Topic: Ian Punnett

[zensunni]

I've been lurking on this forum for a year; I first came here because I wondered if anyone else found Ian as pretentious and annoying as I do. It's nice to know I have compadres!

Here's the thing: Ian is an intelligent and well-read guy, and I appreciate that about him. But that DOESN'T MAKE HIM BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE. Ian goes weak in the knees for someone who had a doctorate or, better yet, a background in theology. He assumes we all will give such people's words more weight, and value their opinion more highly.

Actually, I share some of Ian's background. I studied theology in college (although I only minored in it), and for a while was very active in the Episcopal Church, serving as Lay Eucharistic Minister. And I can tell you that people in such fields get very comfortable with their academic-approved version of spirituality, which frequently uses buzzwords like "orthopraxis" and "panentheism". There is a definite tendency to feel that one trained in such fields may have a deeper understanding of faith, which is in no way true. It's pure elitism.

Last week, I heard Ian correct a listener on a fairly technical term, "It's septuagint, just so you know". Ok, Ian, you're right, but how insufferable can you be? Really, do you expect your audience to be amateur biblical scholars?

And what's with the shows about organized crime, or Jimmy the Greek? Who cares?

[Agent : Orange]

And what's with the shows about organized crime, or Jimmy the Greek? Who cares?

Oh man, those are some of the most interesting shows imo. I like that Ian has such a wide range for the weird or just general strangeness, like sports fixing and pop culture stuff. In my opinion that's one of his strengths, not a weakness. He casts a farther net than the other hosts and sometimes it's nice to hear about stuff that's off the beaten path. Just my $0.02.

[Eddie Coyle]

Oh man, those are some of the most interesting shows imo. I like that Ian has such a wide range for the weird or just general strangeness, like sports fixing and pop culture stuff. In my opinion that's one of his strengths, not a weakness. He casts a farther net than the other hosts and sometimes it's nice to hear about stuff that's off the beaten path. Just my $0.02.

  Agree,but I do think he can get tunnel-vision at times, the DB Cooper and Smiley Face Killer tales became redundant. However, Ian's pop culture knowledge is a great contrast to Noory's, who really is absolutely elementary on ALL subjects.

[zensunni]

Oh man, those are some of the most interesting shows imo. I like that Ian has such a wide range for the weird or just general strangeness, like sports fixing and pop culture stuff. In my opinion that's one of his strengths, not a weakness. He casts a farther net than the other hosts and sometimes it's nice to hear about stuff that's off the beaten path. Just my $0.02.

Well, I'm glad someone's enjoying those shows. They're some of Ian's best work, but they don't interest me in the least. To each his own.

[El Kragen]

Oh man, those are some of the most interesting shows imo. I like that Ian has such a wide range for the weird or just general strangeness, like sports fixing and pop culture stuff. In my opinion that's one of his strengths, not a weakness. He casts a farther net than the other hosts and sometimes it's nice to hear about stuff that's off the beaten path. Just my $0.02.

I'm with you. This is where Ian shines and it's why I like listening to his shows. I just listened to his show discussing the book Renegade History. That's interesting stuff (to me) that I won't hear anywhere else.

[Eddie Coyle]

 I just listened to his show discussing the book Renegade History. That's interesting stuff (to me) that I won't hear anywhere else.

    I picked up that book because of the interview Russell did with Ian. And you're right, I haven't heard Russell or that book discussed anywhere else...

[IanSucks]

You act like Ian lines up his own guests... or writes his own questions...

Sure improv is used but the majority of interviews in media are pre-scripted. The interview questions are given the interviewee before the interview.

Lets give credit where credit is due... 

[Treading Water]

Wasn't Ian the host who booted someone from his show because he was handed a list of questions from the guest? 
I'm sure they get "suggestions" from the top, but I think they can add whatever they want.  However, that might be changing. After listening last Saturday I thought George was filling in for Ian.  Guest just rambled and rambled and it seemed that Ian had fallen asleep.
At least he reads most of the books.  But I do get a crawly feeling after some of his pithy comments.
Not an excellent host, but still better than the Muuuuuuustttttaaaaaaccccchhhhiiiiiioooooeeeeddd one.
 

[Coasted2astop]

Quayle and Marrs are both interesting examples of how different hosts treat different guests. George sounds like he believes pretty much everything every guest has to say, even if two different guests have wildly contradictory views on the same topic (unless of course it's about climate change, abiotic oil, or any other tea party darling topics). Quayle and Marrs are both pretty much "George" guests--I don't know if Art ever interviewed them and if he did I suspect he'd chew them up and spit them out. Ian called them out, rather clumsily in Quayle's case, but still--he deserves props for that, even if the producers made him give a phony, ass-kissing apology (which as far as I'm concerned wasn't necessary since Quayle is an absolute nutjob and all Ian did was point it out).

I would have loved to have heard that one.

And yes, Art would have never cozied up to quayle or corsi and the whole worldnetdaily news bunch either.

[morphiaflow]

I would have loved to have heard that one.

And yes, Art would have never cozied up to quayle or corsi and the whole worldnetdaily news bunch either.

