Lately I have been watching Louie Theroux (maybe there is an I in there somewhere). He always goes into strange places asking people about their lives. He went to Thailand to a Thai bride place, and to a doomsday prepper camp. All the while he asks thoughtful questions, and just tries to understand.
The episode with the swingers was really great full of awkward and serious moments. He gets into a pool with a man and asks if he is swinging now, then walks into an orgy.
Something I would like to take from him though is he turns maybe people or groups we are quick to label as crazy to humans again. Asking thoughtful questions and really just listening. Maybe when he was starting out it wasn’t always the best, or he says something insensitive. His camera crew is also good at shooting catching him in honest conversations.
Lately a lot of my friends really like channel 5 news, a more modern Louie. He also does silly stuff, but still just talks to people in an area and listens.
This is a process I would like to try for some writing, and in work.
It’s a process people I follow at the Atlantic do as well. But it’s something in science we’re not really taught to do. Talk to experts or real people. We usually just read papers. Even though we know those stories have been twisted a bit by reviewers making sure you cite their papers and editors making sure you mention the right ones.
It would be fun to practice some of these skills. Maybe also helpful in creation of family memoirs.
The episode with the swingers was really great full of awkward and serious moments. He gets into a pool with a man and asks if he is swinging now, then walks into an orgy.
Something I would like to take from him though is he turns maybe people or groups we are quick to label as crazy to humans again. Asking thoughtful questions and really just listening. Maybe when he was starting out it wasn’t always the best, or he says something insensitive. His camera crew is also good at shooting catching him in honest conversations.
Lately a lot of my friends really like channel 5 news, a more modern Louie. He also does silly stuff, but still just talks to people in an area and listens.
This is a process I would like to try for some writing, and in work.
It’s a process people I follow at the Atlantic do as well. But it’s something in science we’re not really taught to do. Talk to experts or real people. We usually just read papers. Even though we know those stories have been twisted a bit by reviewers making sure you cite their papers and editors making sure you mention the right ones.
It would be fun to practice some of these skills. Maybe also helpful in creation of family memoirs.