At 5:00 pm PST the Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast began a live, 24 hour, podcast. They are in the “Skeptilair” one of the guy’s basement, and are attempting to increase skepticism and awareness of science around the world. It is after 1:00 am PST. We are over eight hours into this. No one is sure why they started at 8 pm EST, where they are all from (except for Rebecca Watson who lives in England and flew here for the event).
For the most part I’m quite impressed with the event so far. To even attempt an undertaking like this takes an extreme amount of patience and passion. There have been some technical difficulties and I think that some people in Europe are having trouble with the feed. However, everything seems to be running as well as can be expected.
In addition to the video and audio feed I’m following the discussion in a chat room and on Twitter (#sgu24). It is amazing to me how mean some people can be. Do the people in the chat room think that the panelists aren’t watching the chat? Occasionally the discussion has slowed down a bit and a few times they probably weren’t discussing topics that are interesting to everyone. That is no reason to say that you are bored or that a speaker is boring. You wouldn’t do that in a lecture. Why would you do it here?
I’m not sure how long I’m going to make it. Luckily I don’t have to work tomorrow. The drive and ambition of the Skeptics Guide Rouges are keeping me awake and making me want to be a part of this ground-breaking podcast.
Also, I’m looking forward to listening to Skeptics from around the world as we progress through this 24 hour event. Right now they are talking to Richard Saunders and others from the Skeptic Zone, a skeptical podcast from Australia. Keep it going guys. I don’t think you realize the impact you are having on people around the world right now. How many podcasts and blogs will be spawned by the excitement of the event and the contagious passion being exhibited by the Skeptical Rouges? Time will tell.
Written in during hour 9 of the SGU 24 hour podcast event, from Sparks, NV