• Security incident: ISF was recently accessed by intruders. Please change your password, and change it anywhere else you used it. Read more

NYC Skeptics Public Lecture: Rebecca Watson

Ziggy66 said:
Drinks on Wowbanger! LOL
Click to expand...
I will certainly buy Rebecca a drink or two, to make up for that lousy post!
(and the name is Wowbagger, btw, not banger, not that it's a big deal, though).


Say, Mods: Since it's too late for me to edit post #6, I was wondering if one of y'all could add a statement to the top of it. Something like this:
"Wowbagger wishes to retract this post. He apologizes, for it came out a lot meaner than he intended. We are keeping the original text here, for historical context, but unless you are reading this thread with history in mind, please pretend it does not exist."
Or, something like that.
 
Wowbagger said:
<snip>
I fully support Rebecca's radio show, and I have been pushing it onto everyone I know: friends, family, co-workers, etc.
And, hearing the whole story behind it was quite cool. The presentation was, in fact, well delivered. No refund necessary.

However, since Public Radio contests don't crop up very often, I feel it would have been nice if we also could be given some insights into what the average Joe might do, to obtain more of these opportunities. This is NOT meant to be taken as hatred of the whole thing. It is merely a suggestion for next time.
Maybe asking the producers for advice, on how to attract mainstream producers, and conveying that, would be a nice supplement.
Click to expand...
I can't speak for Rebecca, but I don't suppose such opportunities come around – or can be created – often. That's why they had a 4-hour podcasting seminar on Friday and Brian's short talk and the podcasting panel discussion on Saturday. There's something that's accessible to almost everyone (although creating a show that people want to listen to takes talent and smarts). The important thing is that these people didn't wait around for a national radio show opportunity to arise.

Michael Stackpole, who has been doing this longer than any of the other speakers, had the most concrete advice about dealing with the media and debate opponents. What I took from the other speakers, and what I tried to convey, was the inspirational idea that whatever the bothersome issue that needs fixing, amateurs with no previous experience can dive in and make a difference.

Rebecca is inspiring because what she's doing takes not only a ton of work and talent and smarts, but also a boatload of courage.






Although being an attention whore doesn't hurt... :duck:
DSCF7439.jpg
 
Wowbagger said:
I will certainly buy Rebecca a drink or two, to make up for that lousy post!
(and the name is Wowbagger, btw, not banger, not that it's a big deal, though).


Say, Mods: Since it's too late for me to edit post #6, I was wondering if one of y'all could add a statement to the top of it. Something like this:
"Wowbagger wishes to retract this post. He apologizes, for it came out a lot meaner than he intended. We are keeping the original text here, for historical context, but unless you are reading this thread with history in mind, please pretend it does not exist."
Or, something like that.
Click to expand...

Apologies for my own snarky comments Wowbagger.
 
Thank you, mods, for adding the retraction statement!

Gravy said:
I can't speak for Rebecca, but I don't suppose such opportunities come around – or can be created – often. That's why they had a 4-hour podcasting seminar on Friday and Brian's short talk and the podcasting panel discussion on Saturday. There's something that's accessible to almost everyone (although creating a show that people want to listen to takes talent and smarts). The important thing is that these people didn't wait around for a national radio show opportunity to arise.

Michael Stackpole, who has been doing this longer than any of the other speakers, had the most concrete advice about dealing with the media and debate opponents. What I took from the other speakers, and what I tried to convey, was the inspirational idea that whatever the bothersome issue that needs fixing, amateurs with no previous experience can dive in and make a difference.

Rebecca is inspiring because what she's doing takes not only a ton of work and talent and smarts, but also a boatload of courage.
Click to expand...
Don't assume I didn't know all this already.

I am, in fact, in the midst of getting up and doing stuff. I have a film project which is (slowly) making progress (it is fictional, but does have a skeptical view), content ideas for a 'blog, and another web site project I am actually collaborating with Rebecca on. I would like to see them all succeed. Though, which one I spend the most time on, will be decided as I evaluate the feedback.

I did attend the workshop, which was quite good (although, like others have said, it would be nice to hear more about blogging, and a little less about podcasting, but it makes little difference. I suspect personality is what really drives these things, anyway.).

Hearing Rebecca speak about the progress being made, and what more we can do, to attract others into critical thinking (especially women, who have, historically, been less active in these things), is definitely something I want to be part of!

Although being an attention whore doesn't hurt... :duck:
Click to expand...
I don't think we would ever allow Rebecca to be such an attention whore, if she wasn't so gosh-darn brilliant!

KingMerv00 said:
Apologies for my own snarky comments Wowbagger.
Click to expand...
Oh, that's okay. I probably deserved them. I think everyone's reaction was very appropriate, if you were to assume the post was intended to be as mean as it was. So, the next time someone makes such a comment, I expect similar reactions from y'all! Don't soften the blow. Tell it like it is!!
 
Last edited:
Wowbagger said:
I will certainly buy Rebecca a drink or two, to make up for that lousy post!
(and the name is Wowbagger, btw, not banger, not that it's a big deal, though).
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, I meant to say "Drinks AT Wowbagger (as in, Rebecca throws hers...) :-)

PS. Sorry about the nick typo
 
Excuse me, but Rebecca is not an "attention-whore" any more than a black-hole is a gravity-whore. Attention just naturally goes to her based on her innate qualities. :)

Might as well blame the sun for giving a sunburn, or romance for thrilling hearts.
 
jmercer said:
Excuse me, but Rebecca is not an "attention-whore" any more than a black-hole is a gravity-whore. Attention just naturally goes to her based on her innate qualities. :)

Might as well blame the sun for giving a sunburn, or romance for thrilling hearts.
Click to expand...

Or day for following night.

Now that I have met Rebecca, I can say categorically, she's got the charisma and brains to be a media spokesperson for our movement.

Now if we can just get her to stop cussing...
 
Great talk and excellent after-lecture schmoozing. The boy and I enjoyed it verily. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

ISF - Join now!

Every member here is approved by hand. No bots, no spam, just people who care about evidence and honest debate.

Membership is free!

Create your free account

Back
Top Bottom