Anita Ikonen (visionfromfeeling) on a new podcast

[wardenclyffe]

This has been out for a few months. I don't know how I only just found out about it.

The idea of this podcast is pretty interesting. Skeptics interview "true believers." This appears to be the first (and only) one so far. Ikonen's an easy "get." Anyone who offers her a venue to talk will find a willing subject. I don't know how easy it will be for the podcast to find other interview subjects.

For those who lived through the mega-threads here on this board, there's not a lot new here. But if you are nostalgic for those old days, here's the link:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-belief/id446979141

Enjoy,
Ward

[Akhenaten]

It seems I have to install iTunes to listen.

That's not going to happen.

[bluesjnr]

Dit - freakin - to. It can't be worth the effort.

[MrMark]

Direct download on their website:

http://insidebelief.libsyn.com/

[wardenclyffe]

Direct download on their website:

http://insidebelief.libsyn.com/

Thanks. Sorry, I meant to post this link rather than the iTunes one, but now in case anyone's an iTunes fan, everyone's a winner. If you can call an Anita Ikonen podcast winning.

Ward

[dafydd]

iTunes has a comedy section?

[TheSkepticCanuck]

Aarg! Why do people keep giving this nut-case a platform to spout her nonsense? Hasn't the world had enough Anita for one planetary lifetime?

[not daSkeptic]

Why do people keep giving this nut-case a platform to spout her nonsense?

Because they want to take a crack at her. The lack of academic value doesn't even enter their minds.

[wardenclyffe]

Aarg! Why do people keep giving this nut-case a platform to spout her nonsense? Hasn't the world had enough Anita for one planetary lifetime?

As I suggested in the OP, I think the idea behind the podcast is a sound one. I think it would be fascinating to listen to civil, but challenging conversations between believers and skeptics. And that's followed by analysis of the conversation.

Ikonen is a perfect subject for such an interview because she can't shut up and loves an audience.

We're into the third month without a follow-up. Their goal was to do one every other week. I'm willing to bet that they are having trouble finding a willing subject to interview for episode II.

One important quibble though. In the podcast they imply that Ikonen's demonstration at TAM was the preliminary for the MDC. It was not. Although if she had guessed right instead of wrong, the JREF would have sort of had to have put her on the fast track to an actual preliminary test. That was one of the main criticisms of the "MDC Event" was that it was a very risky roll of a single die which could have been very embarrassing to JREF. JREF dodged a bullet, though.

Ward

[Andrew Wiggin]

Thanks. Sorry, I meant to post this link rather than the iTunes one, but now in case anyone's an iTunes fan, everyone's a winner. If you can call an Anita Ikonen podcast winning.

Ward

That's winning in the 'charlie sheen' sense.

[Resume]

As I suggested in the OP, I think the idea behind the podcast is a sound one. I think it would be fascinating to listen to civil, but challenging conversations between believers and skeptics. And that's followed by analysis of the conversation.

Ikonen is a perfect subject for such an interview because she can't shut up and loves an audience.

We're into the third month without a follow-up. Their goal was to do one every other week. I'm willing to bet that they are having trouble finding a willing subject to interview for episode II.

One important quibble though. In the podcast they imply that Ikonen's demonstration at TAM was the preliminary for the MDC. It was not. Although if she had guessed right instead of wrong, the JREF would have sort of had to have put her on the fast track to an actual preliminary test. That was one of the main criticisms of the "MDC Event" was that it was a very risky roll of a single die which could have been very embarrassing to JREF. JREF dodged a bullet, though.

Ward

Here's the problem I see with that. She already misrepresents her "accomplishments" (I really, really saw it!) and giving her yet another platform adds to that illusion/delusion.

[wardenclyffe]

True, but given what the show is supposed to be about, that shouldn't really matter. She seems to be a true believer. She may also be a misrepresenter (to put it kindly), but that does not mean she doesn't really believe in all sorts of paranormal stuff.

The show is designed to give a platform to people like her. It wasn't the love-fest that Jeff Wagg and Co. did with Rational Alchemy. Like I said, I think the concept of the show is interesting. I think they will have trouble maintaining it. So far they have not put together episode 2. I suspect that it's because they can't find another interview subject who is willing. There could be any number of other reasons, but I've made my guess.

Ward

[bookitty]

Aarg! Why do people keep giving this nut-case a platform to spout her nonsense? Hasn't the world had enough Anita for one planetary lifetime?

I know, right. How dare she respond to someone seeking her out in order to talk to her.

[Jeff Corey]

Does she still have a 4.0 GPA?

[wardenclyffe]

I know, right. How dare she respond to someone seeking her out in order to talk to her.

To be fair, TheSkepticCanuck was attacking the podcasters for giving her a platform, not Ikonen for responding. Although it smelled like more of an attack on Ikonen, I'll grant.

Ward

[Moochie]

Anita and I a "friends" on Facebook. I sometimes read what she writes, and sometimes not, just as I do with the other "friends." I don't happen to share her beliefs in what can be construed as "woo", but so what? She's as deserving of a hearing as anyone else, IMO.

I find that as I get older, I'm far more accepting of "kooks," and I don't think it's my mission in life to educate the masses about all things "woo." That job's being ably performed by sites like this.

Of course, if someone ventures to ask my opinion on some aspect of "woo," I shan't hesitate to provide it.

M.

[Senex]

The moderators are always tossing women who are on the verge of having sex with me.

[ThatSoundAgain]

As I suggested in the OP, I think the idea behind the podcast is a sound one. I think it would be fascinating to listen to civil, but challenging conversations between believers and skeptics. And that's followed by analysis of the conversation.

Yup, it can work well. Have a listen to at Righteous Indignation (http://parafort.com/), who have been regularly featuring lengthy interviews with believers conducted in a polite manner. That show is proof that the analysis isn't even necessary - one trick I've noticed is they do is to have the believer literally have the last word. Even then, the "hard" questions and the proper time for discussion ensures that it doesn't become a propaganda platform, indeed the believers often come away looking very silly.

It's an "enough rope to hang himself" strategy, and it works. I think my favourite is the one with Vicki Monroe (http://parafort.com/?p=1585), in which she conducts an impromptu psychic reading of the hosts. Only listen to that one if you have a high tolerance for awkwardness.

It seems not to be that hard to find believers who are willing. To their minds, what they believe in is true and easily defensible, and some of them are very used to being in the media.

[gerdbonk]

Although if she had guessed right instead of wrong, the JREF would have sort of had to have put her on the fast track to an actual preliminary test. That was one of the main criticisms of the "MDC Event" was that it was a very risky roll of a single die which could have been very embarrassing to JREF. JREF dodged a bullet, though.


Risky? If someone points a finger at you and yells "pew pew", it's not a matter of luck that you remain wholly unbullet-holed.

[wardenclyffe]

But if there's a one in six chance that a bullet will actually come out of that finger (which is how JREF set up that "event"), then suddenly it looks like Ikonen can do something. Usually you win in Russian Roulette. Usually.

Ward

[sadhatter]

Risky? If someone points a finger at you and yells "pew pew", it's not a matter of luck that you remain wholly unbullet-holed.

Yes, but that wasn't the case.

It is more like someone scatters 10,000 plastic knives and one real one, from the top of a building, above you. Chances are your not going to be hurt, but there is still that slim chance of being harmed.

[wicked_ways]

The moderators are always tossing women who are on the verge of having sex with me.

Evidence?
:p

Beth

[NoZed Avenger]

The moderators are always tossing women who are on the verge of having sex with me.



There have been 16 requests for banning from different posters in the last half hour, the applications all say "just to be one the safe side."



:P