Rename that Radio Show??

05 December 2007

信不信由你,节目导演,公共电台的看门人,几乎所有人都讨厌“哲学谈话”这个名字——不管他们对“哲学谈话”这个节目有什么看法。中国伊朗亚洲杯比赛直播即使是那些看起来很喜欢这个节目的PD们,有时也会说他们既讨厌我们名字中的“谈话”部分,也讨厌我们名字中的“哲学”部分。但人们似乎特别讨厌“哲学”和“谈话”的结合。在西海岸一个非常重要的电视台的一个PD非常讨厌我们的名字,他/她甚至把它作为我们刚开始播出时不让我们上节目的原因之一。

因为我们经常遇到这种情况,所以我们一直在考虑改名。我们刚刚开始讨论可能的新名字。我们正在考虑通过我们的博客和网站举办一场“重命名那个广播节目”的比赛,让我们的听众参与到这场潜在的重新洗礼中。

What's in a name, you say? Well, apparently a lot. The "talk" part apparently makes us sound to some PD's like we're trying to be the "Car Talk of Philosophy." That's apparently a definite no, no. "Can't tell you how many times I've been pitched a program purporting to be the Car Talk of X" says more than one PD dismissively. The "Philosophy" part is also apparently pure death to some. 'Philosophy' apparently connotes to some PD's staid academic discourse. And they believe that that is what it would connote to their listeners as well. They think that will be a turn off to the listener and will prevent the listener from even sampling our program. One PD wrote to us that he/she has seen no research suggesting that he/she should put 52 hours/year worth of philosophy programming on the air.

When you tell people like this, "Well lots of people have sampled the program and love it," they are not always impressed. They may suspect that we have only a niche audience and that the name stands in the way of our breaking out of the niche. [Of course, they never ever acknowledge that one thing that prevents us from reaching a wider audience is their own unwillingness to give us access to their air.]

Okay. So you see what we're up against? See why I sometimes get frustrated by the "business" side of this whole affair? I firmly believe that we are offering something that millions crave. But I guess I am willing to acknowledge that though people do crave what philosophy has to offer, they don't necessarily crave it under the rubric 'philosophy', if you know what I mean. That may have been what the surely well intentioned PD who cited the lack of market research justifying 52 hours/year of philosophy on the air was getting at. But who knows, really?

我非常亲爱的,通常很聪明的妻子告诉我,我们应该坚持我们的立场,不要改我们的名字。但一些在战壕中工作的专业宣传和营销类型表示,如果名字对“看门人”来说是一个问题,那么这个问题就需要克服。

Anyway, got any ideas? We'd love to hear them.

Comments(58)


Guest's picture

Guest

Thursday, December 6, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

您的程序的名称工作得很好。It makes

您的程序的名称工作得很好。改变名称来简单地重新定义能指是没有意义的,它已经对那些听你的程序的人有意义了。“中国伊朗亚洲杯比赛直播哲学谈话”(两个词合在一起使用)是一个中性的品牌,当人们打开电视讨论人类状况时,它是一个可以希望的中性品牌。继续出色的工作,不管你的节目“名字”变成什么,我都将继续疯狂地听。

Guest's picture

Guest

Thursday, December 6, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

I may be a niche but I would never have tuned in t

I may be a niche but I would never have tuned in to the show if "Philosophy" was not in the title. The "talk" part is important, too, because it implies a low-key, non-pompous approach to the subject. Suggest to these PD's that they stick to MTV and let others do their thinking for them.
Sincerely, Ed Healy

Guest's picture

Guest

Thursday, December 6, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

这其实是一个营销问题。Program Director

这其实是一个营销问题。项目主管通常是一群懒惰且缺乏想象力的人。你需要做的是给这个节目起一个适合PD的名字,比如“现实电台”,“真相谈话”,“关于深屎的说唱”,或者“发人深省”。
然后,你的节目广告是利基营销。比如来自网站的链接,来自其他智能广播节目,出版物等等。世界杯赛程2022赛程表欧洲区这是所有。
Oh, and if there is a show. Get rid of the PhD people. They are often just faux intellectuals with large vocabularies and lots of frilly papers on their walls, but lack the real ability to think and philosophise.

