Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
On the podcast, our two representatives (Senators Kenneth and Pilgrim) were asked how they first found out about Ricochet. Which caused me to wonder about others?
Here's my story: I received an I-Pod for Christmas 2009. After watching it for a couple of months waiting for it to do something, one my children showed me how to download podcasts (I didn't realize you have to do anything--I thought downloads automatically came down from heaven). Then my son, a conservative like me, told me he had heard of a new conservative podcast involving Messrs. Steyn, Long, and Robinson, all of whom I knew from either National Review or Uncommon Knowledge. I signed on and caught the second podcast--haven't missed one since. After carefully reviewing the family budget, I gave up gummy bears and joined when Ricochet was in the beta stage. And I am hooked, although I've never found it to be time wasted: it's great intellectual exercise each day. I even made Ricochet my home page.
Tell us your addiction story?
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Comments :
Nov '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
Kenneth: I flatly deny that I am addicted. I only partake socially and I could quit anytime I wanted.
And I never imbibe Ricochet before noon - Eastern Standard Time. · Mar 12 at 1:03pm
Well, it's always noon somewhere, right? Personally, I never check Ricochet before I wake up in the morning, but that's my only limitation.
To get here, I followed a link over from NRO, I think, but somehow I don't think it was originally to a podcast. Does that sound possible? It was a while ago. At any rate, I read faithfully for weeks leading up to the election. The thing that made me join was the completely insanely confusing wildly fast-moving election night liveblog. I sat and watched it on the laptop while my husband focused on the TV. The laptop was way more interesting.
I understand why you all thought you had to come up with a more controlled format for the State of the Union event (which I missed because of a commitment elsewhere), but I really preferred the chaos of election night.
Jul '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
It's been so long..... But I must have come Here from that National Revive? National Overview? That Buckley Place.
I wanted more than what They were giving Me. What They were using just wasn't doing the trick.
They told Me,"Hay, if Yer into 'bi-winning,' then try Ricochet."
The rest, they say.... oh, Who are We kidding? We never rest.
Aug '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
I ahem always had my own blog, but Breitbart started his Nd the early days were fun,conversational, and good fencing. My blogging was relative to how busy I was or whether I was participating at Big Hollywood. Never used the comments section on my own. Always followed Lileks and frequently the Corner. So, Breitbart got weird, Lileks, Goldberg, Steyn, and everyone showed up at Ricochet and I followed. You pulling heavily from Hoover , I was impressed. Barb our and Bush on earlier podcasts clinched it. Starpower? Need I mention Claire..... Then I met Andrea,Midget Faded, Kenneth, Sis...what a salon. Thanks a lot. I closed my own blog due to the death threats from Katrina vanDenHeuvel and thought maybe someone from Mother Jones thought I still subscribed, well no dude I QUIT when they outlawed ketamine. And the Huffington thing ? Man..those paint fumes in a paper bag give me a headache.
Dec '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
Podcast first. I was also looking for Lileks. (I've been reading The Bleat for a few years.) Once I realized I was a long time fan of the entire podcast..uh...cast, I struggled to budget in the large chunk of dough it took to join the conversation and here I am.
Nov '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
I feel so plebeian. During a broadcast last fall Rush Limbaugh referred to a blog written here. The information the blog conveyed was something I hadn’t heard elsewhere. I remembered the name Ricochet and found the site. I lurked here for a week and then joined. Much like my electric blanket, I’m not sure how I ever survived without Ricochet. The brain power here is pretty overwhelming so I still pretty much just lurk. I do my podcast listening every Saturday morning. They are a real treat.
Jan '11
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
I was surprised SteynOnLine was absent from the list of Sites We Like
Aug '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
Since you can spell it, you clearly aren't. :-)
Edited on Mar 12, 2011 at 6:38pmMar '11
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
Via Mark Steyn linked from blog called Dumb Old Housewives. The podcast is an extremely valuable resource when one is stuck in front of a microscope screening pap smears for 8 hours. Rob, Peter, and all who are involved, thank you for such an entertaining and enlightening venture.
The Yoo/Epstein podcasts compelled me to finally become a member.
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
Rob and I talked each other into launching Ricochet, but--shall I be honest?--I had half a hunch the whole thing would collapse after about six weeks. If we built it, I figured, the chances were no better than 50-50 that they would come.
Come come you did, and you, the members--you're the ones who hooked me. I've made new friends, I've repeatedly experienced more humility than I like or had expected--when you get paid to write, it's disconcerting to come across so many people who sling words so well entirely without compensation--and I've learned. Every single day since Ricochet went up, I've learned from you.
I'm already bracing for Kenneth's reply--he's swoops in whenever his Smarm Alert sounds--but it's true, all true, I promise.
