Alex O' Connor and the power and costs of podcast civility

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  • Опубліковано 9 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 150

  • @PoorEdward
    @PoorEdward 3 місяці тому +54

    This is the exact kind of thing that has made Destiny turn into Nebraska Steve; he doesn’t want to be perceived or interpreted like Alex is here.

    • @lighting7508
      @lighting7508 3 місяці тому +10

      Yeah but Alex has a degree in philosophy (or theology?) so he is capable of jumping down these bullshit logic wormholes with Peterson. Also he knows the bible inside out, probably better than Peterson 🤷‍♂️
      I don’t think destiny could do something like this if he tried.

    • @razzle_dazzle
      @razzle_dazzle 3 місяці тому +13

      @@lighting7508 Maybe Destiny couldn't do this about the Bible in particular, but he had a long conversation with Peterson about a variety of topics, in which he challenged Peterson very successfully on his global warming denialism, vaccine skepticism, and other topics Peterson is conspiracy-brained about. Not sure why you're so eager to downplay Destiny's abilities.

    • @-47-
      @-47- 3 місяці тому +7

      ​@@lighting7508 No one said that Destiny would've done a better job. The point was that Alex should drop the overly civil act like Destiny did. If he did that, all the things you mentioned would actually get discussed, rather than swept under the rug. He's way overqualified for this passive approach.

    • @gabrielethier2046
      @gabrielethier2046 3 місяці тому +1

      Would you rather talk to Destiny or Alex?

    • @sathrielsatanson
      @sathrielsatanson 3 місяці тому

      @@gabrielethier2046 This is a silly binary. I bet Ben Shapiro would prefer to talk to Jordan Peterson than Andrew Neil but it was the latter who proved that Shapiro is thin skinned boy obsessed with leftist boogeyman.

  • @QuintEssential-sz2wn
    @QuintEssential-sz2wn 3 місяці тому +70

    Thanks, guru guys! You landed on an issue that’s been sort of irking me as I have watched Alex’s transformation. I generally think he’s excellent. But these days when I’m watching his conversations, I feel like I’m pulling my hair at half the time thinking “ Alex, why are you letting them get away with saying that one?” he just gives a lot more deference to very dubious views these days., letting many points slide that he wouldn’t have before, and I’m not sure I see why that’s a good thing.

    • @ck58npj72
      @ck58npj72 3 місяці тому +12

      Not good for us, but good for Alex.

    • @huxleybennett4732
      @huxleybennett4732 3 місяці тому +9

      I think he wants to have conversations to hear different perspectives, and pushing back too much can stop people from coming in his podcast, therefore meaning he can’t have as many of these conversations. I completely agree though, I think he should have a place for more pushback and have said so for a while now. I think there’s totally a place for both.

    • @monkeybudge
      @monkeybudge 3 місяці тому +22

      Destiny treated Peterson with Kid gloves and Peterson still went on to bitch and moan that Destiny was combative.

    • @gregkirk1842
      @gregkirk1842 3 місяці тому

      Hehe "dubious" views? According your ignorant brain.

    • @Will-kt5jk
      @Will-kt5jk 3 місяці тому

      Tbf, I think he synthesised his viewpoint more through the convo & has been gently taking the piss out of JBP regularly ever since.
      The next time they talk is likely to be interesting.

  • @virteddyvio
    @virteddyvio 3 місяці тому +36

    This was a great conversation and Alex got Jordan to bluntly state many of religious views, which up to that point he was able to slither away from quite easily

    • @ClintStone-t9m
      @ClintStone-t9m 3 місяці тому +19

      he still slithered away from most of them. The truth is, Jordan doesn't believe in christianity at all, so instead of having to concede that point and loose many christian viewers, he formed a non-answer / dogwhistle answer: "I think everything written in the bible is true, but I don't know in *what way* ".
      Christian viewers are statisfied because he didn't renounce their faith and agnostic viewers are statisfied because JP doesn't believe in "some fairy tale".

