RS034 - For Whom The Whistle Blows
Channel: Reasonably Sound
Date: 2018-01-24

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This episode contains offensive language.

In this episode of Reasonably Sound we talk about how it is that through repetition, seemingly innocuous sounds come to be laden with meaning and can even guide the behavior of subjects exposed to them.

First, we spend a little time on how dogs are trained and the difference between classical and operant conditioning: a little bit of Pavlov, and a little bit of B.F. Skinner (an unwitting participant in the design of addictive games and social media, by a certain view).

After talking for a bit about dog whistles of the ultrasonic kind–the ones you can’t hear, but fido can–we spend the second half of the episode talking about dog whistles of the political kind. We talk about why certain kinds of political messages, ones dealing largely in hatefulness, are named after a piece of silent pup training paraphernalia, and how they can work to guide the behavior of people who have the ability hear them.

Double extra super THANKS to all of Reasonably Sound’s Patrons, who help keep the show afloat. Special shoutout to Allie, Andy McMillan, Autumn, Brandon, Camilla Greer, Chelsea Herrington, Coral Kennelty-Cohen, Dale Jakes, Elliott, Hans Buetow, Ildaris, Jesse Gamble, Joachim, Joe Krushinsky, John Cifuentes, Kyle Adkins, Liz M, Scott, Susan Rugnetta, Talia F E, Tim, Tod Kurt, Xander C

Reasonably Sound’s music is by Will Stratton
Its visual design is by Tida Tep.

SOURCES

On Dog Whistle Racism, Generally:

Actually, Many ‘Inner Cities’ Are Doing Great - http://nyti.ms/2EbwH6h
Thank Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton for Donald Trump’s Dog-Whistle Ways - http://ti.me/2hF3G7F
Mike Pence and ‘Conversion Therapy’: A History - http://nyti.ms/2E9y9Gb
Donald Trump used to dog-whistle racism. Now he just yells it - http://bit.ly/2hF3Rjb
Globalism: A Far-Right Conspiracy Theory Buoyed by Trump - http://nyti.ms/2EbPMFi
American crossroads: Reagan, Trump and the devil down south - http://bit.ly/2hEVbJA
… and many, many more.

Quoted
Exclusive: Lee Atwater’s Infamous 1981 Interview on the Southern Strategy - http://bit.ly/2hF5JbN
Dog Whistle Politics by Ian Haney-López - http://bit.ly/2hF9KwR

General
Sanctuary Cities and Dog Whistle Politics by Christopher N. Lasch
No Dog Whistle Needed by Gary Younge
Higher Frequency by Sarah L. Webb
How Progressives Should Talk About Racism by Heather McGhee and Ian Haney-López
What’s the Matter with What’s the Matter with Kansas? - http://bit.ly/2hEXrkn
Why did the Democrats Lose the South? Bringing New Data to an Old Debate - http://bit.ly/2hF6cL5
The truth about the white working class: Why it’s really allergic to voting for Democrats - http://bit.ly/2hF5SMv