Another day, another podcast

This time it's the American Freethought Podcast.

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This is an experiment. To reduce complexity in my own life and enhance the quality of communication between me and you, I'm going to try this "newsletter" thingie. It will probably be weekly, roughly timed for the middle of the week, and will include links to the blog posts I personally wish that…
But there is a group, Alabama Atheists and Agnostics, which they can join, and I'm sure there are others around. Unfortunately, they seem to be limited in how they can advertise. When they tried to do the common campus practice of chalking — putting messages on the sidewalks to let students know…

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By zaardvark (not verified) on 20 Jul 2008 #permalink

Kobra, PZ didn't watch the podcast (and by "watch" I assume you mean "listen"- sorry, I'm such a pedant), he was IN the podcast! Check it out!

By John Yates (not verified) on 20 Jul 2008 #permalink

"Vitriolic", really? (They say this about PZ's posts here as a contrast to how calm he is in person.) Either the term has been diluted by overuse, or I never really understood its true meaning.

One possible definition of vitriolic is to appear smooth, like glass (synonym of vitreous). Maybe that's what they meant.

I understand 'vitriolic' to mean 'cruel' or 'bitter'. A poor choice of a word to describe the mood on this site. Hard science mixed with humor. I would use the word 'incisive'.

By sillysighbean (not verified) on 20 Jul 2008 #permalink

Oil of vitriol was the name given to Sulphuric acid by its discoverer. Sulphate salts were already named vitriols because they were glassy in appearance.

Acid tongued would be a parallel usage for vitriolic. Corrosive humour might be another.

Google Pedant.

By JohnnieCanuck, FCD (not verified) on 20 Jul 2008 #permalink

sorry, I'm such a pedant

Such as what?

By John Morales (not verified) on 21 Jul 2008 #permalink

Vitriolic", really? (They say this about PZ's posts here as a contrast to how calm he is in person.) Either the term has been diluted by overuse, or I never really understood its true meaning.)

Here's a favorite notion of mine:
The human brain expects attitude to be conveyed by tone of voice, by facial expression, and other modes which are not available (or are less available) in text. When reading text, the human brain is thus left searching for things which are not there, and sometimes, pareidolia-like, reads an attitude into a text which the writer would not have knowingly conveyed. These pareidolia-like perceptions of the attitude of the writer are affected by the experiences of the reader, and thus differ from one reader to another.

An alternative notion is the widespread media delusion that all outspoken atheists are necessarily rude, violent, militant, etc., dominates perceptions of people like PZ. (These two notions are not exclusive.)

Hi everyone, and thanks for listening to our interview with P.Z.

Following is the Webster definition of "Vitriolic", I meant it as having a caustic quality as I think P.Z. would agree that he likes to be a bit caustic in his writing to stir the pot a bit. I would never consider P.Z. to be cruel or bitter especially after meeting him in person. It was very gracious of him to come on our little podcast and we were thrilled! I hope to see everyone at the Atheist Alliance Convention in Long Beach. I will be the Vitriolic guy interviewing the speakers. David Driscoll

1 a: a sulfate of any of various metals (as copper, iron, or zinc); especially : a glassy hydrate of such a sulfate b: oil of vitriol2: something felt to resemble vitriol especially in caustic quality; especially : virulence of feeling or of speech

"Google Pedant."

Why?

By John Yates (not verified) on 21 Jul 2008 #permalink

Nice program - great insights into PZ's life in science.

By SplendidMonkey (not verified) on 21 Jul 2008 #permalink

From Dictionary.com
Pedant:
1.a person who makes an excessive or inappropriate display of learning.
2.a person who overemphasizes rules or minor details.
3.a person who adheres rigidly to book knowledge without regard to common sense.
4.Obsolete. a schoolmaster.

grammatolatry (today's word of the day)
PRONUNCIATION:
(gram-uh-TOL-uh-tree)

MEANING:
noun: The worship of words: regard for the letter while ignoring the spirit of something.

Applies very well to those cracker worshipers.

By SplendidMonkey (not verified) on 21 Jul 2008 #permalink

grammatolatry (today's word of the day)
PRONUNCIATION:
(gram-uh-TOL-uh-tree)

MEANING:
noun: The worship of words: regard for the letter while ignoring the spirit of something.

Applies very well to those cracker worshipers.

By SplendidMonkey (not verified) on 21 Jul 2008 #permalink