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Brendan

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Posts posted by Brendan

  1. Posted

    This isn't really a suggestion, just some words of encouragement. I just saw the closed thread and Scott's comments and realized how it was spiraling out of control, but I think you guys are getting a handle on it. I'm sure I'm not the first to say it, but it seems like a lot of forums on websites that appeal to a large audience have to reign in the masses occasionally. Even if things start with just a few bad apples, others can inadvertently fuel the flame just by adding their own two cents. It'll all clam down, and I hope this doesn't make you guys think twice about putting out these podcasts that the majority of us enjoy and comment on (fairly) respectfully!

  2. Posted

    This isn't really a suggestion, just some words of encouragement. I just saw the closed thread and Scott's comments and realized how it was spiraling out of control, but I think you guys are getting a handle on it. I'm sure I'm not the first to say it, but it seems like a lot of forums on websites that appeal to a large audience have to reign in the masses occasionally. Even if things start with just a few bad apples, others can inadvertently fuel the flame just by adding their own two cents. It'll all clam down, and I hope this doesn't make you guys think twice about putting out these podcasts that the majority of us enjoy and comment on (fairly) respectfully!

  3. Posted

    @ Patrick, it's probably just another example of people feeling more compelled to comment when they dislike something than when they like something. If you want another example, go look at the Earwolf Challenge forums! But really, there's only 3 negative comments out of 9 (now 10 with mine), so it's hard to draw too much from that.
     
    Though I was surprised when Amy mentioned in passing her friend "Sgt. Heather" and no one commented on it. Am I the only one that finds that particular nomenclature funny? I would have thought a little good natured ribbing would have been in order!

  4. Posted

    @ Patrick, it's probably just another example of people feeling more compelled to comment when they dislike something than when they like something. If you want another example, go look at the Earwolf Challenge forums! But really, there's only 3 negative comments out of 9 (now 10 with mine), so it's hard to draw too much from that.
     
    Though I was surprised when Amy mentioned in passing her friend "Sgt. Heather" and no one commented on it. Am I the only one that finds that particular nomenclature funny? I would have thought a little good natured ribbing would have been in order!

  5. Posted

    Good thing Lee knows martial arts, 'cause I don't think Scott will care for his ogling of Kulap. That'd be a fight to see, though.
     I hope Lee makes many more appearances! I wonder how a show with Lee guest hosting for Howard would sound? Might be hard to book a guest, though. Lee seems like he'd still be pretty abrasive while interviewing a celebrity guest.

  6. Posted

    Good thing Lee knows martial arts, 'cause I don't think Scott will care for his ogling of Kulap. That'd be a fight to see, though.
     I hope Lee makes many more appearances! I wonder how a show with Lee guest hosting for Howard would sound? Might be hard to book a guest, though. Lee seems like he'd still be pretty abrasive while interviewing a celebrity guest.

  9. Posted

    Glad you got it to work, Jeff! 
    The tip for Windows spacing, where you have to hold ALT then key in 0160, wasn't working for me at first. I found out you have to key the numbers by using the number pad. If you use the numbers at the top of the keyboard, it won't work. My laptop doesn't have a dedicated number pad, so I also have to hold the FN key to use the fake num pad, but it works.
     
    I also found that "ALT" plus "255" works too (one less keystroke!).

  10. Posted

    Glad you got it to work, Jeff! 
    The tip for Windows spacing, where you have to hold ALT then key in 0160, wasn't working for me at first. I found out you have to key the numbers by using the number pad. If you use the numbers at the top of the keyboard, it won't work. My laptop doesn't have a dedicated number pad, so I also have to hold the FN key to use the fake num pad, but it works.
     
    I also found that "ALT" plus "255" works too (one less keystroke!).

  11. Posted

    @Jeff: I understand your issues. Some rants take it too far, and you shouldn't take those as being representative of the majority of listeners. And even if it seems like there's more complaints, that's in part because people are more likely to write a complaint than praise. And it's also because this is a show that issues criticism and judgment, so it elicits those types of responses. So don't take it too hard, i'd say only a small percentage of listeners really thinks anything major is really wrong with the show.
     