    • @andresfontalvo17
      @andresfontalvo17 3 місяці тому +7

      He said if there was a camera pointed at the grave of Jesus it would probably register him coming out on the third day. That's as big an admission to the belief in resurrection as can be

    • @ClintStone-t9m
      @ClintStone-t9m 3 місяці тому +5

      @@andresfontalvo17 he later still said(when Alex kept digging), he didn't know "in what way" one would have seen Jesus, i.e.: was someone carrying out his corpse? Was he drowsily coming out of his own grave to die soon after? (biologically Jesus could have survived the injuries for three days)
      What people really want him to admit is wether or not he believes that god intervened and performed a miracle to revive Jesus' body and if Jesus rose as the omnipotent god on earth.

    • @andresfontalvo17
      @andresfontalvo17 3 місяці тому

      @@ClintStone-t9m must have missed that ( i was only half listening on the background). My guess is that Peterson finds the question irrelevant. I don't think i've heard him outright say that though. I guess because it is kind of counter the Pauline doctrine where faith/ belief in the resurrection is paramount.

    • @sathrielsatanson
      @sathrielsatanson 3 місяці тому +2

      Yeah, it's not true. Jordan still weaselled away from any substantial statements.

  • @mukkaar
    @mukkaar 3 місяці тому +10

    Honestly, it has pros and cons. You do gain more access and other side will like you more. But being too cordial also might just reinforce other side, and at the same time you won't be pushing back and expressing your own views clearly.
    I think personally, it's good to be civil, but you should also be forceful when needed, and you could do it in civil way. But I do have to say, I hate nothing more than comment section that says "it's such a nice conversation" I do think this is direct proof that actual content of the conversation was being undermined by being too civil. Comment section should be mostly talking about content of the conversation if the actual content was engaging, interesting and relatively easy to follow.

  • @gravytopic
    @gravytopic 3 місяці тому +36

    it's fun to see Peterson's jacket and those chairs fight for attention. I'd like to think everything was upholstered at once

    • @nancyborth2785
      @nancyborth2785 3 місяці тому

      Gravy, you stop that right now……you just made me pee my pants❤❤

    • @Thalefrastus
      @Thalefrastus 3 місяці тому +1

      Peterson’s oh so fashionable style reminds me of big old colourful Deusenberg cars built to both impress and run straight over the plebeian class. Suits him well!

    • @waelaltaqi
      @waelaltaqi 3 місяці тому

      😂

    • @bennymountain1
      @bennymountain1 3 місяці тому

      What in the Jesus frick is going on with that jacket? Isn't he, like, a real Christian? Why is he wearing that? Orthodox value their iconography, it's like he's screaming god's name in vain over and over with that garish fit 🤣

  • @duck2477
    @duck2477 3 місяці тому +8

    Alex was one of the early voices to pull me away from the allure of the right-wing voices of the late 2010s, along with Rationality Rules and GMSkeptic. They helped me understand that I wasn't thinking much when listening to Peterson and my whole view change. Alex was also part of my process of becoming an animal rights activist. I still appreciate that Alex is having some strong conversations with people (demolishing Dinesh was well deserved), but I don't feel as strongly about Alex anymore.

  • @ottz2506
    @ottz2506 3 місяці тому +11

    I hate it when many of these types (not referring to the creators here) will default to “hey why can’t we have civil conversations” when they receive even the mildest of pushback. Rarely do they say this when they’re sitting with someone echoing their views back at them.

  • @lonepantalones8284
    @lonepantalones8284 3 місяці тому +3

    I love that Alex has taken this route. I'm so tired of people giving into the "spectacle" of shit debates for views.

  • @veryfitting
    @veryfitting 3 місяці тому +7

    I've really enjoyed Alex's new approach. Like him I have actually learnt a lot about the opposite position that I thought I understood BUT I think you've simplified Alex's interaction with Jonathan P, he did push back quite a few times and, like he said, quite bluntly. So much so that Jonathan kept being dumbfounded by Alex's points.

  • @youtubeconnoisseur3215
    @youtubeconnoisseur3215 3 місяці тому +4

    Glad you covered this Alex is well spoken at times but is super tactical with what he chooses to talk about no covid no trans issues just Alex trying to get jordon to admit he is an atheist

  • @_surreal99
    @_surreal99 3 місяці тому +3

    Key word there is "content", whether you're on the rationalist side or the zealot side, it all boils down to that algorithm and audience retention.

