Listening to podcasts is to socialising what masturbation is to sex. amirite?

Hmm. Not sure I agree. When I listen to a podcast, I don't generally imagine I'm with anyone else. When wanking, I frequently do.

by Anonymous 3 hours ago

Maybe I don't literally imagine I'm with someone else but a podcast does produce the general effect of being in a social situation. OP is absolutely right, and I'm not happy about it.

by Anonymous 3 hours ago

Less rewarding in a way, but more rewarding in another way, cause you can "be" with people you wouldn't have access to IRL

by Anonymous 3 hours ago

But I am not getting a feeling of companionship or comraderies from podcasts... I am not getting those social reinforcements. Rather, and this depends on your listening choices, I am learning things I didn't otherwise know.

by Anonymous 3 hours ago

Ah ok, depends on what kind of podcasts you're listening to. I'm thinking more of the "haha we're just a bunch of friends chatting and having fun" podcasts which are often enjoyed in a parasocial way.

by Ok_Boss436 2 hours ago

I do agree. There's definitely a difference in how I relate to different podcasts I listen to. Some are more structured and less just sit around and chat with friends about whatever. But some of the looser ones do feed into a parasocial bond on some level. I'm aware of it and I have to remind myself I don't actually know these people.

by Estella24 2 hours ago

You say that, but I do often imagine I'm the guest, and I'm making Conan O'Brien laugh his ass off

by Anonymous 2 hours ago

I only wank to podcasts though.

by Anonymous 1 hour ago

I never compared podcasts to socializing in the first place. That's weird.

by Salt-Power1063 1 hour ago

It might be because I'm old, but I've never gotten into podcasts, even though I'm active online in other ways. I'm a longtime radio fan, though. I sort of think of podcasts as Kindle versions of radio shows. I like Kindle for books, but in general I slightly prefer printed books and live radio.

by Boring_Address 1 hour ago

Looking at 65 here. I remember NBC's Monitor "beacon" booping and beeping over Dad's transistor radio in his workshop on Saturdays.

by Boring_Address 53 minutes ago

Check out BBC radio

by Anonymous 52 minutes ago

Can confirm. Currently living in a pretty isolated city and I listen to podcast to have a conversation I can take part in my head.

by Remote_Run 31 minutes ago

socialising in places where people with same interests gather, is there a name for this?

by Anonymous 1 minute ago