Guest's picture

Guest

Thursday, December 6, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Hmmm here are a few suggestions: "Thoughts", "T

Hmmm here are a few suggestions:
《思想》《思谈》《匿名思想家》《纯智慧》但要想真正吸引人们的注意,“性还是想法”,我认为通常会是后者。

Guest's picture

Guest

Friday, December 7, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

事实上,“汽车谈话”模式并不坏。But, it

事实上,“汽车谈话”模式并不坏。但是,它是“汽车”,而不是“汽车”或“内燃运输工具”。有没有想过咨询Magliozzi兄弟“哲学之于汽车,正如汽车之于汽车”?

Guest's picture

Guest

Friday, December 7, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Here are a few suggestions. First, how about "F

Here are a few suggestions.
First, how about "Fixing Ideas"?
Another possibility, with a tip of the hat to Rawls and also with an eye to "sexing up" the name: "Original Positions"?
Finally, with apologies to Buddhism, how about "Clear Light"?
Ok, so it is hard. We've posted something on the Garden of Forking Paths (http://gfp.typepad.com) encouraging our readers to help in this project. Good luck. I love the show.

Guest's picture

Guest

Friday, December 7, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

What about these? 'The Great Conversation' '

What about these?
'The Great Conversation'
'Small Talk, Big Ideas'
'Thought Experiments' (alla NYC's 'Radio Lab')
Hope these help!

Guest's picture

Guest

Friday, December 7, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

"Think Tank" "Wondering about the World" "Th

"Think Tank"
"Wondering about the World"
"The Art of Asking"
"Questions"
"Brain Waves"
"Much Ado About Everything"

Guest's picture

Guest

Friday, December 7, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

"Mental Masturbation" "Problem of Problems"

"Mental Masturbation"
"Problem of Problems"
"Wisdom Tuner"
"Philosophy Talk"

Guest's picture

Guest

Saturday, December 8, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

philosophy-a-go-go down with philosophy the

philosophy-a-go-go
down with philosophy
the fun fun philosophy fun show
philosophy 1-0-fun
philosophy is cool, dammit
哲学家a.w.o.l。
help, i'm trapped in a mind

Guest's picture

Guest

Saturday, December 8, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Rational Public Radio ("This is RPR...") Views fr

Rational Public Radio ("This is RPR...")
Views from Nowhere

Guest's picture

Guest

Saturday, December 8, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Ideas

Ideas

Guest's picture

Guest

Saturday, December 8, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

But you guys are the Car Talk of Philosophy, which

But you guys are the Car Talk of Philosophy, which is why the name fits. But if you must revise the name, perhaps use the ad technique of name recognition combined with a slightly misleading catch:
Cookin' with Socrates.
You could even have an appetizer (the one-minute philosopher or roving philosopher), main course (guest and callers), and dessert (?). There'd presumably lots of other cheesy ways to use the premise. "Today we're cooking up a recipe for love [free will, knowledge, etc.]: what is love? what are it's ingredients? what does it take to make good love? etc. [Most of the credit for the above idea goes to my wife Cheryl.]

