Comments on: I love that segment, because it reminds me of myself...

Question: I love that segment, because it reminds me of myself...

mittenedsex — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:19:20 -0800

This American Life Filter: There's an episode where a guy finds out he's a lousy friend

I remember hearing an episode of This American Life where a guy finds out through his friends that they really think he's an asshole. I'm not sure if "asshole" was the exact term they used, but he goes on to ask all his other friends and slowly pieces together all the little incidents where he really WAS an asshole and why they might've ignored him in the past. I've searched google + TAL website but can't seem to find it. Help?

By: Happy Dave

Happy Dave — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:26:02 -0800

Here you go - it's 'My Reputation'. Found by searching the TAL website for 'friend'.

By: m3thod4

m3thod4 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:10:16 -0800

Doh! I was so close but beaten to it.

By: Phire

Phire — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:50:02 -0800

Hmm, it doesn't seem to fit what the OP was looking for precisely, but that's an excellent episode anyway, thanks Happy Dave!

By: Happy Dave

Happy Dave — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:01:07 -0800

Huh?

It does match the OP's request. - check the 3rd act - guy goes around and asks his friends what they really think of him. If you listen to it, they think he's a dick, and he's surprised to find he agrees with them.

By: Phire

Phire — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:15:03 -0800

Heh, whoops. Yeah, I just realized that now. I had gone through ... 46 minutes of it, and it didn't match.... *sheepish grin*

By: patricking

patricking — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 05:13:47 -0800

the asshole in question is gabriel delahaye, who writes the unethicist for gawker.com, if you're interested in him.

By: middleclasstool

middleclasstool — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 06:31:09 -0800

The best part was what finally made him believe them all: when his mom of all people gently suggested that he might consider that he might, in fact, be a dick.

By: HotPatatta

HotPatatta — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 07:52:43 -0800

That was a great episode. Really eye opening. Makes me never want to ask people what they think of me.

By: Happy Dave

Happy Dave — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:18:26 -0800

"So, uh, why are you still friends with me? If I'm such an asshole?"

*pause*

"Uh, I don't know... inertia?"

Gold.

By: mittenedsex

mittenedsex — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:07:03 -0800

wow. i feel unbelievably incompetent! i had search for every other variation of "friend + (any other possible word that describes that segment)"

Thanks!!!

By: mittenedsex

mittenedsex — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:07:19 -0800

*had searched.

By: darkshade

darkshade — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:34:28 -0800

Heh. This is a pretty fantastic episode. :)

By: JonB

JonB — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:17:36 -0800

You can download the mp3 directly here.

By: chundo

chundo — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:27:27 -0800

Correct link

By: harkin banks

harkin banks — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:16:41 -0800

... or you could just pony up the $0.95 to download it directly from Chicago Public Radio. Download link is on the page Happy Dave linked to.

By: JonB

JonB — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:17:16 -0800

Oops! Thanks chundo.

By: The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew

The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:50:30 -0800

I love this episode.
This is all.