You can find it in the archives I'm sure, if you look hard enough. I want to say it was summer of 2007.

Art may have suffered fools, but he did so with his own tongue in cheek, and he either had fun with them or he subtly or not so subtly put them in their place. Quayle, Corsi, Marrs, Austin-Fitts...all these jokers wouldn't last half an hour with Art before their bluffs would be called. If I remember correctly Art finally saw through Hoagland, and as for Alex Jones....whenever a Noory listener has ever mentioned Jones to Art, he's pretty much given the equivalent of "No comment". I suspect he regards Jones in the "moonhowler" category. As he should. (On the other hand I do believe Art thinks highly of Icke; but then so do I, even if he is an absolute nutjob, at least he's an INTERESTING one. Of course, the accent helps his credibility. Maybe Noory should try that...)

[Scully]

Oh man, those are some of the most interesting shows imo. I like that Ian has such a wide range for the weird or just general strangeness, like sports fixing and pop culture stuff. In my opinion that's one of his strengths, not a weakness. He casts a farther net than the other hosts and sometimes it's nice to hear about stuff that's off the beaten path. Just my $0.02.

Just to continue the balance, here's my nickel's worth.  Ian's off-topics are too far afield for the Coast audience.  Obviously any topic will be welcomed by part of any audience, if that's the argument.
 
While I'm very much interested in politics, for example, I don't want to hear about it in the middle of the night on a program which is still, by reputation at least, about the mysterious and unexplained.
 
As far as comic books and sports are concerned, they don't come under that category, and I don't want to hear about them. ... Ever.   

[anagrammy]

You can find it in the archives I'm sure, if you look hard enough. I want to say it was summer of 2007.

Art may have suffered fools, but he did so with his own tongue in cheek, and he either had fun with them or he subtly or not so subtly put them in their place. Quayle, Corsi, Marrs, Austin-Fitts...all these jokers wouldn't last half an hour with Art before their bluffs would be called. If I remember correctly Art finally saw through Hoagland, and as for Alex Jones....whenever a Noory listener has ever mentioned Jones to Art, he's pretty much given the equivalent of "No comment". I suspect he regards Jones in the "moonhowler" category. As he should. (On the other hand I do believe Art thinks highly of Icke; but then so do I, even if he is an absolute nutjob, at least he's an INTERESTING one. Of course, the accent helps his credibility. Maybe Noory should try that...)

Icke has a lot of facts and background research that are verifiable and he gets you going with that and then draws a completely preposterous conclusion.  Which is why I forked over the money and saw him in person.  Those of us who love fringe people, well, we love David.

Anagrammy

[IanSucks]

You act like Ian lines up his own guests... or writes his own questions...

Sure improv is used but the majority of interviews in media are pre-scripted. The interview questions are given the interviewee before the interview.

Lets give credit where credit is due... 

[Coasted2astop]

You act like Ian lines up his own guests... or writes his own questions...

Sure improv is used but the majority of interviews in media are pre-scripted. The interview questions are given the interviewee before the interview.

Lets give credit where credit is due...

I always figured it was more like there were questions that were not allowed and the hosts stay away from those topics.

[Saffy]

Just to continue the balance, here's my nickel's worth.  Ian's off-topics are too far afield for the Coast audience.

Agreed, though it's not just Ian. Even more than the ineptitude of Mustache Mouth, drifting away from more traditional C2C subjects pushed me away from the show. I realize that C2C often has a different "take" on political and mainstream topics, but that "take" is nothing new or even all that radical. Back in the old days, Ian pretty much covered most of the religious and many of the spiritual topics - few of which I'm interested in - so I rarely ever listened when Ian was host.

I even enjoyed listening to people like Hoagland back in the day. Even if your logical mind was screaming bullshit, the part of you that wanted to believe was sufficiently titillated.

I've only heard one or two of Icke's shows. I always skipped them since the conspiracy theory genre wasn't my cup of tea. Now I regret missing them.

I think all the hosts have their darling guests and sacred cows.

[valdez]

     About two hours into the show Ian goes on a well deserved rant against Mr. Camping, about all the money waisted on hyping the event that could have fed the poor, healed the sick, etc.  Somebody said something about suing the old guy.  A Camping follower called in from Texas, she sounded dazed, and her husband was yelling something in the background.  Bizarre.  Somebody else called in saying he was Gods messenger, and then somebody else claimed to be the Messiah.  I passed a dead opossum on my way home this morning and thought, "it ended for him."  The sun comes up.  The world goes on.  At least for a few days I think I'll treasure it. 
 
 

[HorrorReporter]

Ian redeemed himself in my mind with his May 21 show of logic. It was intelligent and interesting..

[zensunni]

I'm not an atheist, but Richard Dawkins may have responded to Ian this way: "If you're upset that Camping and his followers don't spend enough time and money helping others, then what about the enormous cathedrals other churches build? What about their huge bureaucracies? What about the gold candlesticks and fancy vestments? What about the Vatican and Canterbury Cathedral? Shouldn't all of that money be given to Second Harvest?"