Guest's picture

Guest

Saturday, December 8, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

我喜欢你现在的名字。(I also like Drake's P

我喜欢你现在的名字。(我也喜欢Drake的哲学1-0-fun,因为这部剧很有趣,但名字似乎有点太可爱了)。另一个观点:哲学很重要。很好的双关语,不是吗?而不是妥协。

Guest's picture

Guest

Saturday, December 8, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

I think it's essential that you keep "philosophy"

I think it's essential that you keep "philosophy" in the title in some form. After all, isn't part of the idea to promote philosophy? And how can you do that if you don't call it philosophy? People might be listening without even knowing that they were listening to philosophy.
But "talk" seems less crucial.
So, my suggestion would be to keep "philosophy" but jettison "talk" -- it won't satisfy all of the radio stations, but it might help with some of them. What about, for example, "Philosophical Thoughts"? A lot of people seem to think that they have those. :-)

Guest's picture

Guest

Sunday, December 9, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Program Directors (the gatekeepers) do have some p

Program Directors (the gatekeepers) do have some power; they are the ones who decide who gets on the air and who doesn?t. But their power lies not in their sense of what is marketable, but in their awareness of what is already marketed. They survey the scene and find a conspicuous absence of philosophy shows; thus they conclude that such a show would be unmarketable because it is not already marketed. The trick is to demonstrate how the show could be marketable.
As a Gen X-er caught between the Baby-boomer leviathan and the Millennial behemoth, I recognize that philosophy is important ? maybe not so essential as the Boomers would have us believe, maybe not so trivial as the Millennials would have us think ? but valuable for survival, for making meaning, for changing our world. Boomer oriented marketing will be perceived as condescending, patronizing, even medicinal; and nobody likes the aftertaste of medicine. Millennial oriented marketing will be perceived as cynical, uncool in the attempt to be cool. Perhaps X-er oriented marketing could bridge the divide?
肯和约翰很酷,但不是流行文化中更普遍意义上的邪恶酷。他们是学者;他们应该吗?不要假装是其他任何东西;他们应该继续邀请学者。然而,他们的使命是让大众理解他们对哲学的更复杂的理解。为此,他们应该讲述关于哲学的好故事,提供哲学思考的例子,并鼓励与哲学问题的接触。
Overall, I think they do a good job of this.
我教授入门级的本科哲学课程,我要求学生选听哲学讲座的片段作为补充学习练习。中国伊朗亚洲杯比赛直播学生的反应很热烈;他们喜欢听教授讲课。在对话的环境中谈论哲学?反思和分析,但也是人,太人性了。我敢说,学生们受到了榜样的熏陶,甚至是启发。他们开始构思另类话语,与广播和电视上播放的节目相反的例子。他们开始想象智力对话是什么样的:没有简单的答案,很少有主导人物,很多有趣的问题。
To reach a larger audience, perhaps the following would be helpful:
? The Name of the Show ?
玫瑰换了名字也一样香。
o ?打电话给我?。
A name change would not be a big problem ? as long as the new name does not misrepresent the character of the show. To this end, I think keeping the term
?philosophy? in mix is vital. Philosophy is what the show is about: Don?t be embarrassed or ashamed of that fact. Proclaim that fact proudly. Well-earned pride is cool.
o Some names I like are ?Philosophy Jamz,? ?Philosophy in the Mix,? ?Do Ya Think? Philosophically?? ?Philosophy Mash-Up,? but these relatively contemporary plays would represent the show. To hear Ken and John ?talkin? ?bout bein? down wit dis and dat? just won?t work. Neither will suggestions referencing Buddhism or ?clear lights? or even ?rational.?
o One name that might work, however, is ?Philosophy Rocks!? The show already incorporates music that alludes to philosophy, so if the music were just ?updated? a bit to broaden the demographic, these musical elements could be used more discursively, while maintaining ornamental value.
?The Topics of the Show ?
问题在于如何扩大节目的受众群体(至少增加年轻听众),从而在不完全重新编排的情况下提高节目的市场价值。一些评论家可能会赞成更年轻、非学术性质的主持人,但这种改变会从根本上改变我们的节目。我们都学会了了解和爱;此外,这将削弱节目作为替代节目来源的原创性。
扩大受众的一种方法是加入更多的流行文化。哲学主题:《辛普森一家》与哲学、《黑客帝国》与哲学、扑克与哲学等。
o扩大展览规模的另一种方法是加大音量。在哲学记者的报道中可以这样说。我很喜欢波莉的这段,但是,孩子们?期待更多。
Anyway, I don?t pretend to have all ? or any ? of the answers, but I understand and sympathize with your predicament. Marketing conditions often limit programming options; but the opposite is also true: programming conditions often limit marketing options.
I just hope the show survives ? with integrity -- to evolve into something even more intriguing than it already is.

