In before anyone assumes I’m making a blanket statement: Not all podcasters are crackpots, but all crackpots seem to have a podcast.

    • atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works
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      17 hours ago

      On the contrary, HAM and CB radios have been popular since WWII (and somewhat before). I have a radio capable of picking up shortwave frequencies… holy shit the stuff you still hear on there.

      Given that today you also need an Internet connection I’m not sure the barrier of microphone and smart device is all that different from microphone and HAM receiver.

    • rc__buggy@sh.itjust.works
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      18 hours ago

      The lowest barrier to radio entry once the web came around was shortwave. Dirt cheap, really and worldwide with the right conditions.

      Holy shit '90s shortwave was nuts

      • Iced Raktajino@startrek.websiteOP
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        17 hours ago

        Oh, boy, that brings back memories of being a teenager in the early 90s. Grandpa gifted me his old CB, got it setup and tuned in, and immediately turned it off.

        It’s just that back then, those people weren’t glamorized with fancy titles like “podcaster” or “influencer”. They were just garden variety cranks everyone knew to just ignore.

        • faythofdragons@slrpnk.net
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          17 hours ago

          We didn’t call them influencers, but people like Glenn Beck and Billy Graham were absolutely influencers. My parents whole church hung on their every word, so you really can’t say everybody knew to ignore it either lol.

    • Zorque@lemmy.world
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      14 hours ago

      Yes, technology has improved somewhat in the last thirty years, you’re right. Funny how that works.