  • @chadreilly
    @chadreilly 2 місяці тому +1

    I'm sure that Jordan Peterson does this. He recently had Robert Sapolsky on, and they talked at length about everything but Sapolsky''s new book on Determinism. Which Sapolsky was making the podcasting the rounds promoting. Presumably, because it goes, effectively, against Jordan's take on free will. So I'm sure Jordan's team got Sapolsky to agree not to talk about it before coming on Jordan's show.

  • @TimeGhost7
    @TimeGhost7 3 місяці тому +5

    I feel it is good to be as accomadating (while still holding a tention within the self) to as many different interpretations from one's own.
    You can critisize overaccomadating (as there's always an extreme that makes a conversation worthless), but if disagreeing with someone adamantly (where both can hold their own in converation), it's not going to sound like talking past each other to both sides. Talking past each other can highlight differences, more distinctly, for those in the middle but for the audiances it's confirmation bias. I feel in the commentry space, as the format isn't around direct conversations, accomadation isn't as essentialy built in.
    A non-accomadating response to this video could be "More Jordan Peterson bashing, this time critisizing people being civil to him." But what is the ensuing conversation going to achieve with that tone?

    • @gabrielethier2046
      @gabrielethier2046 3 місяці тому +1

      Some people just want drama, they're more interested in dunking on christians than in having good arguments.

    • @TimeGhost7
      @TimeGhost7 3 місяці тому +1

      ​@@gabrielethier2046 Atheists who are prone to ridicule, can almost inadvertedly dunk on christian sensabilities, but I don't feel christian is the best overarching descriptor for who catches this channel's ire.
      I also don't feel we can classify the absence of good arguments too readily. This particular argument was couched as 2 sides of an accomadation dichotamy. Their strong desire to denounce Peterson, coloured their analysis as overaccomadation. There's a lot of back-argumentation on Peterson in prior videos for that denouncement reasoning, which I haven't watched, but my point is, I don't know how good their arguments are without that.

  • @matthewmulkeen
    @matthewmulkeen 3 місяці тому +9

    Jordan and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 🤮

    • @nancyborth2785
      @nancyborth2785 3 місяці тому

      He bought that jacket at a St. Jude’s garage sale…….😂😂

  • @FoxfireDraven
    @FoxfireDraven 3 місяці тому +8

    I was hoping you guys would've gotten more into the meta aspect of civility in a conversation, such as how it interacts with possible concessions or commonalities. Also was hoping to see more of when civility is appropriate as opposed to combativity, rather than mostly how it benefits creators. Not bad insights regardless.

    • @decodingthegurus
      @decodingthegurus  3 місяці тому +6

      @@FoxfireDraven We do cover the positive outcomes Alex extracted in a later episode that we will put up in a bit.

  • @willmosse3684
    @willmosse3684 3 місяці тому +2

    Yeah, I’ve noticed that lately Alex seems to be framing what he says so as to sound like he more or less agrees with whoever he is talking to. He’ll sound like he’s anti-woke when talking to GB News, but then agree with “woke” positions when talking to someone else. He still does pull it out sometimes tho. He got Peterson to take a position on “did this actually happen” in relation to Christ’s resurrection, which I’ve never seen before. And he absolutely folded Dinesh D’Souza on Christianity recently.

  • @pmccartney75
    @pmccartney75 2 місяці тому

    Alex has also seemingly made a point of steering clear of any direct political statements preferring instead-whenever the politics do come up-to talk about them in very broad terms that never lands on a side. Perhaps no great sin on his part, but per y’all’s point, it allows him to sit down and have conversations with obvious partisans who make declarative and pointed political comments without being challenged. Alex pinned Peterson on some specific points on religion, but he basically never wades into the culture war stuff that’s essentially peterson’s bread and butter, and it would be nice for someone of his intelligence and perception to be able to take a stand on something other than a topic that is, by his own admission, not really a hot button issue anymore (religion, in this case).

