I really recommend everyone listen to the 4 part series on MK Ultra from Behind The Bastards[1]. Its absolutely insane that the government did this and BTB really delves deep on how it all came about.
I tried to listen BTB a couple of times, and while the topic and overall worldview they try to project is very interesting to me, the hosts of the podcast and the style of it makes it really hard and unpleasant to listen, and when after finishing a 4-hour long series on some person I ask myself: "So, what have I learned?" I often find that I really don't have anything to say in response. Except for 5-minute worth of basic biography facts from wikipedia (which I usually have to check anyways, to get a clearer picture) the rest mostly is hosts exchanging remarks like "geez, man, get a life! haha… what an asshole!" while the hosts being in fact the most disgusting assholes I ever heard, distastefully trying to make fun of most mundane, sensible life facts and decisions.
I really wish there was something like BTB, but from… you know, better people.
You put into words what I could not articulate. Having tried to get into it several times as well, I concluded they were going for a fast-paced conversation well-suited for a bar, not for substance.
What's interesting is that I've had the opposite experience! A lot of Behind The Bastards episodes are well cited and well researched. Robert often reads multiple books on a topic before presenting something, and often quotes researchers/historians whole paragraphs at a time. It's something that I've learned a lot from.
The joking banter and tone helps it go down for me. I wouldn't be able to listen to these things otherwise. It's depressing to know the some totality of what we've done to each other.
Age of Napoleon isn't the same topic at all, but it's exactly the opposite tone. I've been glued to it lately. If you don't already know about Napoleon, this will probably scratch an itch for you.
Thx for the analysis. This 'dudebro friends casual talk'-style makes a lot of podcasts hard to listen to – even when the topics are interesting.
I get it. A well moderated podcast is hard work. Throwing random Wikipedia facts at each other is easy to do and long term listeners love all the in-jokes and the atmosphere of 'friends having fun'.
Thankfully there are lots of well researched podcasts with a more 'professional' style.
Why should anyone assume the CIA or other agencies aren’t doing similar things now?
They do these terrible things, completely get away with it without any repercussions or even remorse, and we assume that they aren’t doing similarly bad things anymore.
If you observe people arguing about conspiracy theories, you may notice a pattern whereby it isn't only the conspiracy theorists that have the same rehashed talking points and thinking styles among them in the argument.
Why is assuming that they are doing similar things now any better than assuming that they are not?
Most people run with an open mind to the possibility, but wait for evidence before drawing a conclusion. And since it’s not possible to prove this kind of negative, I suspect there are very few people indeed who even bother to make negative assumptions in this space.
The CIA quite possibly/probably still do terrible things, but they probably don't do quite so many batshit insane things any more, just because somebody probably checks the expense reports these days.
krick|2 years ago
I really wish there was something like BTB, but from… you know, better people.
thunfischbrot|2 years ago
areoform|2 years ago
The joking banter and tone helps it go down for me. I wouldn't be able to listen to these things otherwise. It's depressing to know the some totality of what we've done to each other.
boppo1|2 years ago
gloryjulio|2 years ago
nicbou|2 years ago
If you want banter, but not the mean and forced kind, The Dollop is a much better Behind The Bastards.
Yemeth|2 years ago
I get it. A well moderated podcast is hard work. Throwing random Wikipedia facts at each other is easy to do and long term listeners love all the in-jokes and the atmosphere of 'friends having fun'.
Thankfully there are lots of well researched podcasts with a more 'professional' style.
pitaj|2 years ago
nonethewiser|2 years ago
They do these terrible things, completely get away with it without any repercussions or even remorse, and we assume that they aren’t doing similarly bad things anymore.
mistermann|2 years ago
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_truth_effect
If you observe people arguing about conspiracy theories, you may notice a pattern whereby it isn't only the conspiracy theorists that have the same rehashed talking points and thinking styles among them in the argument.
brookst|2 years ago
Most people run with an open mind to the possibility, but wait for evidence before drawing a conclusion. And since it’s not possible to prove this kind of negative, I suspect there are very few people indeed who even bother to make negative assumptions in this space.
Mindwipe|2 years ago
dangitnotagain|2 years ago
Thought control is a full on secret society among us. They influence the government as the voices in the backs of their minds.