I love the interchange between Mr. Rich and Nazinin about 'airbrushing' audio.

A story I like to tell (though I'm sure some would dispute it) is that two young men I met, neither of whom could hardly speak coherent sentences when I met them, became Program Director and Training Director of the Yale radio station after I repeatedly taped them in improvised radio theater programs, editing out the "ums and uhs", and replaying it for them. They heard how they could sound and emulated it.

I am very sorry. My comment was meant to be posted on the story "Snap Judgments"
May 28, 2010

Paraphrasing "No one wants to look mentally challenged..."
By saying that in your program today you imply there is something wrong with being mentally challenged. How dare you. I don't know what else you talked about or the other groups your said no one wants to look like because once I heard that I could think of nothing else. I am so shocked that a program I have thought to be very fair to both sides of the story being covered could so casually disparage a whole group of people. My sister has down's syndrome and she is beautiful, kind, and funny and I would be proud to look like her with her infectious smile and sparkling eyes. Would you say no one wants to look black or asian or disabled etc. I hazard to say you wouldn't. The mentally handicapped deserve that same respect and civility.

Hi Gary,

Have you ever heard this piece?

http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2007/05/25/06

It's called Pulling Back the Curtain. It's all about how much editing we do on the show. It's one of our favorite pieces. Take a listen if you have a chance.

Thanks!

It was interesting to listen to this interview about editing photos to "perfect the imperfect." I thought I might hear at least a word from Bob Garfield in reference to OTM as the most "airbrushed" program on radio. It is a marvelous thing to hear: week after week, never a pause, never an "um" or a "you know" from interviewer or interviewee. I can't believe that such perfect fluency in conversation exists in the real world. It's refreshing in contrast to what's typically heard, yet it always seems to me to have an unreal quality about it. I would love to hear a few minutes of raw interview tape followed by the edited version.
Love the program.