Your Mac Jerks
I’ve been subscribed to Your Mac Life’s podcast for some time now. I subscribed a long time back before I knew what to subscribe to. Basically, there was a single show, which was a rant by Shawn. It was all right.
Now, after I noticed that another show never made it self available, I did a little digging and found out that they didn’t because they made all their money on Audible, charging just about $4 a show, or $45 for a year’s subscription. Saying that he didn’t want to change their business model is a fine justification. That’s cool.
However, he couldn’t just stop there. In order to bolster his own ego (and let his listeners hear the Radio Gold voice), he proceeded to bash podcasting. I don’t want to listen to the podcast again, but I believe he characterized most podcasts, even the popular ones, as “crap”. Then he singled out Dawn and Drew as the aforementioned “crap”.
Basically, instead of recognizing that this will become another commonly accepted and used distribution medium, he wants to make sure his listeners stick with Audible. [Correction: Only old shows are charged for, the most recent is free for streaming. If you want to listen on your iPod, you have to pay or use something like Audio Hijack.] He doesn’t give any recognition to some really good podcasts (such as the Daily Source Code, the MacCast, or TWiT). Instead, he tries to dissuade the listenership from the medium all together because they may realize that paying that money week-in, week-out for something they can get elsewhere (sans Radio Gold voice) for free. In particular, the MacCast and Inside Mac Radio have fulfilled my Mac radio needs. For free.
Shawn’s already realized that he underestimated the popularity of podcasting, releasing the first “Free Podcast Friday” episode. I can only hope he realizes that bashing other shows isn’t cool. It doesn’t make you look better; it only makes you look desperate. Based on what I’ve heard, he probably should be.
Derik:
As someone who’s worked with Shawn for almost a decade now, let me clue you in on something: It’s not that he’s bolstering his own ego by saying those other shows are crap. That’s genuinely his opinion.
Also, a factual correction: YML always makes the most recent show for free available for download from their Web site. It’s only the “legacy” content that’s archived off to Audible.
Most podcasts are crap. I said most, not all, and so did Shawn. Anyone can create a podcast on any subject matter they want, most times the quality is very poor. Shawn is a professional, and that professionalism is worth a price.
In most cases you get what you pay for. If anything is free, most times it’s not worth the effort.
Are there good podcasts, yes there are. And when the creators realize that the time and effort it takes to produce quality content costs money, they too, will look for ways to recoup some of the costs.
Just because something “will become another commonly accepted and used distribution medium” doesn’t mean that any blowhard with a microphone should spread his drival to the world.
I’m sure it’s probably his opinion, but I found it disingenuous to pick out one popular podcast as crap, using it to characterize podcasting as a whole.
I’ve also added the factual correction.
Steve, thanks for chiming in. I’ll surely recognize that some podcasts are crap. Even good ones have their issues (the MacCast host has a very soft voice). Maybe even most (of course that gets into personal opinion, etc.).
I think the founding fathers might disagree. Besides, one person’s blowhard is another’s inspired philosopher. Case in point, many, many people enjoy Dawn and Drew while Shawn obviously does not.
Podcasting is a great medium, like blogging for anyone and everyone to put their message out there. If one likes it, they can subscribe. If they don’t, they don’t have to. It’s not like that despised DJ on your favorite radio station.
Heehee… kind of hilarious that someone with the domain name “www.godlikenerd.com” would slam someone else for “bolstering their own ego.”
IMHO, both of the podcasts you list (Mac Cast and Inside Mac Radio) are terribly boring and completely devoid of useful content, much less personality.
Peter, I think my confusion may have stemmed from the fact that the YML crew discussed that putting their content out as a podcast would offend their Audible using customers. If the latest episode is available free, why not put it in a podcast and drop the older episodes off the feed once the new one comes out?
You just reminded me that I need to update the About page. Thanks Lesa. Basically, godlikenerd is an anagram for my name. I thought it a comical coincidence.
So nothing positive about them? That’s too bad. I didn’t realize things had to be so polarized.
Yes the founding fathers would disagree, but just because they can, does not mean the Should.
It’s available for free as a stream, you can not download the file as you can with a podcast. After the week is up it is then moved to audible for download.
As an Audible subscriber you can then download older shows to keep.
“Your Mac Jerks”
Wow….
“I did a little digging and found out that they didn’t because they made all their money on Audible,”
Not true in a number of ways. We have been podcasting long before it was even called that. We have been doing “formal” (if infrequent) podcasts since last November. Just because you couldn’t find them doesn’t mean we weren’t podcasting.
As to “making all of our money on Audible”, also not true.
“charging just about $4 a show, or $45 for a year’s subscription.”
