Chris Pirillo needs no introduction. Everyone knows him as an ubergeek, the founder and maintainer of Lockergnome, former host of TechTV’s “Call for Help”, and, along with his wife Ponzi, the host of Gnomedex, the technology conference made for geeks. I always think of him as the guy with the most infectious laugh I’ve ever heard.
But recently Pirillo had the AUDACITY to talk about politics on his blog and incurred some criticism. I invited him to come on GW to chat about his views in some depth.
Here are some links for further reading:
Pirillo: When Politics and Technology Collide
Scoble: A Slight Diversion into Politics
Pirillo: Ron Paul Wins My Vote
WIkipedia: The Federal Reserve System
To catch some of David Cross’ material that Chris mentions, watch this link.
And for those of you interested in my 2005 interview with Noam Chomsky, here is the link.
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I am at the 34min point so far.
A) I think its a bit unfair about you having a go at people for saying they wanted G’Day World to go back to its origins of being mainly Tech related. No matter what you intended it to be personally, you started out as a tech podcast and thats why a lot listened. At some point you moved your blog over here and in many ways it went from being the G’day Podcast to the Cam Podcast. I know you will argue that there the same thing but that isn’t the way it started. Its like if I am listening to a AFL podcast and they start to do every show about Tennis. I might like tennis and so may keep listening, but they have changed the show and those that were just interested in Footy will feel cheated. So I don’t have a problem with you having an opinion on all sorts of matters, I just liked it better when you had tech issues and so since your other things have taken over, I listen a hell of a lot less. That is just me and as I say, you have every right to this, its just not for me.
b) Again I haven’t listened to the whole thing but what is the answer? Is there a real answer? Is there something that can be changed? I mean, from listening to you and the underlying of what you and Chris are saying, money is the problem. So are you saying we should have communism? Surely there is only one solution and that is the completely wiping out the human race as we are by our very design born to be corrupt (or at least that seems to be what has happened all through history!)
JMTC
Molly
GW has ALWAYS been about more than just tech news. Even back at the beginning, back in 2004/2005, there was discussion about politics, religion, movies, etc. It’s always been a mix. Other things never “took over”. The show is still a mixture of tech, politics, religion, and business. So I don’t know what you’re talking about.
And, you know, if people stop listening because its no longer of interest, then that’s fine. I am cool with that. But when people try to tell me what I can and cannot talk about on my blog or the podcast, or suggest that certain topics are taboo, that’s when I get annoyed.
As for the answer to the problem with US-style democracy – I don’t think either Chris or I are suggesting we have an answer packaged up with a ribbon and a bow for you. Personally, I just want to see more discussion and debate about these issues by regular people (ie not just on the TV). Smarter folks than I might have answers, but right now, I would be happy to hear more people at least acknowledging the issues.
Fair enough both points.
On the first, Podcast/blogging is meant to be a two way street and as such, don’t I as someone who has invested time in the show have the right to give my opinion and if I think you should do more Tech, isn’t it my right to voice that? Is it my right to be annoyed if you are annoyed that I tell you that I think you should do more tech?
On the second point, what if people don’t want to be interested because they are happy with the status quo and thats why you guys get shutdown when you have this opinion and thats why Pollies that want radical change get shot down? Isn’t it there responsibility to get us interested?
Just stirring the pot.
Molly
Let’s be honest Molly. It don’t think it’s about “more tech”. I think it’s about “don’t open up to criticism my religion/politics”. 90% of the episodes on GW are still about technology. So I don’t think it’s really about more versus less. It’s about “we don’t want to hear you talk smack about our closely held belief systems”.
Hehe, I don’t care to be honest about you criticizing Religion apart from sometimes you speak a load of crap.
Also, I think when I said to you to get back to tech you were doing every show about religion and if I was that interested in that subject I would be going to Church everyweek (well on religion, you never responded to my comment that God was great for creating evolution)! Just looking back you are getting back to have a tech spin on things.
I personally am looking forward to Duncan getting his show up. When is that happening?
Molly
I haven’t listened to the show yet but as much as I hate to do it I have to disagre with you Molly. I have been listening to G’day World since Feb 2005 and it has never just been about tech. I agree that it had a lot of tech focus but it has been what cam has wanted i to be. he has changed the format and what the show is about and I find a lot of guets interesting talking about topics I never had thought of and people I had never heard of and always come away a bit smarter than before I listened.
My fav period was the daily shows he was doing with Rich as he someone helped to keep Cam under some control and they worked well together and were entertaining to listen to.
