On your Media Filtering

[thiolsulfate]

Just curious about any conscious decisions you've made to avoid or seek different media based on your deconversion. I've started to take account of the various changes I've made and I was curious if anyone else has done the same.

For myself, I listen to podcasts throughout the day, typically oriented towards science or skepticism, but by the end of the week or days when they skip, I run desperately low on things to listen to. Music doesn't interest me much anymore and it's gotten to the point where I've begun to memorize my audio books (right now I listen to God is Not Great [I read through the text version first] when I work out -- yes, pumping iron to Chris Hitchens.)

When I run out of podcasts or get beard with an audiobook I default to NPR, when there's nothing interesting there I listen to talk radio.

On radio show host that I've really taken issue with is Thom Hartmann. I used to love listening to him but when he starts talking about science or medicine or religion, I have to turn him off. It's become unbearable.

He has guests who make claims that environmental stress can alter DNA, that stress can be passed on as genetic information through two generations (I don't have a clue where that figure came from). He had a caller extrapolate from that previous nonsense that her current high stress is the result of being the child of holocaust survivors.

He's advocated against drinking Milk with Vitamin D saying that Vitamin D isn't a Vitamin, it's a hormone -- it's both. A vitamin is a non-specific class of nutrient, required for bodily function not produced sufficiently by the body. It's as inappropriate as saying Vitamin C isn't a vitamin, it's an acid -- it's both.

He's advocated for the loosening of hallucinogenic regulation, which I am for, but for a wholly stupid or ignorant reason: hallucinogens are natural so they're good for us. Cancer is natural, so is snake venom -- and bears, but I wouldn't advocate that everyone use them based on that. There are plenty of good reasons to end our stupid drug policy but to say that it's being natural makes it good is stupid. (Hypocritically he advocates against caffeine -- which is also natural.)

Because of all these things, his opinion that atheism is a religion and the fact that the extent of is post secondary education consists of Herbology and Homeopathy, I cannot bring myself to listen to him. What good things he says are not worth listening to the stupid shit he says about things for which he clearly has a weak understanding -- if he understands it at all.

That's one thing I've changed about my media habits. I've given up on almost all the blogs I used to frequent for similar reasons. Have any of you gone through anything like that? Totally surrendering a source of information you once held in esteem ?

[curiosityandthecat]

I do it constantly. It goes in waves. Right now I'm on a The Teaching Company kick. Been listening to "Yao to Mao: 5000 Years of Chinese History", "Great Religions: Islam" and "Cosmology". When I don't have time for a 30 minute lecture (my job keeps me either very, very sedentary or running around like a decapitated chicken) I tend to listen to audiobooks or do some Chinese practice (Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone, that sort of thing). Only when I'm home to I really listen to music, and even then I just put on some classical music or a video game soundtrack and let it go in the background. In the car, however, I jam out, haha. Also when running.

Still, I think it's part of our generation: we are sponges that grow bored very easily. I think it's why "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!" and The Daily Show appeal to me so much: it's news, but it's quick, entertaining, and not preachy. Same for Twitter.

I feel your pain. I've given up on most news channels, I don't really listen to the radio, and I stay away from most TV if it isn't on the Science channel or HBO.

What podcasts do you listen to? I'm always looking for something new.  

[Enoch Root]

Mine haven't changed much.  My Christian music folder is gone, but otherwise I listen to and watch the same stuff.  Just that now I don't feel the need to justify why I should be "allowed" to hear all the swearing.

[MommaSquid]

I've cancelled several magazine subscriptions due to the constant 'when god closes a door he opens a window' bullshit.  Women's magazines are filled with that sort of crap.  Ladies Home Journal, Better Homes and Gardens, etc.

As far as news media, I can't say I've made any changes.  I watch less tv news and read more online news, but that's probably a convenience issue.

[rlrose328]

I stopped reading just any old magazine at the doctor's office... LHJ, GH, etc.  If the cover story interests me, I might check that out, but nothing more... too much praying going on magazines these days.  I also gave up on a favorite cooking magazine (A Taste of Home) because there were too many "wonderful gifts God gives us" comments on the articles and recipes.  

I've never been a talk radio listener, either before or after my acknowledgement of my atheism (other than Mark and Brian in the morning... LOVE those guys), so that's not an issue.  I don't do Podcasts, either.  The only online "broadcast" I watch is "The Guild" and there's nothing religious in that at all.  

Politically, I never liked FOX News... my dad always had it on full blast (thanks to hearing issues) so when I'd spend a month visiting, I couldn't WAIT to be rid of that constant noise.  Dad thought O'Reilly was god.

I have to admit that People is hard to read sometimes, especially when there are more "regular people" articles than celebrity ones.  The regular people, hero, illness, dieting articles tend to have more thanking-god stuff than I like.  But I'm addicted to People, so I just shake my head and move on to the next article.

That's about it, though.

[thiolsulfate]

I subscribe to the following podcasts:
Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
the pseudo scientists
The Skeptic Zone
Freethought Radio
Skepticality

I've recently started listening to:
Atheist News
Reality Check

I also listen to:
Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper for my GIANTS News

James Randi used to have The Amazing Podcast but they haven't updated since December.

Even with all that I'm surprised at how quickly I go through my podcasts.

If anyone has any others worth listening to I'm open to it.

[Whitney]

The only media difference I've made is that I don't listen to religious music anymore...and that was something I had slowly moved away from as I was getting less religious anyway.  I guess there are also a few atheist related songs I've added to my fav list.  I really don't listen to music much and tend to prefer listening to books or watching discovery, animal planet, etc.

rlrose, I also like Taste of Home but instead of paying for their magazine I use their website http://allrecipes.com/Default.aspx for free.  I don't recall it being filled with too much god talk (other than in some of the personal blogs...and I just don't read those).  I like it because I can save everything digitally and only print what I want; free, easier than cutting out things from a magazine then having to keep track of them, and eco-friendly.

[McQ]

You mean like other than the 700 Club and Fox News?

[thiolsulfate]

You mean like other than the 700 Club and Fox News?

I would think that anyone with two braincells to rub together would avoid them like the plague.

[McQ]

You mean like other than the 700 Club and Fox News?

I would think that anyone with two braincells to rub together would avoid them like the plague.

Blasphemer! You dare to mock the 700 Club? Even worse, you dare to mock Fox News? The only truly fair and balanced news in human history?  Have at you, knave!

Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!

[Heretical Rants]

Our local fox news really isn't that bad; it just doesn't have any content:  5 minutes of politics, 20 minutes of kittens, 5 minutes of weather, and half an hour of sports.
I never really watched it because of this.


Sunday morning television is a lot funnier now.  I like laughing at the Warriors of God.