Guest's picture

Guest

Sunday, December 9, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

How about "Rational Exuberance"?

How about "Rational Exuberance"?

Guest's picture

Guest

Sunday, December 9, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Flat out BS. "Philosophy Talk" is a good name. Don

Flat out BS. "Philosophy Talk" is a good name. Dont change it! Or "bye" (between your ears)... thx

John Perry's picture

John Perry

Sunday, December 9, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Good for Ken for getting this started! Lots of

Good for Ken for getting this started!
Lots of nice comments and good ideas. So far my favorites are
Original Positions
Philosophy Matters
Talkin' About the Deep Shit
jp

Guest's picture

Guest

Monday, December 10, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Why not apply the principle of parsimony to appea

Why not apply the principle of parsimony
to appease the gatekeepers and attract new listeners?
保持简单(如Ockham's Razor)。
Narrow it down to one word, perhaps a verb.
If I had to translate the Delphic oracle
into twenty-first century lingo, it would
have to be "Think!"

Guest's picture

Guest

Monday, December 10, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

How about "The talking Heads"

How about "The talking Heads"

Guest's picture

Guest

Tuesday, December 11, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

I like "Think Talk", also consider "Thought Lab"

I like "Think Talk", also consider "Thought Lab"

Guest's picture

Guest

Wednesday, December 12, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

The name, "Philosphy Talk", makes the program soun

它的名字叫“哲学谈话”,使这个程序听起来平易近人,主题也许可以理解。我喜欢能直接告诉我节目内容的名字。

Guest's picture

Guest

Wednesday, December 12, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Your title is fantastic, but I appreciate that you

Your title is fantastic, but I appreciate that your fears are connected with issues of American Radio Politics, which here, across the pond, we do not need understand. You have a good product (I know, because I am paying for it) and your product is global, existing not just in space but (I am sure) over time (until the heat death).
“我思故我在”不是个坏主意。
另一个是“哲学脱口秀”。中国伊朗亚洲杯比赛直播
But then they would abbreviate it to "Show Formerly Known" (but not any longer).
So perhaps "Cogito ergo poddo" with the sister blog "Cogitto ergo bloggo"
Or Cogito ergo poddo. Philosophy Talk
Marek Witkowski
Warsaw, Poland

Guest's picture

Guest

Wednesday, December 12, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Perhaps your own THANK YOU FOR THINKING woul

Perhaps your own
THANK YOU FOR THINKING
would be a nice title

Neil Van Leeuwen's picture

Neil Van Leeuwen

Saturday, December 15, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Facts and Concepts Fact and Fallacy Concept and

Facts and Concepts
Fact and Fallacy
Concept and Culture
Concept, Culture and Morality
Reason, Culture, and Emotion
Reason and Culture
Philosophy on Air
The Philosophy Circle
Public Reasons
The Examined Life

Guest's picture

Guest

Saturday, December 15, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Well my friend, I live in the south and do not get

我的朋友,我住在南方,没机会听你的脱口秀。我不相信你现在的脱口秀名字会吸引我,但它的内容会吸引我。我相信这适用于很多人。So to increase your audience just change the name to "BRAIN-CELL-STIMULATION"

Guest's picture

Guest

Sunday, December 16, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

*现在哲学!*Question Everything *Cogito or

*现在哲学!
*Question Everything
*Cogito or iThink ("i" is a pretty ubiquitous branding tool these days); or, some other Latin word that expresses thought/thinking.

