Audio interview with Mark Shuttleworth

DCParris,

I just didn't dig "link it up and take it away" as done by the guy who does movie intros. It made me laugh out loud. Before that however, "playful banter" made me smirk. Anyone describing themselves or their show as having 'playful banter' implies that you find yourself quite amusing...which implies a self righteous attitude...just a pet peeve of mine...if someone thinks themselves funny...they generally aren't. And I didn't find the hosts funny at all. Perhaps if I had listened to the show from 2003 until now I'd be all about joking and having a good time...but picking up the show during the last 3 episodes means that I'm not privy to the inside jokes that are tossed around during the show...which excludes me from becoming entrenched into the show. Am I saying to be boring? Nope...I'm not. I'm saying to appeal to your audience...don't exclude them. If you can't have fun in a show without excluding your audience with inside jokes and 'playful banter' then your show is in dire need of help.

These two things above made me think that the intro needed a rewrite. I voiced my opinion. I thought the content of the show was cool (topics covered and interview) but that the intro wasn't fantastic and that I could have done without hearing A$$h0l3 and $h17 dropped within the first 3 minutes of the show. Honestly, if I want people to take me seriously, I don't start dropping Fbombs...if I want respect, I garner it by looking and acting the part.

This cursing immediately turned me away (and I was in the Air Force...where cursing happened daily) from the show. You might be saying, "get over it, your son will hear that stuff in school." Maybe so. But he won't hear me listening to it. I am supposed to provide an example of how to be for my son and that won't include listening to cursing...it just doesn't set a good example for him to follow. I become the same as those kids at school that curse up a storm. So if it is something I can't do with my son, I'm not going to do it. Which is a shame, because the content of the show was rather good.

Funny thing about that, they could become all inclusive by not dropping swear words...it's not hard. I went from cursing daily when I first came into the Air Force to not uttering a single swear word six years later when I got out. Should they have to stop cursing in their show? Of course not. However, they should keep in mind that they aren't going to win audience by cursing.

Just my thoughts and feelings on the subject(s). Take it or leave it...right or wrong.

Everyone else has commented on this, so I thought I would throw in my two cents.

I care little about the use of coarse language as a moral dilemma. Is anyone going to hell for this... I really doubt it. A long time ago, an appropriately placed expletive could do wonders to drive home an idea. As a rare and selective tool it could actually enhance the scope of one's expression.

All that has changed. The illiterates and mentally retards of the world decided (in their infinite wisdom) that, since they couldn't use real words, a plethora of vulgarity was a superior substitute for intelligent vocabulary. The more repetitions and creative combinations of profane and rude words was thought to make one really stand out... Well, it really did...

What comes to mind now when we hear that kind of garbage spewing form someone's mouth? Well, how about unimaginative, ignorant, rude, crude, and just plain stupid. In other words, we all just loose respect for the individual who tries to communicate(?) in this manner. I always find that kids respond to this explanation very well... No one likes to be perceived as stupid.

I'm not saying that one can't still get away with an occasional curse in a known group, or among friends, but it is highly inadvisable to do it in a public setting or forum...

I know that the guys at TechShow are doing an important thing here. I know they want to present Linux in a good light, but, I think they need to understand that they are not just presenting their show to an 'in group' anymore.

>>I've been an addict for over 30 years. My children have never even sampled one, probably due to the fact that they were told the truth. The same holds true for alcohol, drugs and weapons.

I was a drug counselor for juvenile for 6 years, and I've met countless clueless parents like yourself. So many normal, white suburban middle class parents have no idea whats going on in their children's lives. But hey, for me its job security.

>> You seem to have it backwards, considering it's usually conservatives who work to keep the airwaves clean.

Ahh yes, liberals are the defenders of freedom, the champions of social equality, and the only only thing stopping conservatives from establishing a dictatorship. (Please ignore the fact that liberals and conservatives alike voted the patriot act, dmca, and other laws which trample on the rights of us all)

>> I made an appeal to Hackmeister that they give their listeners' concerns a little more thought. Tuxchick seconded the motion. When one or two people have a concern about a show, the show can safely ignore them without too much negative impact. However, when a wider audience starts raising the same concerns, the hosts need to take that into consideration. They obviously are not required by law or much else to change the nature of the language they use. However, they could gain a wider audience in doing so.

No offense (seriously, I don't intend any, this time) but how would you know what would gain a wider audience? Are you the host of a more popular radio show? Did you know they've been running longer than most "podcasts" today, including Twit? Would R rated movies automatically become more popular if it were toned down to PG-13 or PG?

And also note that one of the hosts (not hackmeister) also does a linux gaming cast, and it is kept clean (at least the first few episiodes that I've listened to) presumably so his kids can listen.

>> Before that however, "playful banter" made me smirk. Anyone describing themselves or their show as having 'playful banter' implies that you find yourself quite amusing...which implies a self righteous attitude...just a pet peeve of mine

Did you ever consider the possibilty that "Playful banter" is meant to be taken sarcastically? I mean, "playful" is a word you would use to describe little children and kittens, not 4 sweaty computer geeks in an small, unventilated room talking about tech.

thetza, I don't understand your perspective at all: "No offense (seriously, I don't intend any, this time) but how would you know what would gain a wider audience? Are you the host of a more popular radio show? Did you know they've been running longer than most "podcasts" today, including Twit? Would R rated movies automatically become more popular if it were toned down to PG-13 or PG? "

First of all, that's pretty darned condescending considering you don't know a thing about any of us. How nice of you to assume we're all ignernt rubes. I've done radio and TV, I write several weekly tech columns, I've written an O'Reilly book and have a second one almost finished. So yes, I know a thing or two about audiences. There are several other folks here with a lot of smarts and experience in all kinds of arenas. Hey, you might have noticed dcparris & crew are running a popular Linux news site- what's your claim to fame?

Even so, none of that matters all that much, because the important factor is the audience. The first rule of any kind of communication is "decide if you want to communicate your message, or just have a friendly circle-jerk with your buddies." Please explain to me how multiple f-bombs, gratuitous insults and coarse language add value to the show. It's just plain stupid to alienate your audience with such self-indulgences; it doesn't matter how great the content is because the stupid stuff drives listeners away. You can rail all day about "frea speach" and how listeners just need to be more tolerant, it won't change a thing. Because, and here's a free clue, they don't need to be more tolerant. There is no shortage of great tech and Linux information sources; nobody needs to tolerate idiotic juvenile antics.

Secondly, comparing a Linux tech show to R-rated movies is stupid. What's to compare? R-rated movies are targeted to a certain audience. Most folks, when they tune into a tech show, don't expect it to be R-rated. If that's the audience that TILTS wants, they ought to post that prominently on the front page of the site.

Thirdly, being on the air all this time is a noteworthy achievement- but it is a volunteer show, there is no one to make them go away but themselves.

In a nutshell, your viewpoint is everything is someone else's fault, and they just need to get over it. I hope you are not really a counselor, the very idea gives me the willies.

Just once I would like to hear someone promote free speech as vehicle for interesting ideas and information, instead of an excuse to be a jerk.

It's also worth pointing out that the comments on the coarse language, ands requests to tone it down, were polite, unlike the responses to them.