OMFG you've got me rolling. This is hilarious, but it's also really fucking sad, because you're actually right. This world these sycophants live in ... it IS just as scary as Marbury.
I listened while I was grant writing for my day job and had to turn the program off when the interviewer made the comment about turning kids into cutters through reading books about them. I was going to throw the computer out the window and thought I needed a moment to calm down before I did anything rash. Just thinking about this gets me riled. You really did handle yourself well in the face of a challenging host. She didn't seem to get under your skin and your riposts were so damned skillful it made me smile.
The whole argument that reading about "bad" things turns young people on to doing "bad" things is so wrong. I deal with this in public health work all the time. This is why school-based family planning clinics still come under fire even though they have repeatedly been shown not to either increase sexual behavior or initiation of sexual activity (Kirby et al, Six School Based Clinics... 1991)but for those who are having sex it increases their use of contraception. The same goes for needle exchange programs which have also been shown again and again not to either increase the number of dirty syringes found in the street or increase the number of times someone uses heroin, nor does it initiate drug use among non-drug users. The only think it does is reduce transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C.
As you said, anyone who is sane would not use these books as manuals to do harm. Young people will take care of themselves and with information available to them they are simply more capable of doing so.
1. I was in a private studio at NPR, so nobody could see me unless they were standing outside the windows (and they weren't)... and I also checked for hidden webcams (none). I can't tell you how many times I pressed the "cough" button and slapped my forehead or actually said "Are you fucking kidding me?" So glad none of that leaked over the air. And I raised the middle finger more than a few times, too. I'll admit it. I did. I know that's kind of immature and rude, but that's what's nice about radio. And "cough" buttons that function properly.
2. Everyone in my family is reading Open Wounds. Thank you so much for the signed copy. You know... we get a lot of books in this biz, but this one is a keeper on my bookshelf forever. I love it.
10 comments:
OMFG you've got me rolling. This is hilarious, but it's also really fucking sad, because you're actually right. This world these sycophants live in ... it IS just as scary as Marbury.
I'll miss you, but I'll wait.
The less we say about it the better
Make it up as we go along
Feet on the ground
Head in the sky
It's ok I know nothing's wrong . . nothing
Sorry about the double post. Might want to deleat the S.L. Duncan post...as well as this one. ;)
cheers!
esuThank you.
I listened while I was grant writing for my day job and had to turn the program off when the interviewer made the comment about turning kids into cutters through reading books about them. I was going to throw the computer out the window and thought I needed a moment to calm down before I did anything rash. Just thinking about this gets me riled. You really did handle yourself well in the face of a challenging host. She didn't seem to get under your skin and your riposts were so damned skillful it made me smile.
The whole argument that reading about "bad" things turns young people on to doing "bad" things is so wrong. I deal with this in public health work all the time. This is why school-based family planning clinics still come under fire even though they have repeatedly been shown not to either increase sexual behavior or initiation of sexual activity (Kirby et al, Six School Based Clinics... 1991)but for those who are having sex it increases their use of contraception. The same goes for needle exchange programs which have also been shown again and again not to either increase the number of dirty syringes found in the street or increase the number of times someone uses heroin, nor does it initiate drug use among non-drug users. The only think it does is reduce transmission of HIV and Hepatitis C.
As you said, anyone who is sane would not use these books as manuals to do harm. Young people will take care of themselves and with information available to them they are simply more capable of doing so.
Sorry I got carried away there.
Can I tell you something, Joe?
1. I was in a private studio at NPR, so nobody could see me unless they were standing outside the windows (and they weren't)... and I also checked for hidden webcams (none). I can't tell you how many times I pressed the "cough" button and slapped my forehead or actually said "Are you fucking kidding me?" So glad none of that leaked over the air. And I raised the middle finger more than a few times, too. I'll admit it. I did. I know that's kind of immature and rude, but that's what's nice about radio. And "cough" buttons that function properly.
2. Everyone in my family is reading Open Wounds. Thank you so much for the signed copy. You know... we get a lot of books in this biz, but this one is a keeper on my bookshelf forever. I love it.
You're all wrong. Reading does affect kid's behavior. That's why I can't go anywhere at night anymore for fear of all the goddamned vampires.
3. Ditto, Joe. I'm loving Open Wounds.
"I went to the radio interview...sat alone at the microphone"
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