    I don't think anybody involved in the show has done a bad job, certainly no conspiricies, and the idea that this show has tarnished or even hurt the Earwolf brand is absurd. In every case, I feel the judges tried their best to determine who deserved to go out based on what they heard. The comments I usually make have to do with disagreeing with the judgement, but sometimes, like this week, consistancy in the criteria for judging seems to be lacking.
     
    Maybe if the listeners heard the whole deliberation process, it would be more clear. Or maybe it wouldn't. Obviously it's all based on opinion, but a little more clearly defined criteria for the challenges and the judging process would go a long way, especially since the judges rotate from week to week and largely have no prior knowledge of the shows themselves or what has transpired on Earwolf Challenge before they were on.

  12. Posted

    @Jeff: I understand your issues. Some rants take it too far, and you shouldn't take those as being representative of the majority of listeners. And even if it seems like there's more complaints, that's in part because people are more likely to write a complaint than praise. And it's also because this is a show that issues criticism and judgment, so it elicits those types of responses. So don't take it too hard, i'd say only a small percentage of listeners really thinks anything major is really wrong with the show.
     
    I don't think anybody involved in the show has done a bad job, certainly no conspiricies, and the idea that this show has tarnished or even hurt the Earwolf brand is absurd. In every case, I feel the judges tried their best to determine who deserved to go out based on what they heard. The comments I usually make have to do with disagreeing with the judgement, but sometimes, like this week, consistancy in the criteria for judging seems to be lacking.
     
    Maybe if the listeners heard the whole deliberation process, it would be more clear. Or maybe it wouldn't. Obviously it's all based on opinion, but a little more clearly defined criteria for the challenges and the judging process would go a long way, especially since the judges rotate from week to week and largely have no prior knowledge of the shows themselves or what has transpired on Earwolf Challenge before they were on.

  13. Posted

    @Adam Bozarth: Nicely put. It still seems you were ousted unduly by this challenge. Through all the ire, it seems that the lack of focus with the rules of the challenge was the issue.
     
    The concept of "engagement" keeps coming up. I guess it's something that's really personal to each person. TL got the win because of it. I guess I feel that if the judges examined why they felt more engaged by TL they might have realized the shortcomings of that submission. For me, I wasn't engaged because I didn't care for the topic or the stories it spawned. It just seemed like a conversation I've heard a thousand times before. And although the judges were into it for some reason, it still didn't make them laugh at all. They never even described it as funny, which is why I question what made it engaging and why did it win? Especially when LDDC was both engaging AND funny. I'll admit their criticism that it got stale is acceptable, but I felt TL was even more guilty of that. TL just has a "The View" or "Regis & Kelly" vibe to it.

  14. Posted

    @Adam Bozarth: Nicely put. It still seems you were ousted unduly by this challenge. Through all the ire, it seems that the lack of focus with the rules of the challenge was the issue.
     
    The concept of "engagement" keeps coming up. I guess it's something that's really personal to each person. TL got the win because of it. I guess I feel that if the judges examined why they felt more engaged by TL they might have realized the shortcomings of that submission. For me, I wasn't engaged because I didn't care for the topic or the stories it spawned. It just seemed like a conversation I've heard a thousand times before. And although the judges were into it for some reason, it still didn't make them laugh at all. They never even described it as funny, which is why I question what made it engaging and why did it win? Especially when LDDC was both engaging AND funny. I'll admit their criticism that it got stale is acceptable, but I felt TL was even more guilty of that. TL just has a "The View" or "Regis & Kelly" vibe to it.

  15. Posted

    Ok, I didn't really agree with the judges this week. Totally Laime was the least funny for me. I don't care that it was an "honest conversation" like the judges said, I just didn't like the conversation. It's one of those conversations that people always seem to have that's really only interesting if you know the people involved. It always comes off as shallow to me, maybe even a little self-important. Would it have been better if it was posed to Zach Galifinakas? Maybe, but it all depends on if he wanted to make it funny & interesting. Listening to a married couple or anyone talk about how & when they lost thier virginity is pretty annoying, and TLP didn't bring anything to the conversation that I couldn't hear from literally anyone else. Yes, it was personal, but personal doesn't always mean funny or engaging.