    • @DamienChristopher2001
      @DamienChristopher2001 16 днів тому

      Alex stays in his lane which is a good thing. He is passionate, and knowledgeable in philosophy and theology and that's where he stays.
      It's no different to when Alex was on Triggernometry a couple months ago. They tried to make him wade into the waves of the culture war and Alex just said "I don't know enough to hold an opinion or discuss it". Which is admirable, and something that these anti-woke shock jocks should take heed of. You don't need to have an opinion on everything.
      P.S. the only other times I remember seeing Alex bring up/respond to culture war topics is his discussion with Douglas Murray, and when he went on Andrew Gold's Heretics and said he doesn't understand the basis/premise of people who say you can identify as X

  • @fixpontt
    @fixpontt 3 місяці тому +1

    it is still Alex who exposed Jordan's religious beliefs the most and he did it in the most _"Cambridge educated"_ ways, he obviously does this to a different audience than Destiny for example, rhetorical takedown and intellectual takedown is not the same

  • @hunterseufert8066
    @hunterseufert8066 3 місяці тому +4

    What a cynical take

  • @jeffh2166
    @jeffh2166 3 місяці тому +2

    I would never watch Pageau if it wasn't for Alex and I will never watch him again. The let them speak approach often works

  • @gaylecheung3087
    @gaylecheung3087 3 місяці тому +6

    Jordon Peterson looks like comic book villain 😱

  • @Aaron-rw3lv
    @Aaron-rw3lv 3 місяці тому +4

    Nothing to be gained by being civil with Peterson. It reminds me of uninformed people that say Ukraine should negotiate with russia. What could you possibly have to talk about with orcs?

    • @sathrielsatanson
      @sathrielsatanson 3 місяці тому

      This is such a silly comparison it's not even funny. There is no realistic chance for Russia's military defeat so negotiations with Russia is the only way the war ends.
      And there is a big difference between a military confrontation and verbal exchange.

    • @BennyAscent
      @BennyAscent 29 днів тому

      The difference is, one is committing war crimes, and one has ideas that you are at odds with and displays intellectual dishonesty.
      Its nonsense to equate the two. Stop this Diet Poe's law nonsense, it impresses no one who is worthy of impressing.

    • @sathrielsatanson
      @sathrielsatanson 29 днів тому

      @@BennyAscent That's life, people love to make most insane comparisons.

    • @BennyAscent
      @BennyAscent 29 днів тому

      @@sathrielsatanson not really interested in the inane things people "love to do", given the retrospective wisdom of hundreds of generations that screams out about the dangers of this mindless tribalism and "us vs them" mindset. Only need to look into a history book to see that the worst of humanity is permitted when we equate all opposition to the archenemy.

  • @dunno23
    @dunno23 3 місяці тому +4

    I am relatively a new fan of Alex and was instantly attracted for his content on atheism. But I became kind of disillusioned recently, when I came across his talk with Peter Boghossian (at 1:46:20 on the UA-cam episode) where Alex admits that he believes there is like 45% probability of existence of a theistic god. I was shocked by that statement (so was Peter Boghossian). Ever since then, I am a lot uncertain about his true belief / position on God and religion; and suspiciously find him being too indulging in Christian culture and theism stuff.

    • @dunno23
      @dunno23 3 місяці тому +1

      Link of the video ua-cam.com/video/ogUvNvwiMR0/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared

    • @myhatmygandhi6217
      @myhatmygandhi6217 3 місяці тому +4

      Seems like you have become disillusioned by him because you feel like he's no longer on your team.

    • @dunno23
      @dunno23 3 місяці тому

      @@myhatmygandhi6217 So you liked your own comment buddy? Haha.. 🤣 Btw he is still on my team (if there were one), he is still an atheist.

    • @bennymountain1
      @bennymountain1 3 місяці тому

      Alex literally has a degree in theology or some such. Can't expect him to full hog worship satan, can you.

    • @fixpontt
      @fixpontt 3 місяці тому

      _"Alex admits that he believes there is like 45% probability of existence of a theistic god"_
      but he clearly states that God image has nothing to do with religions on Earth, and probably that numbers comes from the philosophical arguments for God like the ontological, cosmological, teleological etc. he clearly states (many times in other videos) that the Christian God's existence (omnibenevolent) is close to zero because of suffering

  • @davetaddeo
    @davetaddeo 3 місяці тому +2

    there's no better conversation than one that makes you pause and ponder, 'oh, i hadn't thought of it that way before '. it's so important, maybe even critical, that you're open to having someone you disagree with change your mind.

  • @RobbertJan
    @RobbertJan 3 місяці тому +2

    Civility, the Lex Fridman way of grifting.

