Jane Galt and Me Part I

In a world where people run amok on the internet screaming their heads off, Megan ...

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In a world where people run amok on the internet screaming their heads off, Megan McArdle stands (or in this case, sits by a microphone) as a model for the cool and collected. After a pre-game round of dog talk, Megan and Jonah settle in for some candid words on bread, being nice, and feminism — commentary so well-informed, we’re posting Megan twice in one week.

Show Notes:

–The Big Tech Four vs. Congress

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  1. Sean Smith

    Hi Jonah:

    I LOVE Megan. Have been a died-in-the-wool fan of hers for as long as I can remember. She's brilliant, thoughtful and insightful yet wonderfully down-to-earth. Please invite her back early and often.

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  2. Todd Lemmon

    Did...did you actually say "bottom" of a Tootsie Pop?!?! I used to work at the advertising agency that created the Owl spot. WB Doner in Detroit.

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    Tracie

    "I'm an adult, and I should engage with my opponents charitably."

    Thanks MM. Think I'll go tweet that, into the void.

    Also laughed at "I'm a tiger. I go to work with the flu and infect my co-workers." Believe it or not, that was the pre-COVID attitude at the nursing home where I work. I would come to work with a cold, provided I'd been swabbed for the flu. Some of my co-workers thought it was admirable but unecessary to rule out the flu, before caring for people 70, 80, 90+ who are rehabbing post-hospital.

    That has all changed. It's welcome.

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    Klemens

    This was super insightful. Megan is one of the best thinkers out there today. So refreshing!

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  5. KFarr

    Please point me to any previous issue of The Remnant where you discussed higher education OR please do a new one! I work in that sector...and am one of those liberal professors...but I am a subscriber so I can't be too horrible! Higher ed it a great place to be and work, as the students generally have incredible minds and motivations. But, I do have concerns about the current milieu and the financial model/s. I would enjoy hearing - but likely not agree with all of - your views. Thank you for pointing me to your previous work and/or anything upcoming!

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      Chris Jenkins

      Episode 12 with Steve Hayward, Episode 22 with Bryan Caplan, and Episode 63 with Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff. Not a comprehensive list, but the ones I remember.

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    hajaXavier

    Irish catholic wasp. I was on my bike on my way to tennis. Almost fell over i was laughing so hard. From now on I’m a WASP! 🤣🤣🤣 Great podcast, definitely looking forward to part 2!

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      Tracie

      Maybe she meant she's a hybrid.

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        hajaXavier

        🤣🤣🤣 like my bike

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    Adam

    Thanks Jonah for reminding me the real reason I’m a loyal Remnant listener: the Zune references.

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    Adicesa14

    Megan’s anecdote regarding the former professor turned CEO, who takes advantage of people with gambling addictions to maximize profits, reminded me of another anecdote that I think came from Jonah. To the best of my memory: In the 60’s WF Buckley borrowed this phrase but couldn’t remember from where or whom it came. “The trouble with socialism is socialism. The trouble with capitalism is capitalist’s”

    The entire conversation about bias news was illuminating. Megan’s comment ‘fewer niche spaces, more public squares’ is superb!

    Immense appreciation to Jonah and the Dispatch staff regarding civility in the comment section. There are comment sections in other publications that are of little value because of the nonsense spewed by some of the participants, and the attacks against folks with whom they disagree. Three cheers for the dispatch for maintaining a ‘safe space’ (I use that phrase satirically!) for reasonable comment.

    I have no way of knowing whether wearing a mask has utility. If wearing a mask is prophylactic, then not wearing a mask is insane. If wearing a mask has no value, then wearing a mask does no harm. Simple choice!

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    CJ Jenkins

    I would have liked the discussion of race and policing to get a little more into the weeds. I think Megan is exactly correct in what she says about the current state, but I also don't think we can wave away the fact that crimes are disproportionately committed by and against black Americans in areas that are predominately black.

    The problem is that the wrong action -- police harassment based on race -- has been the primary response. It seems to me (no expert on policing, to be sure), that police departments should emphasize policing in primarily black areas in a way that works with, instead of against, the local community, that respects the rights and dignity of the people who live there, and that is geared towards protecting those communities instead of treating them as suspects who have all conveniently chosen to live in the same place.

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    1. Larry Siegel

      I believe that's what we all want, but we don't know how to do it. Any suggestions?

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  10. Jordan Henderson

    I don't understand the problem with new media like Parler that avoids the biases of the woke moderators on Twitter.

    I'm on Parler and I don't follow any of the NAZIs. I would guess that not many or none of the people I follow do either. Tell me how a community like that becomes a sewer.

    What happened to GAB was that they got broadly attacked by institutions. Because there was some ugly content there, the payment processors cut them off and the Media told you that only horrible people use it. I don't know if that'll happen to Parler too, but if it does it only feeds conspiracy theories.

    I had a tweet put behind an "Offensive Content" warning the other day on Twitter. It was a sharp rebuke, but I don't think anyone would normally call it "Offensive". Some moderator (or algorithm) degraded the content because of political content. I think there is an argument for Section 230 action on Twitter. They clearly exercise editorial control and every possible opinion can be found there. When they boost opinions they like and suppress or ban opinions they don't they are just pasting together articles from people's tweets.

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      Tracie

      So that's how you spell it. (I don't speak French.)

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