Minor point but, keep in mind, Audible sets the price of the show - we don’t.
“In order to bolster his own ego (and let his listeners hear the Radio Gold voice), he proceeded to bash podcasting.”
LOL Is that why I did it? You don’t think that maybe, just maybe, I did it because I have an opinion on podcasting? Or is the “bolster his own ego” line just an easy way to get a cheap shot in?
“but I believe he characterized most podcasts, even the popular ones, as “crap”.”
Yup. Just like I often characterize most TV as crap, most radio as crap, most pop music as crap, most movies as crap……Face it - the vast majority of North American entertainment is crap and….wait for it….here’s the kicker…..that my opinion…..
“Then he singled out Dawn and Drew as the aforementioned “crap”.”
So? Am I not allowed to have an opinion? Or am I not allowed to have an opinion that diverges from yours?
And, to be completely correct, I don’t think I called D&D crap. I think I called them boring.
“Basically, instead of recognizing that this will become another commonly accepted and used distribution medium,”
Who says it will? I didn’t realize you had the ability to see into the future. It’s an opinion, Derik. Right now, yours is as equally valid as mine is and as equally correct.
Oh! See what I did there? I agreed with your opinion. I didn’t say it was wrong (as you did mine), I didn’t try to force you to recognize that I’m right and you’re wrong (as you did)… I simply agreed that you have an opinion. See how easy this is?
“he wants to make sure his listeners stick with Audible.”
I said no such thing. Unfortunately, because you “don’t want to listen to the podcast again,” (and discover whether the facts fit your statements or not), you got it wrong.
What I said was we didn’t want to piss off the people who subscribe via Audible (and give us money) by making the show available as a downloadable podcast. If we wanted to “make sure people stuck with Audible”, we wouldn’t do a live show. We wouldn’t make the show available as a free streamed file for week after every show. We would force everyone who wanted to listen to pay us for the “privilege”. But we don’t.
“[Correction: Only old shows are charged for, the most recent is free.]”
Correction on your correction: All downloadable versions of the Wednesday evening Your Mac Life show are pay for listen, either through the iTMS or through Audible.com. The past week’s show is available via our web site as a streamed QT file.
“He doesn’t give any recognition to some really good podcasts (such as the Daily Source Code, the MacCast, or TWiT).”
They are really good in your opinion.
“Instead, he tries to dissuade the listenership from the medium all together because they may realize that paying that money week-in, week-out for something they can get elsewhere (sans Radio Gold voice) for free.”
Wow. Way to go with the gratuitous, pointless slam.
We have pointed out on dozens of occasions that people can get the show for free. We actively encourage the audience to tune in to the live show (and we encourage them to listen to other shows t see for themselves) so they can join in on the chat rooms, watch the video feed and call in to the show. When people ask us what is the best way for them to sign up for Audible.com so that we get the most money, We don’t tell them. Instead, we tell them to sign up for the plan that best suits their needs.
“In particular, the MacCast and Inside Mac Radio have fulfilled my Mac radio needs. For free.”
Good for you. Just as Your Mac Life fulfills thousands (our audience is bigger than the 2 shows you mentioned combined) of other people’s “Mac radio needs” for free.
“Shawn’s already realized that he underestimated the popularity of podcasting,”
I did? When did I do that?
“releasing the first “Free Podcast Friday” episode.”
Like I said, you haven’t been paying attention. We’ve been doing YML podcasts since last year and my co-host J and I were doing a previous version of “Free Podcast Fridays 3 years ago (it was called “Trash Talk” at the time). We happened to resurrect it this past week because J and I like doing it, it’s fun and it’s different from what we do on Wednesday evenings.
“I’m sure it’s probably his opinion, but I found it disingenuous to pick out one popular podcast as crap, using it to characterize podcasting as a whole.”
Even if I did say “all podcasts are crap” (which I didn’t because that would include our own and I don’t think what we do is crap)”, so what? I didn’t kick your puppy! I offered an opinion. Why can you have one but I can’t?
“Peter, I think my confusion may have stemmed from the fact…”
I think it may stem from the fact that you don’t know what you’re talking about and, for some reason, never bothered to contact any of us to get clarification.
“I can only hope he realizes that bashing other shows isn’t cool.”
LMAO But you can bash me personally and professionally and that’s “cool”?
“It doesn’t make you look better; it only makes you look desperate. Based on what I’ve heard, he probably should be.”
I don’t understand. Why should we be desperate? Like I said on last week’s show, we are not being compared to the shows you mention. Our audience has listened to them and has discovered which they like better. They have voted with their ears, their dollars and their time. We feel no competition from those shows.
We compete with ourselves and traditional TV. That’s our competition and we have a long way to go. But we’re going to have a blast getting there.