I know Cam’s curent regime of “picking on” Christians maybe won’t make him any friends but if he let’s people think more instead of accepting blindly then I think that is a good thing. In reality nearly everyone is an atheist by the mere fact that you deny existence of someone else’s “God” or deity then you then become an atheist yourself.
I do think Cam prob works best when he has someone to play off when he is doing a news or rant show and I would do it myself but I am a nobody and I am usually at work when he records his shows.
Anyways I think Cam does a great job and his shows are way more informative than 95% of the shows out there and I am proud to say I listen to him and that he is an Aussie.
BIG SUCK! You going for the Golden Vacum award Tony?
Molly
LOL Molly. That’s champagne comedy.
Is there an answer? Yeah, although my response was a bit more “touchy feely” than Chomsky’s in Cam’s linked interview from 2005.
Go on….
Cam:
It was kind of fun to hear you try to wedge in a word or two. Chris is sometimes interesting and sometimes infuriating, but one thing is certain – he can talk a long time in between breaths.
When it comes to money and politics, it is fascinating to me that few people think about the implications of where the vast majority of the money is spent. Most campaign money goes into the business of media – either creating the commercials, arranging air time, or actually paying for air time. During major campaign seasons in the US, the political process is one of the most profitable sources of advertising.
Since that is the case, I think it is self serving for media pundits to handicap the races based on the fundraising prowess of the candidates. They cover the candidates that raise money and the candidates will spend that money on buying media time.
With blogs and podcasts, there is the opportunity for some of that dynamic to change. Believe it or not, some of the people in this space have sufficient income outside of the new media so that they can talk about the issues and judge candidates based on their ability to lead and solve problems rather than their ability to raise money.
Anyway – I appreciate the breadth of topics that you have been covering even though I remain a stubborn Christian who believes that it is perfectly rational to understand science and still have a sense of awe for the creator.
Rod – and I love you for it brother. Your ability to combine both subjects in your brain keeps me up at night trying to figure out new ways to knock some sense into you! It’s like mixing Scotch and milk! It’s just wrong! 🙂
hey cam, i have been listening since 2005 and personally im not into the tech stuff its was the interview with the dude who wrote the christ files that got me hooked on Gday World.
Your right most of your podcasts are tech related and i try to listen to them but most of it i find insanely boring so i wait until a podcast like the chomsky or Aubrey De Grey or even chris summerfield and chris pirillo come along and i love it.
I respect your a tech geek, im not, i use a computer at work and a bit at home and thats it. But its your opinions on religion and politics and global issues that really interest me so i take the good with the bad and am thankful you speak about these issues alone.
Keep up the mixed bag, but sometimes tech issues really in the big scope of things dont really mean sh*t. They aint gonna change the world, discussion and debate and then action will.
Cam:
I never tried Scotch and milk, but there was a time – long ago – when I used to drink a concoction with vodka, milk and limeade mix. My buddy who introduced it to me called it a Plasma.
Anyway – I take comfort in knowing that my views are not unusual in the engineering community, even though biological science people have some difficulty with them.
Great podcast Cam!
As a libertarian myself Chris was getting me fired up 2 as he was raising some very fundamental principle’s of a Libertarian.
Thank you Chris Pirillo for actually voicing your views and opinion’s. We need intelligent ppl such as yourself to help others understand what TRUE freedom is.
It’s not very often you hear ppl speak of freedom and liberty.
It has taken me many many years to understand Personal Liberty but once you understand for one to have true freedom one must grant others there freedom and liberty.
If there’s anybody out there that would like to engage there minds in a different way of thinking than RED verses Blue team Government System.
please go check out http://www.freetalklive.com it may change the way you view the world they do a great podcast.
Also check out the http://www.freestateproject.org/ it’s a great idea.
Hey Cam I do wonder if your problem with religion is actually a problem with government.
See I’m a atheist 2 but if ppl want to believe in mythological beings thats there own personal liberty.
The problem that I see is when Government and religion mix.
So why don’t we focus our attention on the real problem
GOVERNMENT.
Ron Paul for President 2008!
I have been a listener of G-day world for a while to and I do miss Rich.
But G-day world has always been entertaining and informative.
I’m only half way through this podcast but so far it’s great. What a breath of fresh air Chris is, and boy he can talk! It’s great to have someone on there that talks as fast and thinks as fast as Cam, and it’s really interesting to hear Cam not be able to get a word in edgewise (now you know how Richard feels).
Cam, I love the content so keep it up, just the way it is.
BTW: I went to Chris’s blog and it’s blocked by my work (they’ve gone and locked down the whole internet lately – they are probably trackinig what sites I’m going to and locking them down one by one).