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I would like to recommend that you stay with topics longer rather than dividing the hour into several topics. I've noticed that since the start of the program you try to include more voices and give them each just a few minutes to make an argument. It is very difficult to discuss a topic in the detail it needs to be discussed for learning to take place when each guest or caller has only a few minutes to make a point.

Online communication has lead to the phenomenon where anyone with a couple minutes can write something and think that because it is written, it is knowledgable. Some of your guests seem forced to conform to that format and cannot develop a coherent argument based on their expertise.

If you choose to deal with more frivolous topics, then a number of topics per show would be fine. If you want to deal with substantive issues like local politics, the environment, philosophical issues, then please do not try to put several issues in one hour.

Best wishes

SEbiker — Wed March 16th 10:09a.m.

Thank you for your feedback. We certainly don't want to start covering frivolous topics. If anything we want to discuss more important things that are happening across the state and cover each topic for the time they deserve instead of always automatically an hour. That being said I totally understand what you say about the time substantive issues need -- it is definitely something we need to pay attention to as we move forward. Thank you so much! Keep the comments coming!

Sarah Jane Rothenfluch — Wed March 16th 10:23a.m.

There was nothing at issue with the old format of Think Out Loud. I assume it is being changed because it is assumed to be broken.  Or else it is just to keep things current, but even keeping things current, is a comment on the past. If there was a problem with the old TOL it was never the length, or that one topic was too little for an hour, it was how that hour was handled and what topics where chosen. Lately the show seems prone to choose topics, or relate topics to what is going on in the news, and often the local news. Often there isn’t much conversation to be had on these local news topics, and sometimes the show seems torn between deciding whether it is covering the news or whether it is trying to start discussions related to the news. What you can end up with, is a show trying to find something interesting to say, about something that is perhaps not that interesting to begin with. In other words you are looking for something to talk about in matter-of-fact areas, that don’t inherently invite much discussion.

What is great about TOL is its holistic approach to conversation, it seems to take seriously the views of guests, callers and online commenters. Which often has the potential to feel like the community is actually taking part in a discussion, and in the end it is. It must be challenging, and a lot of work, to tackle a show of this scope on a local level. If the show has any problems many of them may simply be related to the resources of a local community, there are only so many potential people to participate in a show on a statewide level, whereas a show like Talk of the Nation has an entire country of listeners that can participate. In my opinion, the show has so far been very successful.

I feel in order to keep in line with the name of the show, more emphasis could be placed on promoting discussions that involve critical thinking or abstract skills. The show might have the potential to be seen as a follower rather then a leader, if it is always trying to relate things to a news item, and it could seem forced. And, sometimes these topics are so esoteric, that they are kind of a bore. Can’t the show generate its own discussion? What often happens on your blog is people want something more in-depth to discuss so they turn to topics loosely related, it is not just that they get off topic, but sometimes the topics just can’t hold their own as presented. And perhaps it would be good to get away from trying to make the show about local issues, unless those local issues are controversial or worthy of a ‘thinking’ discussion. Or if you want to do a show with multiple topics, maybe have a show once a week (or every so often) about local issues. -->

scottmil — Wed March 16th 12:17p.m.

<--Not that you asked for ideas, but it could be exciting to focus on general topics that help educate or get people thinking about how they approach the world. In a similar way that a liberal arts education attempts to develop a well-rounded education, and really a well-prepared and informed person. What is going on in the sciences, what is new in philosophy, what are the current trends in art. Maybe even go so far as to have an educational (or lecture) series, where you interview professors or thinkers on topics, about what is the current thinking in their area, or how has that discipline changed, or what might the average person need to know. An in-depth series about morals and ethics in the modern world, how people go about living their lives. There is so much that could be said, and discussed about topics higher up (or lower down, depending on how you look at it), at fundamental levels that is not being said in the public sphere. We seem to repeatedly focus on the end results and miss the whole process leading up to that thinking, we miss the parts that challenge us on what we think we know. It also might be interesting to incorporate criticism into shows on the arts---interview the author or artist and then have a portion of the show dedicated to different (possibly opposing or contradictory) viewpoints on the work from critics. Or if you have a show on a topic like unions (as you did recently), break the show up into the practicalities of what is going on in the news, and then devote a portion of the show to the larger context or principles of why unions?, or the philosophy and history of unions---you could apply this sort of idea to so many areas of discussion.

Anyway, perhaps I am dreaming, but I think the show is doing well as it is, maybe it would be best to improve what you already have going, instead of chopping things up to quicken the pace. It kind of seems like it could be a superficial and fast remodel, and perhaps a dumbing down, that if anything might just decrease discussion. Maybe that is not the intent, and what ever you do, I hope it works out well!

scottmil — Wed March 16th 12:17p.m.

Thank you! We certainly want to make sure there is still room for hour-long, in-depth conversations suitable of the name Think Out Loud. It is great to hear how important these are to valued community members. I expect at least once a week there will be just one topic for the whole hour... other days there may be two or three, depending upon how long they deserve.

Sarah Jane Rothenfluch — Wed March 16th 1:36p.m.

I like what Scottmil said. I don't want a re-vamped TOL (Think Out Loud) to turn into texts and tweets. One hour is not nearly enough time for many subjects TOL introduces.

Nuclear energy in the wake of events in Japan requires much in-depth discussion, thinking and soul searching. Instead of speeding up the show I could see a single sentence being debated for an hour.

Why is the format of TOL being changed? What do you expect to accomplish by changing the format? I like the current format but I'm curious to see what else TOL can do. I'll let you know if I get lost along the way. Refresh the format so we don't get frozen statically within the habits of our expectations.

Currently it seems more emphasis is given to telephone calls, but that can hardly be blamed since the quality of the blog participation has taken a negative hit. For the radio format, phone conversations are easier to parse than overly-long, complex, and often tangential blog entries.

Since Obama became president I find myself wracked with negative information overload. We've been constantly switched on since 2008. Economic crisis in the U.S. and world. Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The unrest in the Middle East and Africa. Several big earthquakes and tsunamis around the globe. The fear an stupidity of knee-jerk reactions by people who've lost sight of, and confidence in, our hard-won systems of governance and liberty.

Yep, we've entered "interesting times" according to the Chinese curse. I hope the TOL crew doesn't burn out during their day-after-day pursuit of topics to discuss. I hope you have sufficient time to decompress and meditate on your experiences. I hope you take time off for other things even if TOL is what gets you out of bed every day.

Keep it real. Keep it fresh. Keep TOL relevant and meaningful. I remain thankful and appreciative of what TOL accomplishes.

trurl9 — Wed March 16th 10:01p.m.