Now, if you don’t like our show, use your voice, your email or your web site to fairly and honestly critique it. We will listen. But slamming us personally because you happen not to like us personally - how ridiculous is that? That makes you part of (that unfortunately large) part of the Mac Community that is small, petty, provincial and hates to see others succeed.
BTW, I hope you head on over to http://www.bynkii.com.
BTW #2, congrats on all the comments you’ve gotten today. This litle rants ha sprobably quadrupled your site traffic.
oh dear, i was trying to figure out if you were trying to redo the piece from CARS, but … you really serious aren’t you … ?
Shawn, you’re right. I was pretty harsh. But I thought you were too.
I did recognize your podcasting, but the last one was from the early May timeframe. I’d qualify almost two months without a new one as a long time.
As for Audible, is it not the only way to listen to the show on your iPod (save for other options I’ll mention later)? Even if Audible sets the price of the show, you chose to go with them.
As for having your opinion, that’s fine, but when you construct in a way casts all of podcasting under a shadow. You didn’t outright say it, but when you classify “most podcasts” as crap and then pick a singular podcast that you consider “boring”, what impression is that meant to convey? I certainly heard no recognition of quality podcasts. Now, you qualify most podcasts as crap. Does this mean you’ve listened to most of them? You couldn’t find a single one that entertained you or meets your standard of quality?
As for correcting my correction, fair enough, I was working with the information that Peter supplied. However, I’m not sure that helps your case that you’re not pushing Audible. If one of your listeners can’t sit at their computer and listen to the show, they’re left with two options (one official one). First, they can pay Audible. You don’t supply another free option, so I’d qualify that as pushing Audible. Second, they can take that free stream and record it themselves to an MP3 to listen to. You can’t officially condone that I understand. However, the point is that you do want people to buy through Audible or else you’d make the shows easily downloadable.
For free only if they sit and listen while sitting at their computer. You said your show fulfills thousands of listeners. Do you have an exact or approximate number? I’m curious because the MacCast’s feedburner button quotes 12+k listeners.
I made a couple references to having a Radio Gold voice. It’s a little joke. Play along. It’s a loving jab.
And thanks for bringing the traffic. I can always use more readers.
I’ll propose a truce. If you’ll say that some podcasts are good and give a couple examples, I’ll drop the whole thing.
Well, I think we can safely leave that interpretation up to the ACLU and the Supreme Court.
Quite serious. I’m even going to start an online petition to protest. Will you join me in signing?
However, I’m not sure that helps your case that you’re not pushing Audible. If one of your listeners can’t sit at their computer and listen to the show, they’re left with two options (one official one). First, they can pay Audible. You don’t supply another free option, so I’d qualify that as pushing Audible. Second, they can take that free stream and record it themselves to an MP3 to listen to. You can’t officially condone that I understand. However, the point is that you do want people to buy through Audible or else you’d make the shows easily downloadable.
It’s how the show makes money. Of COURSE he pushes Audible. How is that bad? The show is really easy to download. Pay Audible and download the show. It’s quite simple. If you want to download a particular show, then just pay the fee and do so. It’s basically PPV. I still don’t get this allergy that the internet generation has to paying people for hard work. You don’t work for free, why should Shawn or anyone else?
Note that contrary to what you’re insinuating, “Free” and “Easy” are NOT actually the same words. You may wish them to be, but they do in fact represent entirely different concepts and they are not mutually exclusive. You can have a free podcast that can be difficult to download, or a paid one that is easy to download.
For free only if they sit and listen while sitting at their computer. You said your show fulfills thousands of listeners. Do you have an exact or approximate number? I’m curious because the MacCast’s feedburner button quotes 12+k listeners.
That’s less than a tenth of YML’s monthly listening audience.
Yes the founding fathers would disagree, but just because they can, does not mean the Should.
Well, I think we can safely leave that interpretation up to the ACLU and the Supreme Court.
Oh stop assuming everything you say is protected. It’s not. The First Amendment is not an absolute right, no matter what Dan Gilmore thinks,and this asinine insistence that every utterance is protected speech cheapens it. There’s a dozen SCOTUS and lower court cases throughout the centuries that show the First Amendment to not be absolute.. Nor were the Founding Fathers that fond of the common man. They tended to think that the ‘common’ citizen should shut up and do what they’re told to do by smarter people, like, well, themselves, who had an education, and some land. This “power to the people” crap is an invention of the 1960s. If the Founding Fathers had been such big fans of the common people, they wouldn’t have worked so hard to insulate the top tiers of government from the (easily mislead) populace.
LMAO But you can bash me personally and professionally and that’s “cool”?
