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PODCAST

Robot or Not?

John Siracusa and Jason Snell

Jason Snell asks John Siracusa to rule on the meaning of various words and concepts. It’s not just about robots anymore. Have a question for John? Email robot@theincomparable.com.

society & culture philosophy

All Episodes

2:34

269: The Worst

Robot or Not? ·

2023/09/04

Listener Andrew is worried that things we say are “the worst” are really just bad. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

en

3:56

267: Hiatus

Robot or Not? ·

2023/08/22

Listener Magnus is concerned that his favorite podcast is on hiatus. When is something on hiatus and when is it cancelled? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

en

8:23

266: AI Camerabot

Robot or Not? ·

2023/08/07

Finally we talk about robots again. If a robot controls a camera, is it a camera robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

en

4:07

265: Frown

Robot or Not? ·

2023/07/24

☹️ John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

en

10:03

264: Cookie Dough

Robot or Not? ·

2023/07/07

If it’s never meant to make a cookie, is it still cookie dough? (Also: Peanut Butter Spread, Cheese Food, and other food labeling we have known.) John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

en

2:47

263: Shade

Robot or Not? ·

2023/06/26

This time we’re throwing shade. But do sunglasses? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

en

3:48

262: Keys

Robot or Not? ·

2023/06/12

If any device can open a door, is every device a key? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

en

5:28

261: Buildings

Robot or Not? ·

2023/05/29

A chair is not a house and house is not a home, but is a house a building? And what about gazebos?

en

9:54

260: Dish v. Plate (revisited)

Robot or Not? ·

2023/05/15

Jason’s trip to his mother’s house makes him rethink his definition of what a dish is. Also, he gets some upsetting news about the long-term relationship between the fork and the spoon.

en

8:26

259: Ports

Robot or Not? ·

2023/05/01

Don’t anthromorphize ports. They hate that.

en

3:31

258: Beach

Robot or Not? ·

2023/04/17

Where do beaches exist? And what materials do they need to be comprised of?

en

6:50

257: Island

Robot or Not? ·

2023/04/03

The difference between islands and continents, and also why Pluto can be a planet if you want to lower your standards.

en

6:14

256: Stepmom

Robot or Not? ·

2023/03/20

Sometimes they’re wicked, sometimes not. Can an adult call a parent’s new wife a stepmom? Bonus: Can you be too old to be an orphan?

en

3:44

255: Ice

Robot or Not? ·

2023/03/06

Listener Chris clues us into an important ice safety campaign.

en

6:18

254: Shoes

Robot or Not? ·

2023/02/20

Shoes, socks, sandals, boots. Footwear is complicated.

en

3:10

253: University

Robot or Not? ·

2023/02/06

What makes a university? Is it the buildings, or the people, or the big hole you throw money into?

en

6:52

252: Friend of the Show

Robot or Not? ·

2023/01/23

Listener Rob and Listener Reiner, who are not Director Rob Reiner, want to know if they are Friends of the Show.

en

4:05

251: Happy New Year

Robot or Not? ·

2023/01/09

Are we too late to say it?

en

5:28

250: Roomba Update

Robot or Not? ·

2022/12/26

Some deeper questions about whether certain Roomba behavior makes it more or less of a robot.

en

4:18

249: Blaine the Mono

Robot or Not? ·

2022/12/12

Blaine is a pain, and that is the truth.

en

289 results

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