Personally, I understand how Ian feels. But very few forms of faith pass that test. Where I live, it's actually the Catholic Church that does the most for the community.

[anagrammy]

I'm not an atheist, but Richard Dawkins may have responded to Ian this way: "If you're upset that Camping and his followers don't spend enough time and money helping others, then what about the enormous cathedrals other churches build? What about their huge bureaucracies? What about the gold candlesticks and fancy vestments? What about the Vatican and Canterbury Cathedral? Shouldn't all of that money be given to Second Harvest?"

Personally, I understand how Ian feels. But very few forms of faith pass that test. Where I live, it's actually the Catholic Church that does the most for the community.

As they should, given the past and present crimes they've committed.  It passes the five Our Fathers and five Hail Marys level and, now that I think about it, passes the community service level too.

Anagrammy

[b_dubb]

i think if someone gave money to Camping .. they should either get their money back ... or get to kick Camping in the balls

[TaoOfLuxLisbon]

Ian's show was off the charts good last night. The caller from Texas pretty much sums up what you are dealing with when it comes to the Camping crew. Sad, pathetic cases desperate for some way out of life.

[The General]

Ian's show was off the charts good last night. The caller from Texas pretty much sums up what you are dealing with when it comes to the Camping crew. Sad, pathetic cases desperate for some way out of life.

I need to start listening to Ian's shows again. 
He is as good as Coast gets these days.

[Scully]

I need to start listening to Ian's shows again. 
He is as good as Coast gets these days.

Y'know, I've been thinking the same thing lately, General.  And that's a far stretch from how I used to feel about Ian's shows.
 
I still don't like Ian's juvenile sense of humor or some of his off-the-wall topics, or his propensity to say the same thing over and over again ....... wait, I'm backtracking here ...... but at least Ian is intelligent, warms to his topics, and doesn't have George's insufferable smarminess.
 
I actually had my consciousness raised a bit by last night's show, and only wanted to scream once or twice. 

[Scully]

Ian redeemed himself in my mind with his May 21 show of logic. It was intelligent and interesting..

Agreed.  I thought so, too.  Now, for laughs, we need Anagrammy to write up a comparative description of how Noory would have mishandled the same show. 

[Agent : Orange]

Caught the May 21st show out at the cabin, sitting out on the deck with a glass of Crown and Coke in my hand. I actually caught myself wondering what the folks at the gab would have to say about it.

I thought Ian did a great job with the show, I enjoyed it.

However, the highlight of coast over the weekend was the Friday night show. I could also almost feel the indignation of a few posters when on May 20, George played through a script of "What my mind - my bizarre mind - imagines open lines might be like if the rapture actually did happen". That line alone is enough to generate buzz for a while I suspect.

The fake open lines bit was a bit too much like real open lines to me - all of the callers seemed strangely legitimate enough that I now have to seriously wonder how much of Noory's actual open lines calls are really plants. The stunt seemed shallow and deceptive over all, especially to those who happened to tune in late. I was glad it wasn't dragged out to a full 15 or 20 minute period.

The weekend shows were good but the Friday night show was the car wreck I tune in for regularly.

[valdez]

     Filling in for Noory yesterday with Alan Collinge on the student loan farce.  Tonight Ian's lefty dark side let slip with author Dale Brown.  Ian advocated for some sort of compulsory national service as opposed to the volunteer one (which Brown preferred) that we presently have.  When a liberal calls for a draft, know that an agenda is not far behind.  Ian also seemed to have a problem with our esteemed Predator Drone program.  Evidently, since young men ain't actually in those things, we don't have any "skin in the game", which, in turn, makes terrorist angrier at us than they already are.  As far as "skin in the game" goes, I'd pay double in taxes to fund an entire army of psycho killer vicious robots, and as far as making them "angrier", well, the sound of children laughing pisses them off, so I really don't give a flying rats ass.
 

glory hallelujah

[Eddie Coyle]

     Filling in for Noory yesterday with Alan Collinge on the student loan farce.  Tonight Ian's lefty dark side let slip with author Dale Brown.  Ian advocated for some sort of compulsory national service as opposed to the volunteer one (which Brown preferred) that we presently have.  When a liberal calls for a draft, know that an agenda is not far behind.  Ian also seemed to have a problem with our esteemed Predator Drone program.  Evidently, since young men ain't actually in those things, we don't have any "skin in the game", which, in turn, makes terrorist angrier at us than they already are. 

    Dontcha love it when a 51 year old calls for a draft? Had the draft still been in existence in 1978, young Ian would have probably attended college in Ontario.

   The "we're making them angrier" argument is always laughable. It's the worst part of liberalism, that insistence on being the biggest fucking pussy imaginable.
     

[b_dubb]

did Ian suggest we reinstate the draft? 

[Harmness]

Yeah, he did.  Over and over and over.  And kept returning to it whenever the conversation threatened to stray away from the volunteer vs. conscripted forces topic.  Then the genius callers started in....

Click.

[b_dubb]

well a draft would piss off the American people to the point where they'd actually get involved in government and maybe take our government back from the corporations and their puppet politicians