into anything he says? He must just be correct.’

As the ‘Decoding…’ guys frequently point out about ‘guru’s’ like Peterson, they’re big on charisma and often stream of consciousness ramblings that link a lot of disparate ideas together to form a grand narrative. But when you examine what they’re actually saying (when someone like Peterson stops for breath!), it often doesn’t stand up to critical analysis. He and others like him are also very good at slipping in a ‘but I could be wrong!’ disclaimer, but equally tell you that they’re absolutely right. Very contradictory. Also, very keen to knock leftist ideas but whilst saying for instance ‘Trump is bad and I don’t agree with him’ don’t go to town on him and the far right in any way near as great length. Reminds me a bit of our old pal Bucks with a cursory ‘of course what the Tories did there is wrong’ but then proceeds to rip in to the left fir the rest of the discussion!

[Deereyme66]

I also don’t subscribe to his bleak view of the world and mankind. Think his opiates dependence might have something to do with that? Very negative outlook but remedied via medication. Hardly someone to be taking inspiration from!

[Just Iron]

I understand your perspective on Peterson ..but lots to disagree with you and the writer from my own position. However .. my main reason for responding is that final reference to his illness a few years back. As someone who has battled through a season of the old depression malarkey I don’t think such an episode disqualifies anyone from making a useful contribution and the use of medication is neither here nor there. For me I feel fortunate that I emerged with a deeper self awareness and empathy for the plight of others. I certainly think Peterson was humbled by what he went through. Any perceived ‘bleakness’ of perspective I think was in evidence long before his illness and …I suggest .. rooted in empirical evidence. To characterise him as negative is I suggest, to see only one half of the coin.

[Deereyme66]

Open to interpretation JI, but I find his general view of the world and mankind quite bleak. He has a low opinion of it that perhaps says more about him than what he’s judging. ‘Long before his illness’. Agreed. ‘Rooted in empirical evidence’? How so? Rooted in his brain IMO. Not sure I’d agree about there being 2 sides to him. More than that I reckon!

[Just Iron]

Not sure how so many people claim that he has helped them if his view of the world and mankind is so negative and bleak. The empirical evidence I was thinking of was his analysis of the origins of totalitarians of the 20th c, the pathologies he encountered in his clinical work etc I would just call him realistic.

[Siderite]

Been listening to some more guru stuff:

https://decoding-the-gurus.captivate.fm/episode/interview-with-jonathan-howard-on-covid-contrarians

Pleased to see the Chomsky episode is up. I am pleased they are covering more lefty gurus.

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Deereyme66

[Deereyme66]

Usually enjoy their introductory banter before they cover the episode topic

[Author]

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