Guest's picture

Guest

Sunday, December 16, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

"Doesn't Follow" "Philosophy Hertz" "Ps and

"Doesn't Follow"
"Philosophy Hertz"
"Ps and Qs"
"Premise Keepers"

MIke's picture

MIke

Monday, December 17, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

我听田纳西的档案馆。If you want

我听田纳西的档案馆。如果你想让电台接收,可以这样写:“a Whole Lot of Ciphering going ' On”。

MIke's picture

MIke

Monday, December 17, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Note: "Philosophy Rocks!" is a book title, so ther

Note: "Philosophy Rocks!" is a book title, so there might be a copyright issue.

Guest's picture

Guest

Monday, December 17, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Philosophical ba-dunk-a-dunk The Junk in your phi

Philosophical ba-dunk-a-dunk
The Junk in your philosophical trunk
I'm an ask man, myself
Truth, justice and booty

MIke's picture

MIke

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Show name: "Plato's Cave" or "The Agora" or "Thin

节目名称:“柏拉图的洞穴”或“集会”或“想,想,请做!”

MIke's picture

MIke

Tuesday, December 18, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Another name: "Words to the Wise" or "My Dear Socr

Another name: "Words to the Wise" or "My Dear Socrates"

Guest's picture

Guest

Thursday, December 20, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

The Think Zone

The Think Zone

Guest's picture

Guest

Thursday, December 20, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

THOUGHT TALK

THOUGHT TALK

Guest's picture

Guest

Thursday, December 20, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

"Stoic Thoughts" ENCARTA WORLD DICTIONARY: "Stoi

"Stoic Thoughts"
ENCARTA WORLD DICTIONARY: "Stoic" Ancient philosphy: a member of an ancient greek school of philosphy that asserted that happiness can only be achieved by accepting life's ups and downs as the products of unalterable destiny. School founded 308 BC by Zeno

Guest's picture

Guest

Thursday, December 20, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

I read all the other idea's "I WIN"!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read all the other idea's "I WIN"!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guest's picture

Guest

Thursday, December 20, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

"BIPEDAL MINDS"

"BIPEDAL MINDS"

Guest's picture

Guest

Thursday, December 27, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

I second "Talking'bout the deep shit" myself. PDs

I second "Talking'bout the deep shit" myself. PDs may not be happy about that title though.
这些pd认为书名中的“哲学”意味着无聊的学术谈话,这可能是不对的。海尔布隆纳的《世间的哲学家》是一本畅销书,尽管这本书不是关于哲学家的,而是关于经济学家的!海尔布隆纳把“经济学家”从书名中去掉,换成了“哲学家”,因为出版商向他暗示,带有“经济学家”的书名卖不出去。我认为海尔布隆纳在他的书的序言中谈到了这一点,所以只要给pd们看看,证明他们是错的!
“…谈话”有什么不对?这是对“汽车谈话”节目的赞美。但如果你必须用其他东西来代替它,Holley的“哲学很重要”是一个很好的建议。

Richard's picture

Richard

Friday, December 28, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

Some people like to hear themselves speak eternall

Some people like to hear themselves speak eternally (or read what they write ) without saying much, as in your first post. Prob could have been put in 6 or 7 (succint) lines.
再说一遍,再说一遍,然后再说一遍那个热气球说的不是那个意思。
Oh, I've written too many words already.
Call the show "Talk(s) Philosophy" or better still "Philosophy Talks".
当然,乘气球的人也有可能获胜,并把它和一篇好的、长(重复)的文章一起改变。
Oh, there's a good topic for a "philosophy talks" programme - "Brevity"