  • @benday1218
    @benday1218 3 місяці тому

    This reminds me of the concept of 'white space' in marketing = an area with no products in it. These civil conversations place these guys in various conversations in the white space and create a new 'product'.

  • @Jay-kx4jf
    @Jay-kx4jf 3 місяці тому

    4:14 well you're creating new spaces, modelling exploratory convergent modes of conversation.
    I'm not sure why the need to reduce it to "service" when the object at hand are *conversations*.
    Is primary objective of this activity to be of service? Or to a communicate deeply? Should I be thinking of service while conversing with people around me?

  • @alantasbler4581
    @alantasbler4581 3 місяці тому +4

    What is up with the coat of many colors? Worn over another coat. Guru attire?

    • @rachael_grey
      @rachael_grey 3 місяці тому

      He's taking ugly jackets into the realm of blasphemy for a few million Orthodox Christians. 😂

    • @opensocietyenjoyer
      @opensocietyenjoyer 3 місяці тому +2

      it's to signalize that he hates jahwe and his commandments

    • @ogolthorp
      @ogolthorp 3 місяці тому

      Peterson was gifted custom suits by a suitmaker. So he wears them a lot.
      They’re definitely a unique look, but I get wanting to show off a fan’s work.

  • @tgrogan6049
    @tgrogan6049 3 місяці тому +6

    They love the "nice atheists".

  • @scoon2117
    @scoon2117 3 місяці тому +1

    Scott Adam's next.😊

  • @guywalsh3283
    @guywalsh3283 3 місяці тому +2

    You’re concerned with bizarre Christian/religious symbolism which isn’t a threat to Western democracy at all, why not focus more attention on Mohammed Hijab and Dilly Hussain?

    • @verdehue6319
      @verdehue6319 3 місяці тому +4

      On beliefs alone you’re probably right, but Peterson is far more influential and consistently voices his support for politicians that are hurting the integrity of the democratic institutions they’re supposed to serve.
      Also Peterson himself seems to not think Hijab a threat to democracy since he had him on his podcast and never challenged him on his anti democracy views. Instead they mildly spoke on religion.
      So it sounds like by Hijab being a threat to democracy, which I agree, Peterson is as well since he promotes him without any meaningful pushback.

    • @guywalsh3283
      @guywalsh3283 3 місяці тому

      @@verdehue6319 I was talking more about Pagaeu than Peterson (someone they also discussed in this segment) also the Democrats have proven to be anti democratic, The EU and social media platforms.
      Let’s not pretend it’s just people Peterson favours who might show signs of being anti democratic.
      The EU is 100% less Democratic than the Brexit vote. The Guru’s blocked me on Twitter for saying Brexit gives more democracy to the British than Ursula Von Der Leyen and the unelected officials in Brussels.
      Hijab is a dangerous threat to radicalising young men in England. We have Green politicians screaming Allah Akbar and this week groups of activists screaming Allah Akbar outside Rochdale police station.
      Radical Islam in the U.K. is more dangerous than Christian symbolism from Pageau.

    • @sathrielsatanson
      @sathrielsatanson 3 місяці тому +1

      That\s a great whattaboutism yet a weak argument.

  • @themrch4oskol206
    @themrch4oskol206 3 місяці тому

    Hey, hope the headwear is not due to medical reasons. And if so, god bless you and have a good recovery

  • @GlobeHackers
    @GlobeHackers 3 місяці тому

    "have the conversation" increase your audience to audience capture repeat. i miss Christopher Hitchens

  • @jackcover5578
    @jackcover5578 3 місяці тому

    Perfect take. I do believe that if you stick to your guns, and make your point more clear, you will be better off in the long run. Sure Joe Rogan has the numbers, but can he really sleep well knowing that there are some shows where he just appeasing the guest the entire time. As a viewer, you can't take them seriously anymore and they all become just another Tucker Carlson. I don't know about you, but that's not as entertaining in the long run as hosts like Destiny are becoming more and more of the unicorns, as there content remains evergreen.

