Comments for Radiolab

Comment on Lies are only skin deep? by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 10 May 2008 03:02:09 +0000

I’d add that it I find it a sad commentary on our society, though no surprise at all, that those who lie to themselves are happier. I also believe the scientists’ solution — helping people get better at self-deception — is exactly the wrong solution and would lead to disaster if practiced on a large scale. If the truth is depressing, there are undoubtedly good reasons. That being the case, experts/leaders/psychologists/etc. should be encouraging people to take concrete actions to try to improve society — not teaching people to deceive themselves.

Comment on the bloody truth about Narcissus by Connor Walsh

Connor Walsh — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:39:41 +0000

Maybe Ovid’s Narcissus was just like a young (or not so young, ahem) guy today, looking at the image of his ideal, on the flat reflective surface of… a computer screen. Looking at the photo of a vague acquaintance on Facebook and sees an imagined body, a mirror of himself or his own dreams…

(ok I know that’s not what Ovid, and certainly not Parthenius were on about)

Comment on the bloody truth about Narcissus by Clara Kitongo

Clara Kitongo — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:04:25 +0000

Generally I like it. The sounds are out of this world which makes it all the more interesting.

Comment on Lies are only skin deep? by Michael Russell

Michael Russell — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:34:19 +0000

Commenter Maria, above, seems to be better than most at lying to herself. I’m the opposite, I’m often depressed and disappointed by the state of this world, and I agree with this shows report that people with this ’skill’ of self-deception are happier and more successful.

Because they can easily ignore negative results or information, this makes them better competitors. And because they refuse to give up on their goals, even if the outcome looks bleak, they act to take advantage of opportunities that more realistic people might not even realize exist.

However, the idea that these ’self-deceivers’ are truly happy worries me. It seems to me that if they were actually happy they wouldn’t need to lie to themselves?

Perhaps I’m ignoring something, but if self-imposed ignorance is truly bliss then all of us sould be capable of such insincere serenity.

I think I prefer honest failure and sincere suffering to false hope or psycho-euphoria, but there seems to be something to this theory. Call it the psychology of positive thinking, or competitive edge, the lie that one is better than others, that you are elite, superior, could explain the evolutionary necessity of prejudice, bigotry, racism, sexism, etc.

This could explain our ‘human nature’ and show us why saints are usually burned at the stake.

Comment on Lies are only skin deep? by Maria Coronel

Maria Coronel — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:08:13 +0000

I though your presentation on “Lies are only skin deep?” was thorough and entertaining! I have a different perspective on the results of lying to oneself which might lead to more happiness. I am a very realistic person and allow myself to accept my mistakes, and always seek for the truth of what I really feel and what I am experiencing. I am also mostly a positive person and seek to enjoy my life. Do you know if I could participate in a study, or a session to see what results I would produce?

Comment on Salle Des Departs by Nicolas

Nicolas — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:43:41 +0000

The hospital is “Hôpital Raymond-Poincaré” in Garches, France (Jad, don’t pronounce the “e” and “s” at the end, they are silents letters, it’s “Garch”, you where right on your first try).
Raymond Poincaré was President of France during 1st WW (Wikipedia articles available).
“Point carré” (pronounce it “Poin carrey”) means “square point” btw :P.

Comment on Jad and Robert: The Early Years by Cindy Henley

Cindy Henley — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:58:24 +0000

OK, we want the WHOLE boring story. I am fascinated with the story behind the story. I am one of those people who watch the background stuff on almost every DVD I own, and that’s a bunch. Even if I don’t like the movie sometimes I want to see “what were you thinking?” which is a question Robert and Jad ask quite a bit.

As far as the difference between the early shows and the later ones. There is a difference, but not a bad one I don’t think. The early shows seem as if they were meticulously crafted with every sound or nuance of sound carefully chosen with months of editing and revamping. The new shows seem a bit more thrown together. I, for one, am so anxious to hear another episode and so grateful when another one comes out that I would gladly exchange the perfection of the early shows for more frequency.

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! I am a LONG LONG LONG time TAL fan. I have listened to every episode of that show MANY MANY times. But Radiolab has possibly passed it in my list… I don’t know I have had this long time audio affair with Ira Glass… it feels like I am cheating on him or something… but you guys are really great.

Ira has talked about it often on TAL that radio is such an intimate medium. It feels as if you all are my personal friends. I met Ira once and it felt so weird… distant… just weird. Anyway… whatever you wanted to spare us from, some of us would like to hear the boring details.

Thanks,

A dear friend ;}

PS Ira brought me here when he aired part of the morality episode on TAL so I guess you can’t be all that infuriated with him for being pompous and degrading and totally lacking in visionary possibility (just kidding, Ira)

Comment on Jad and Robert: The Early Years by Jim

Jim — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:05:40 +0000

I love the podcast. It’s one of the few don’t delete after enjoying. However, I can download the entire “Early Years” episode. I’ve tried about 4 times, and it always stops at 19 minutes and 52 seconds.

How does it end?

Comment on Jad and Robert: The Early Years by Ember Deitz Goldstei

Ember Deitz Goldstei — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:00:54 +0000

Hi guys! I live in Hong Kong and listen to Radiolab on my iPod, usually while I’m cooking dinner. Anyway, I found it one day on the WNYC web site and downloaded it because I’ve always liked Robert’s approach to reporting science. Plus I knew he went to Oberlin, as did I: Class of 1991. The more I listened, the more I wondered how the heck you guys met and why Jad’s take on science, music, and, well, life, seemed so familiar. Then I got an email from the alumni association saying you guys were speaking at Oberlin because you BOTH went to Oberlin, and I thought, oh, of course. Thanks so much for bringing not only a little piece of home (New York) to me in Hong Kong but a little piece of HOME (Oberlin).

Ember

Comment on Insect Porn by Tim Donner

Tim Donner — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:37:18 +0000

Have you heard about Mirah’s new CD called “Share this Place”? Each song is about a different insect, and some versions come with a bonus cd of stop motion videos that go along with each song. See an example of the videos on this website
http://www.lorigoldston.com/sharethisplace.htm