Governments are always looking for ways to change behavior—stopping people from driving drunk, or encouraging them to recycle. This week, we have stories of social engineering on a smaller scale. In one story, a man convinces his friend to try something new, turn his back on a good paying salary and an apartment...and become homeless.
Prologue.Tim White used to be a gang leader in Chicago, but now he's a
"violence interrupter" for a program called CeaseFire. Host
Ira Glass talks to Tim about his work, and why he thinks it
can keep young gang members from killing each other. We learned
about Tim from TAL contributor Alex Kotlowitz, who wrote
about CeaseFire for The New York Times Magazine. (8 minutes)
Act One. Choosers, Not Beggars.
Gregory Deloatch and Daniel Canada dreamed of being writers, but
normal life—marriage, jobs, paying the rent—always got in
the way. To pursue their dream, the two friends embarked on an
unusual experiment. Lu Olkowski tells the story of how it turned out.
Check out Hobo Bob's and Obsidian's blogs, and learn more about their event, The Shout Out. (28 minutes)
Song: "Sower of Systems," Lungfish
Act Two. Take My Bike...Please.
When Dave Dickerson was 12, he got a new bike, and his father decided to
use the occasion to teach Dave a lesson. But the lesson Dave learned
wasn't the one his father intended. (9 minutes)
Song: "Old Bikes," The Trucks
Act Three. Educated Guess.
When Amy Silverman's daughter was born with Down syndrome, she followed
the advice of all the parents she met: she signed her daughter up for "early
intervention" therapy. But her daughter's progress had unexpected
consequences, forcing Amy to make a choice she'd never predicted. (9 minutes)
Song: "I'm Gonna Change The World," The Animals