I made a couple references to having a Radio Gold voice. It’s a little joke. Play along. It’s a loving jab.
Oh that schtick, the old, “Gee, i was just joking, don’t be so sensitive” line. aka “I’m going to be as insulting as I want to be, but since I put a smiley on it, then if you get hurt, it’s your fault not mine.” Passive-agressive much?
So, here’s a hint…that’s not a great thing to rely on. When you title your article “Your Mac Jerks”, you meant to be insulting and offensive. At least have the balls to own up to it, and not hide behind bullshit excuses like “I was just joking, can’t you take a joke?”
“Even if Audible sets the price of the show, you chose to go with them.”
That’s why I called it a minor correction.
“but when you classify “most podcasts” as crap and then pick a singular podcast that you consider “boring”, what impression is that meant to convey?”
Exactly what I said. Most podcasts are crap and D&D is boring - in my opinion.
Now, whether that opinion carries any weight is up for each individual person to decide.
“I certainly heard no recognition of quality podcasts.”
I’m sorry….am I supposed to make sure I balance what I say with examples of the opposite? I didn’t realize there were rules to stating an opinion.
“Now, you qualify most podcasts as crap. Does this mean you’ve listened to most of them?”
I’ve listened to all of them in Apple’s Top 100 at least once. I’ve listened, at least for a short period of time, to every one that gets mentioned on the web or that our audience or friends recommend. I’ve listened to, conservatively speaking, approx 500 podcasts since this “podcasting craze” has begun.
“You couldn’t find a single one that entertained you or meets your standard of quality?”
Yes, I could. But that wasn’t my point.
“As for correcting my correction, fair enough, I was working with the information that Peter supplied.”
As opposed to working with information I could supply you? By going to the source, you look less silly making your pronouncements.
“However, I’m not sure that helps your case that you’re not pushing Audible.”
I wasn’t trying to “help my case”. I was giving you the facts. You’re the one trying to make a case.
“However, the point is that you do want people to buy through Audible or else you’d make the shows easily downloadable.”
OK…if that’s your point then…and don’t take this personally but….DUH!
When did wanting to make money become a bad thing? You say you work for Raytheon. I assume they pay you? You don’t code for free, do you?
But, for some reason, people seem to think that we should entertain them for free. People are acting like baby birds in a nest, squawking and chirping, “Feed me! Entertain me!”
Well, as I said on last week’s show, I don’t work for free.
“For free only if they sit and listen while sitting at their computer.”
Yes. What is wrong with that? Are we supposed to make the show available in every format and in every way possible? Should we come to your house and download it for you? Perhaps provide you an iPod on which to listen to it?
Come on. We provide the show in several ways and formats as easy to access as possible. If you want it for free, you can listen to it two ways. You seem to want to characterize that as “restrictive”. Well - too bad. It’s our show. We can do what we want with it. If we make you call up and recite the Mongolian National Anthem before you can listen, you will if you want it bad enough.
But we don’t. We give the audience one click access to two different free versions of the show. We have also worked out a deal that allows us to partially pay for the bandwidth of the show by having it sold through Audible.com.
We’re obviously going to have to agree to disagree on this but I think we do a damn fine job of making a damn fine, entertaining show accessible to anyone who wants it but also able to make a few dollars off of it.
You compare us to MacCast and IMR. At least when it comes to a live version, there’s not much comparison. We were the first Mac focused broadcast on the Net, the first show to do video, the first show of any kind to use QuickTime Broadcaster, the first show of any kind to use iChat AV…..We do listener call in, listener iChat AV call in, we read listener Mail, we have 2 separate Chat Rooms for listeners and we’ve given away over $150,000 in prizes to listeners. We consistently have a larger audience and better guests (the latter, in my opinion).
Ask the other shows that you enjoy so much where their listener interaction is?
“Do you have an exact or approximate number?”
Over 150,000 listeners/month.
“I made a couple references to having a Radio Gold voice. It’s a little joke. Play along. It’s a loving jab.”
Bull. You called me names like a little kid would and got called on it. Now you’re trying to soften the blow. Didn’t work.
“I’ll propose a truce. If you’ll say that some podcasts are good and give a couple examples, I’ll drop the whole thing.”
You’re kidding, right?
Yes because they both do such a wonderful job of interpreting the Constitution.
oh lordy, a petition ? .. what is this … Live8 ..save the podcasts ?
/thomas
now that looked just silly, sorry ’bout that
Podcast, schmodcast, if Shawn wants to be a Jerk, so be it, let it be.
I have been one for the past 27 years, it is o.k., he will be fine.
Sincerely,
Mark Baertschi, Drummer, Big Jerks http://www.bigjerks.com