  • @rumidude
    @rumidude 3 місяці тому +3

    Podcasting in some realms is a circle-jerk. Among the big guru types, they are on each other's podcast all the time. As long as they avoid calling to other stupid or worse, then they can have a civil conversation about certain topics that they either agree about or if they disagree they at least are not diametrically in disagreement. Sam Harris is one of the worst at that. He will sit with Bret Weinstein and NEVER say to him what he says elsewhere about whacky vaccine deniers. Elsewhere he is derisive but with Bret he just says he disagrees.

    • @ericooliveira9693
      @ericooliveira9693 3 місяці тому

      All of the public conversations Sam had with Brett were before the vaccine/ivermectin debacle, they have not spoken since. Did you expect Sam to call Brett out on his views before Brett ever had those views?

  • @DoomKaiserGliders
    @DoomKaiserGliders 3 місяці тому +3

    Can we get a wave check Matt

  • @scoon2117
    @scoon2117 3 місяці тому

    Fu k the internet

  • @tim290280
    @tim290280 3 місяці тому +1

    Alex is the worst kind of liberal. Everything is just a matter of opinion to be debated, rather than very real topics with very real impacts. So he can go on (or have on) some terrible person's show who lies (or is just wrong) and feel very comfortable "exchanging ideas". The fact that he will get invited (or would appear) on to JP's show just illustrates that he is civil at the expense of any standards or values.

    • @GrandmasterFerg
      @GrandmasterFerg 2 місяці тому

      You're the wirst kind of whatever you are.

    • @tim290280
      @tim290280 2 місяці тому

      @@GrandmasterFergthat would actually be you and your trolling.

  • @RyuuGotSwagg
    @RyuuGotSwagg 3 місяці тому

    The destiny hasan beef is blantly just content farming but there fans can’t figure it out

  • @phantom_drone
    @phantom_drone 3 місяці тому +2

    Alex L Connor

  • @blakerobson9312
    @blakerobson9312 3 місяці тому +9

    Wow this channel sucks. As long as you guys had the quickest draw and labelling yourself as the Official Decoders and absolutely everyone else around you are Grifitng Gurus you must be in the right?
    Screams of “don’t worry, we are the trust worthy experts and we will explain to you what opinion you should have”
    If you’re reading this, Don’t watch this channel and go laugh with the sinners rather than crying with these saints.

    • @rachael_grey
      @rachael_grey 3 місяці тому +19

      I've been listening to these guys for a couple of years. They're great!

    • @scisher3294
      @scisher3294 3 місяці тому

      @@rachael_greyI particularly like how they have a rubric system for scoring the people they analyze. 😅

    • @scisher3294
      @scisher3294 3 місяці тому +10

      Do I detect some one with hurt feelings? What’s wrong buddy? Did it hurt your feelings that a podcast criticized one of your icons (I’m assuming you hold Peterson in high regards, based on your outburst here).

    • @Goodnessgraciousplea
      @Goodnessgraciousplea 3 місяці тому +3

      ​@@scisher3294Aren't your two beloved guru decoders getting butthurt because someone they idolise is NOT criticising someone they disagree with? 😂

    • @scisher3294
      @scisher3294 3 місяці тому +7

      @@Goodnessgraciousplea I am only trying to figure out what world view you hold that causes you to become unhinged at two men (of a small UA-cam channel) because they said something to criticize Peterson (and O’Connor a little bit too). Then you went ham about “sinners vs saints”, so it appears you are very upset over Peterson criticism. (Just the best I can guess from what you are writing).

  • @scisher3294
    @scisher3294 3 місяці тому +10

    The Destiny 1 v 10 debate with Moldovan host, Kat, was a WILD change of pace. 🫣

    • @phantom_drone
      @phantom_drone 3 місяці тому +5

      TRUE

    • @ottz2506
      @ottz2506 3 місяці тому +3

      Yeah even though Destiny’s reaction to the Trump shooting went way too far, I felt his performance demonstrated that being the “civil” and soft spoken one doesn’t make you right or good.
      “Yeah, I may have god awful opinions but if I expand on them in a calm and civil tone, that means I’m rational and thus I win”

    • @scisher3294
      @scisher3294 3 місяці тому +3

      @@ottz2506 now, we say hello to the Destiny era of “Long Arms, that slap hard” 💪

    • @bennymountain1
      @bennymountain1 3 місяці тому +1

      And a much needed one 🤣