Flint Dibble Returns
Added 2024-10-20 11:19:11 +0000 UTCWe return to the world of Graham Hancock, pseudo-archaeology, and real archaeology with Cardiff University archaeologist Flint Dibble. Sadly the senior member of the Decoding team was absent for the interview but young apprentice decoder Chris struggled on as best he could. This episode, recorded just before the release of Ancient Apocalypse Season 2 on Netflix and Graham Hancock's associated podcast PR tour, examines the appeal of myths like Atlantis, the criticisms Flint has faced from Hancock and others, and the broader challenges of communicating good science online.
The discussion covers whether debunking false narratives is effective, Flint's experiences with public engagement and social media harassment, and the cultural significance of "edutainment." We also explore the misconceptions perpetuated in popular media and the importance of academics actively participating in public discourse to counter culture-war-fueled stereotypes.
Finally, Chris also gets Flint to acknowledge that archaeology can't disprove his stunning new theory about ancient seaweed submarines powered by coral technology.
Links
Archaeology with Flint Dibble: The Top 6 Penis Bones in Archaeology
The Skeptic: Dr Flint Dibble wins 2024 Skeptical Activism Ockham award
Halmhofer, S. (2024) Manufacturing History: Atlantis, Aryans, and the use of Pseudoarchaeology by the Far-Right. Conspiracy Theories and Extremism in New Times (pp.53-81) Chapter: 3. Lexington Books.
Comments
What kind of cartoonish perspective is this!? 1. Who cares about your respect for him. Clue number one you might be a narc... 2. You don't know why he put it on private. And you don't care to find out. Because you think a thought, you believe that thought. Case closed. Clue number two. 3. You insult him with a schoolyard slur from the 80s. Did you just pop out of a time capsule? Misogynist insults are pathetic. People who use them don't care. They're not worried about how other people are gonna feel reading their public comment. You're not thinking about that, are you? Nope. Have an impulse, shoot off your mouth. Next. Clue number three. You disqualified yourself buddy.
Oblio
2024-12-31 06:43:42 +0000 UTCKeanu Reeves getting into this makes me sad. He is by all accounts a genuinely good dude.
Gray
2024-10-28 23:47:02 +0000 UTCI think that’s the best way to just put it to private and show them you don’t have time for their shit. They get power by engagement
Tobias nilsson
2024-10-22 12:33:24 +0000 UTCJust a lovely interview, really interesting. And last point is Excellent. It seems to me on a casual glance that the kind of doubling down of these folk seems to be driven by an inability to allow that, in research, you can go wrong, have to walk back ideas, ackowledge that what is believed now is not just added to what was believed then (say, about culture in a 1970s paper) but can undo it. And yet, both bits of work for their time are good research. I wonder do they hold it must always be that what is believed now is on top of what was believed then. It’s wholly additive. I wonder is there some relationship between that and the ‘yes, and’ aspect of these gurus friendly discussions?
Sean Power
2024-10-21 16:36:17 +0000 UTCWorld Of Antiquity, Stefan Milo, and Miniminuteman (Milo Rossi), are all really cool archaeology/anthropology youtubers, in case you aren't familiar! All of them have spoken to Flint I believe, and they all do some pseudoaracheology debunking to varying degrees.
Matt
2024-10-21 13:33:44 +0000 UTCLost a lot of respect for him when he put his Twitter on private after the joe Rogan harassment easier this week. If you’re going to stand up to these charlatans you can’t be a pussy when they push back.
Tom
2024-10-21 04:19:41 +0000 UTCHmm, he may well owe a lot to “Golden Age” idealizing, mixed with adventure/fantasy fiction.
Nancy Hale
2024-10-20 22:53:04 +0000 UTCWould like to clarify I am not the Dan Richards mentioned in this interview. Always crazy hearing your name in a podcast hahaha
Daniel Richards
2024-10-20 22:21:54 +0000 UTCIs Hancock romanticizing the past?
Mark Francis
2024-10-20 21:58:58 +0000 UTCWhen Flint was describing his academic situation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bwep_FFRwY
Jenson
2024-10-20 21:43:50 +0000 UTCIt's super disappointing of Hancock and his fans to resort to these slimy below-the-belt tactics as soon as they run out of arguments. Scarily effective too.
Reinert
2024-10-20 19:49:33 +0000 UTC"We are going to blow up the internet." I just hope he truly does, not like Bret.
Koidestroyer
2024-10-20 17:37:22 +0000 UTCGrateful for what Flint’s been doing (and will do) in the face of attacks online and in IRL. It’s understandable that many scientists, including those that are good communicators, would not want to address popular pseudoscience. You’re likely to get grief and nastiness from some motivated stans. Flint sounds as if his positive outlook has been protective in weathering the Hancock storms. Also very encouraging that his Uni has stood behind him.
Nancy Hale
2024-10-20 17:32:31 +0000 UTC“puncturing the self importance of conspiracy theorists and people that will present themselves as martyrs is effective” ~1:25:52🫶
Dada de Broglie
2024-10-20 16:40:34 +0000 UTCExcellent conversation: much appreciated. Thank you. (PS: My only trip to Cardiff was for a job interview at the Archaeology Dept., shortlisted for a contract to redraw some old plans, and make illustrations of artefacts. Dr Charles (?) had recently been on the BBC regarding his dig at Silbury Hill. Fun day out. Met a Celebrity Archeologist. Remained unemployed. Promised not to tell about the Neolithic Seaweed Submarine being painstakingly conserved on the 13th Floor. Oops! 🤷🏼♀️
Anne Stephens
2024-10-20 13:54:13 +0000 UTCHancock's Rogan appearance dropped Thursday. What a call, Dibble.
Adam Sher
2024-10-20 12:32:05 +0000 UTCIf they've accidentally booked Keanu Reeves PhD the renowned Archeologist, I shall be just so happy 😊 And honestly, we don't see enough of Chief Inspector Keanu Reeves of the Fraud Squad these days...
Anne Stephens
2024-10-20 11:46:41 +0000 UTC