Guest's picture

Guest

Monday, December 31, 2007 -- 4:00 PM

得了吧!Whatever you do, PLEASE don't

得了吧!无论如何,请不要改名字!在听了过去几年的哲学讲座之后,任何其他中国伊朗亚洲杯比赛直播的名字都不会有相同的感觉。
The PDs are missing the point -- it is precisely the current title that makes this show appealing to general audiences. I have recommended the show to many philosophy-phobes, and have yet to receive a single complaint. To the contrary, people seem to love the name. This particular concern seems to me like nothing else but just another example of our typical American fascination with "looks over substance".
肯和约翰,我希望你们勇敢地面对公司的恶霸。这个节目是你的创作,显然非常成功。我说这句话是因为我购买了资料馆和订阅。2022世界杯小组赛分组正如那句老话所说:“如果没有坏,就不要去修它”。我唯一的建议是——让更多像我这样的哲学迷们了解我自己,有时让讨论更“学术化”一点……

Guest's picture

Guest

Wednesday, January 2, 2008 -- 4:00 PM

I am a Marketing Manager by profession. I have 12

I am a Marketing Manager by profession. I have 12 years experience in advertising and marketing - and I say DO NOT CHANGE THE NAME.
-简明扼要,切中要害。
- Your core audience would never have come to your show had it not been for that.
- What some PDs don't get is that the program is what it is (or they do get it, and would love to pervert the content as well as the name). So if the name isn't representative of what listeners will get when they tune in, then you'll both lose the people who thought it was something else, and never attract the people who like philosophy in the first place (your core). Don't jump the shark.
- Don't expend the name recognition you've already built with the name.
-是的,人们可能会回避“哲学”这个词,但这是因为他们不知道哲学到底是什么,以及它对我们的生活是多么不可或缺。你的任务之一大概就是改变这种看法。pd对这种努力或原因不感兴趣,他们总是会设计自己的策略来适应无知以获得最大效果。换句话说,它们总是建议选择阻力最小的路径。尽管你可以基于重叠来说服他们,但要记住他们的目标与你的并不完全相同。不要听他们的,坚持你的原则和目的。因为名字而愿意接受一些困难,但那是对你的事业自然和适当的困难。

Guest's picture

Guest

Sunday, January 6, 2008 -- 4:00 PM

How about "The Examined Life"?

How about "The Examined Life"?

David's picture

David

Sunday, January 13, 2008 -- 4:00 PM

Philosphy mix Ideas in the air Philosophy world

Philosphy mix
Ideas in the air
Philosophy world
Philosphy chat
Deep thought
Thinking aloud (seems to be some other people using this one, though)
Thinking on air
Thinking out loud
The 60-minute philosphers

Michael Andersen's picture

Michael Andersen

Friday, January 18, 2008 -- 4:00 PM

I would second all those who like the name the way

我支持所有喜欢这个名字的人。那些让你放弃这个名字的制作人都是笨蛋。别听他们的。在市场营销的名义下,我们已经简化了很多很棒的节目。忠于你的使命。Philosophytalk万岁!

Guest's picture

Guest

Thursday, January 24, 2008 -- 4:00 PM

I like 'Philosophy Matters.' So many of the other

I like 'Philosophy Matters.' So many of the other suggestions sound like Frosh Seminars or IHUM tracks.

Guest's picture

Guest

Sunday, February 3, 2008 -- 4:00 PM

Well, I'd hate to see you change the name, but how

好吧,我不愿意看到你改名字,但是“骷髅会议(约翰和肯)”怎么样?

Guest's picture

Guest

Friday, February 15, 2008 -- 4:00 PM

I agree with everyone else that your name speaks w

I agree with everyone else that your name speaks well to what the show is about. However, in the spirit of bowing to marketing, while at the same time pretending intelligence, I suggest an acronym that is simultaneously modern and esoteric. RAZ rationalizing the american zeitgeist. :)

Guest's picture

Guest

Saturday, February 16, 2008 -- 4:00 PM

"Des Carte After De Horse" "Do, Be, Do, Be Do",

"Des Carte After De Horse"
"Do, Be, Do, Be Do", ("Thinkers in Delight"
"Operating Potion #98.6"
"You Think WHAT??"
"Sumus Quod Cogito"
"Think you..very much?"

Pages