gatekeepers (Radio 4) | BBC Sound
Plot: Million Dollar Lover | BBC Sound
Heart and Soul: Radical Empathy and the Devil (BBC World Service) | BBC Sound
Archives of 4: Barry Humphries: Masterfully Uncut (Radio 4) | BBC Sound
gatekeepers This is another authoritative Radio 4 series about the state of the internet we're in. Hmm.I just reviewed Jon Ronson's work. things fell apart and Marianna Spring why do you hate me?, I was reluctant to listen to other stories. After a while, watching these shows starts to make you depressed. They're always amazingly researched, carefully scripted, methodically fair and extremely interesting, but they're also essentially the same thing. In today's world, differences are encouraged and encouraged online. why? Because such “engagement” requires money. And when virtual hatred affects real life, those with money squirm to escape responsibility.
Anyway, I told myself and started. gatekeepers. And I'm so glad I did it. Presented and researched by Jamie Bartlett. missing code queen The eponymous series begins on the familiar pod ground of January 6, 2021, when the U.S. Capitol was stormed. We were concerned that President Trump was spreading falsehoods, or worse, inciting violence, and Twitter employees ultimately ended up suspending then-President Trump's account. is in sync with. “Who actually pressed the button?” [to suspend the account]? ” Bartlet asks. “I'm not going to answer that question,” said Yoel Roth, Twitter's head of trust and safety at the time. “That wasn't me.”
But why was President Trump allowed to spout misinformation online? Was Twitter right to allow him? Was Twitter right to stop him? Bartlet returns to the beginning of the Internet, to the old world of his wide web, to gain insight. Its initial atmosphere was liberal hippie, which Bartlett attributes to the influence of books such as: Whole Earth Catalog, an accurate underground manual that will tell you everything you ever wanted to know. Newly online hippies hoped the Web would become a virtual version of this book: a “global consciousness.” Years later, a mild-mannered hippie type would advise Mark Zuckerberg on starting Facebook, before Zuckerberg was mentored by Peter Thiel. Mr. Thiel believes that “competition is for losers,” and that if you start a business, you need to drive out your competitors and become a monopoly. And Mr. Zuckerberg's attitude changes completely.
We're only a few episodes in, but there are some interesting Sliding Doors moments that wouldn't have ended up where they are now if other decisions had been made. Many of these moments have been covered before. For example, the passage of Section 230 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The law stipulates that platform providers are distributors of what users say, rather than publishing everything they say. (Thus, the platform is not responsible for hate speech.) Still, Bartlett is a good presenter; gatekeepers We rarely break new ground, but we move forward with fun. And so far, I'm not that depressed.
If you're looking for something a little less valuable, if you're looking for something a little less valuable. dirty johnthen rushes to Sue Mitchell's house million dollar loverpart of BBC Sounds conspiracy strand. I missed this 10-part opus when it came out a few months ago, but I've had two massive binge-watches since. Mitchell tells the true story of a love affair between her two neighbors in California (Mitchell is British, but has an American partner who has a home in California). Carolyn and Dave are a couple. Carolyn is 80 years old, and she is a young, wealthy widow for her age. Dave is a 57-year-old homeless former junkie and prison inmate who gardens for Carolyn and then moves in with her just two weeks later. Alarm bells begin to ring, at least for Carolyn's daughters, and a terrifying emotional battle begins between her daughters and Dave.
The show's greatest feature is Mitchell's access and her uncanny ability to interview everyone involved without judgment. So, through the relationship between Carolyn and Dave, we also heard from Carolyn's daughters and Dave's daughter. This is a very small and charming story, one that will have you screaming at your audio player while listening to it. I strongly recommend it.
About yesterday's World Service Heart and Soul: Radical Empathy and the Devil I met with forensic psychiatrist Gwen Adshead. In her lovely, soft-spoken way, she explains that she has always been interested in “what happens when people do bad things.” Adhead works with some of the UK's most violent offenders and she has a particular interest in “women who have assaulted or abused children in any way”.
She spoke to Irwin James, the murderer-turned-journalist who died last month, and said she wanted to work with people like him in “a space where people can talk about what they've done and think about it in a human way.” Explain how much you like doing it. ”. “Radical empathy” is the word she uses to describe her own work, and it is rooted in her Christian faith. What a wonderful program. It's quietly moving and poses an interesting test for the listener. You find yourself thinking: Really, can you be in the moment with a murderer without feeling like you're making a moral judgment?
Much lighter and brighter, but just as nice Barry Humphries: Glory Uncut upon 4 archives on Saturday night. It was hosted by Rob Brydon, a Humphries fan and friend, and was attended by many of Humphries' friends and fellow creators. It was fun to think of Sir Les Patterson in the awful spitting and drunk Rue, and the wonderful Dame Edna Everage.
Critic Jon Rahr was as insightful as ever, recounting how he spent a lot of time on tour with Humphrys when she was playing Dame Edna. Mr. Lahr had just experienced the most terrifying loss. Two children died. Everyone scoffed at the idea that Dame Edna could heal people. “It's crazy to think that this clown is a healer because he's so mean,” Ra said. “But I can only say that she was.” Laughter and Edna can cure almost anything.
Finally, I was shocked to hear this Steve Wrightdeath. An absolute giant of radio, obsessed with the medium of radio and the traditional job of being a DJ. His very particular take on zoo radio – a cheerful “crew”, witty callbacks, hilarious listener interactions and great star interviews – became the gold standard, and by the 1990s Radio 1 I could easily travel with him to Radio 2. Like him. He was dearly loved by his colleagues and listeners and will be truly missed.