  16. Posted

    Ok, I didn't really agree with the judges this week. Totally Laime was the least funny for me. I don't care that it was an "honest conversation" like the judges said, I just didn't like the conversation. It's one of those conversations that people always seem to have that's really only interesting if you know the people involved. It always comes off as shallow to me, maybe even a little self-important. Would it have been better if it was posed to Zach Galifinakas? Maybe, but it all depends on if he wanted to make it funny & interesting. Listening to a married couple or anyone talk about how & when they lost thier virginity is pretty annoying, and TLP didn't bring anything to the conversation that I couldn't hear from literally anyone else. Yes, it was personal, but personal doesn't always mean funny or engaging.

  21. Posted

    I'd like to offer a name suggestion for Bob & Dan, based on Doug's "Dickin' Around" suggestion:
    "BOBBING & DANNING AROUND"
    OK, it's not Shakespeare, but Shakespeare never did a podcast, as far as I know.
    One thing I'd say about their show that I don't think has been said, is that they can sound a little wooden for a show where they just riff. I forget who's who, but one of them especially seems to have his "radio voice" on too much. That precise diction is good for being understood, but it doesn't match the relaxed "shootin' the shit" format I think they're going for. Again, just a suggestion, take it for what it is.

  22. Posted

    I'd like to offer a name suggestion for Bob & Dan, based on Doug's "Dickin' Around" suggestion:
    "BOBBING & DANNING AROUND"
    OK, it's not Shakespeare, but Shakespeare never did a podcast, as far as I know.
    One thing I'd say about their show that I don't think has been said, is that they can sound a little wooden for a show where they just riff. I forget who's who, but one of them especially seems to have his "radio voice" on too much. That precise diction is good for being understood, but it doesn't match the relaxed "shootin' the shit" format I think they're going for. Again, just a suggestion, take it for what it is.

  23. Posted

    Hands down, Little Dum Dum was the funniest and made the best use of Thune. It's been said before, but the fact that they're both experienced comics shines through.
    I'd bet Bob & Dan don't make it through (Doug kind of gave it away anyway), though Totally Laime wasn't great even though this challenge is exactly what they do. But Bob & Dan haven't seemed to show why people should listen to them over this whole competition, at least in the judges eyes. I was more entertained by their interview than Totally Laime, though, but it had more to do Thune's responses being interesting.

  24. Posted

    Hey Matt, kudos for a job well done! I'm sure you'll get a lot of this today, but you did ask for it! I appreciate the job you're doing as host and the fact that you are constantly working to get better. While I'm at it, might as well praise Frank & Jeff and the judges too! And of course, all the podcasts. It's not easy to be criticized, even when it's constructive.
    As to commenting etiquette, it's unfortunate, but bad commentors happen not simply because of anonymity, but because of the lack of possible physical cconfrontation, as Matt pretty much said. Also, a lack of maturity fits in, though I think most of us have made shitty comments at any age that we'd like to take back.
    Also, the shittiness can go both ways. I made a post on the Apple Sisters board a while back that commented on this because people unfairly ripped apart a commenter who very politely said why they didn't like the show. It's all opinions and people need to voice them respectfully.

  25. Posted

    @henklewine: "TLP would bring the best array of guests and the best non-improvy/sketchy comedy to Earwolf since, well, the first ten minutes of any episode of CBB. "
    There's a lot of great guests and "non-improv/sketchy comedy" already on Earwolf besides "first ten minutes of any episode of CBB. " I think Totally Laime wouldn't fare quite as well as you think if stacked up against all of Earwolf's podcasts. That's not meant to be a slam on Totally Laime, just an endorsement for the high quality of Earwolf.
    Also, Little Dum Dum Club doesn't necessarily have an entire continent as a fanbase any more than any American podcast has the entire country as a fanbase. I think the reason some people think it would be a good choice for Earwolf is because they are both comedians and are funny on their own, even without a funny guest.

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