Hello America
Hello and welcome to anyone from the US who has come here after listening to This American Life. I've just heard the programme and it is a great show. Big thanks to Jon Ronson for interviewing me. Jon's book Them is one of my top non-fiction reads of all time.
My book wasn't mentioned on the show, (but hey, can't win 'em all). It's called Out of the Tunnel, and the interview was based on it. The book is available from amazon UK, and an interview about it can be found here, and there's more stuff -reviews etc - in the right hand blog sidebar. I'll link an MP3 of This American Life on Monday, when the show becomes available to listen for free for 7 days.
UPDATE: It's here - the show is called 'The Spokesman' and I'm the second interview
My book wasn't mentioned on the show, (but hey, can't win 'em all). It's called Out of the Tunnel, and the interview was based on it. The book is available from amazon UK, and an interview about it can be found here, and there's more stuff -reviews etc - in the right hand blog sidebar. I'll link an MP3 of This American Life on Monday, when the show becomes available to listen for free for 7 days.
UPDATE: It's here - the show is called 'The Spokesman' and I'm the second interview
posted by Rachel at 7:17 pm
Greetings from the Land of 10,000 Lakes (Minnesota, USA), Rachel. I just finished listening to your interview on TAL; I wanted to express my admiration for the courage and strength of conviction you displayed in dealing with the absolutely incredible series of events described during your interview. I was aware of the "conspiracy theories" concerning 9/11, but until the TAL segment, I was unaware of any active "conspiracy theories" concerning 07/07. I have a couple fo questions: What do you think drives the theorists to go to such extremes? Does contriving the intricate theories provide an abstract coping mechanism of some sort? I was witness to the interstate bridge collapse in Minneapolis on 08/01; all I could see was a tremendous outpouring of true humanity sparked by a horrendous failure of human engineering. After listening to your TAL piece, I now know it's just a matter of time before rampant media speculation about the collapse evolves into (for some) dark agendas and elaborate "de-engineering" schemes. I can only hope that, if someone here becomes a "spokeperson" in the same manner you did, and becomes embroiled in the same unbelievable storm that you did, that they will find the same courage and strength of conviction that you found.
I just happened to hear you, thought, wow, I wonder if that the blogger I read. Sure enough. You came across as so utterly sane, as opposed to the other idiot who couldn't bear to let anyone else get a word in edgewise.
I wasn't even in the mood for radio but couldn't switch stations once I heard 30 seconds of your story. Most of us will never experience anything remotely close to what you've gone through. Moreover, to maintain your composure (despite your claims that you didn't) in the face of such narrow-minded speculative nonsense to which you did is beyond admirable. Traffic was terrible in Chicago yesterday. I'm glad you prioritized it for me.
I have just now heard the story of your blog wars with the conspiracy theorists. I'm a 17-year-old from Wisconsin, and more than the gore and death, which, as a youth of this age, I have become desensitized to, I was struck by the power of the Internet. If the bombing had happened twenty years ago, you never would have known about those theorists! Wouldn't you be better off? I don't blog, myself, but I have aspirations to becoming published, and blogging seems like something I should be doing. Of course, you actually had something to say, and it was something you needed to say. Congradulations on your success.
Hi Rachel...not from the US, but just wanted to say that I've just ordered the book from Amazon (can't believe it's not in Smiths et al - why the hell not?!)
Dear Rachel,
I am an American that did just hear your story on This American Life, and I was very moved. I'm so sorry to hear about your experience, and perhaps even moreso the response of people who want to believe whatever they want to believe despite the truthful experience of someone who was there. Seems to me like they're just looking to twist any event into 'evidence' to support their already established theory. It's human behavior at it's worst. Just know that I, and I'm sure the many millions more of us who heard your interview on National Public Radio tonight, are sending love and hugs and wishing the best for you!
Thank you for the kind comments and emails. I am glad you found the show interesting. Jon is a very talented chap.
I'm reading "Them" at the moment - the chapter on David Icke was rather hilarious - the rest rather more disturbing, although tempered with his understated humour... I am enjoying it so much I bought another of his books... and his interview with you was excellent - David Shayler sounded exactly like the deluded moron he is!
Listened to this interview again - a slightly different version to the original. As for Mr Shayler, I have to say this - reveals rather more than "signs of mental illness" - he is rampantly mad, and thankfully, people like him are largely ignored -
I even wondered whether Jon Ronson should have given him airspace but a) that is his style and particular fascination abd b) we live in a censorship-free country, thankfully.