Sep '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
I was tricked into coming here but -- absent a better offer -- I've decided to stay and bask in the emblematic glow befitting a minor deity in the Egyptian tradition.
Sep '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
The thing that made me join was the completely insanely confusing wildly fast-moving election night liveblog.
I'm still recovering from election night.
Jul '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
Peter Robinson: ... Come come you did, and you, the members--you're the ones who hooked me. I've made new friends, I've repeatedly experienced more humility than I like or had expected--when you get paid to write, it's disconcerting to come across so many people who sling words so well entirely without compensation--and I've learned. Every single day since Ricochet went up, I've learned from you. ...
I write for a living too, just not for publication and sometimes in programming languages, and not for such august clients. I'm sure other here do too. You guys are top notch. My last post I left out Mark Steyn, who I followed in NRO and America Alone before landing here, and David Limbaugh, and excellent columnist who has embraced the war on ObamaCare as I have. And Bill McGurn, who has a unique gift for words and an irrepressible delight for relating venues and people. Some of my favorite writing on the site is Bill or Dave or Claire on life as it presents itself. I am going to stop now with certainty that I have left out someone. Of course! Lileks! Sorry James!
Jul '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
Peter Robinson: Rob and I talked each other into launching Ricochet, but--shall I be honest?--I had half a hunch the whole thing would collapse after about six weeks. If we built it, I figured, the chances were no better than 50-50 that they would come.
Come come you did, and you, the members--you're the ones who hooked me. I've made new friends, I've repeatedly experienced more humility than I like or had expected--when you get paid to write, it's disconcerting to come across so many people who sling words so well entirely without compensation--and I've learned. Every single day since Ricochet went up, I've learned from you.
I'm already bracing for Kenneth's reply--he's swoops in whenever his Smarm Alert sounds--but it's true, all true, I promise. · Mar 12 at 9:54pm
My Smarm Alert remains quiescent. But my Sincerity Light is glowing steadily.
I've learned here, too. And made friends - among whom I'm privileged to include you.
Jul '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
Pseudodionysius: The thing that made me join was the completely insanely confusing wildly fast-moving election night liveblog.
I'm still recovering from election night. · Mar 12 at 10:25pm
Primary season is just around the corner, I make that as high season for the madcap mayhem of the live election blog. The first one moved ridiculously fast, then they tried forcing it to a slower pace, I think I prefer going fast and knowing that the next day I'll spend hours picking through the comments. A followup thread where we do "late responses" might draw a thousand plus comments. But suppressing comments to slow the pace just misses more opportunities to comment and for people to participate.
Only 324 days to the Florida Primary.
May '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
I got addicted back in February '10 on FB. I got one of those FB ads to go to the Ricochet FB site. Once there, I found you had just put up a podcast. There was a while there when no one would post anything for a WHOLE DAY. I would keep checking back every few minutes the whole day. At the time I found Ricochet, I think there were only about 200 fans.
May '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
You would be forgiven for thinking that my addiction started with the free heroine and the needle exchange program, but you would be wrong. It was really tied to me giving up another bad habit (my own blogging) and needing another to take its place.
I'm still in the midst of deciding just how addicted I am, but I do know that Ricochet is one of the most interesting conservative communities going. I have truly enjoyed many of the posts here and I enjoy many of the personalities.
Often I find myself wishing we all lived within drinking distance of each other. These conversations would be more interesting, more immediate, and more pleasant with beer, coffee, or even a round of shots and some good background music.
Oct '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
For me, it was the center-right civil conversation. That, and being able to interact with serious people in political life, who were nonetheless civil and articulate. The paywall for comments also means security against hit-and-run trolls. It's awesome.
Oct '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
Heh, and I like how us more squishy people interact with more hardcore conservatives. That one Republican who wrote the light bulb law would never had done so if he'd been on Ricochet!
Dec '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
I have the luxury of being a stay at home mom (okay, okay, they are college age, but still, don't I deserve a bit of down time after guiding three young conservatives through a sludge of educational liberalism?)
My most favorite responsibility of each day now that the kids are out making the world a better place is walking my two Shelties and listening to podcasts. On Wed/Thurs. when the Ricochet podcast is available they get their longest walk of the week. We're all happy!!!!!
btw, found Ricochet through NRO. Found NRO through my oldest son who set it up as our homepage when he was in high school. I recently returned the favor and sent him a link to Ricochet. I "joined" last month after Lileks and Long convinced me that this site is truly worth the price of a cup of coffee.
btw, again. My college daughter asks me to save all my hard copies of Natl Review so she can especially read The Long View on her home breaks. Not making this up.
Jun '10
Re: Addiction Stories: How Did Ricochet Hook You?
You deserve more than that. You deserve a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Well done!