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Thinking Allowed

INCIVILITY - AK-47 (Kalashnikov)

Thinking Allowed

BBC

Society & Culture, Science

4.4997 Ratings

🗓️ 17 November 2010

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Laurie Taylor talks to Pulitzer Prize winner C.J Chivers, a former US Marine and currently a journalist at the New York Times about the cultural, social and political impact of the AK-47 or Kalashnikov. A gun that has transformed how we fight wars and who can fight them, the AK-47 is a weapon central to many conflicts all over the world. With testimony from its inventors, its users and its victims, Laurie explores how a single instrument can have been so influential as both transformer and destroyer. They are joined by military historian Richard Holmes. Laurie also talks to Philip Smith, Professor in the Department of Sociology at Yale University, about new research looking at public incivility. What drives some people to such extremes of public rudeness?

Producer Chris Wilson.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix,

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the Science of Happiness Podcast.

0:08.0

For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want

0:14.4

to share that science with you.

0:16.1

And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.

0:19.4

I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that

0:25.4

calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.

0:30.0

Choosing what to watch night after night the flicking through the endless

0:38.3

search and it's a nightmare we want to help you on our brand new podcast off the telly we share what we've been watching

0:45.4

Clairey ate it. Loads of games, loads of fun, loads of screaming. Lovely.

0:50.8

Off the telly with me Joanna Paige and me, Natalie Cassidy, so your evenings can be a little

0:56.2

less searching and a lot more watching.

0:58.6

Listen on BBC Sounds.

1:01.4

This is a Thinking Loud Podcast from the BBC and for more details in our terms of use and

1:06.7

much, much more about Thinking Aloud, go to our website at BBC.co. UK.

1:13.0

Hello. 20 years ago or so I was I was ridiculously proud of my thick black curly hair

1:21.0

and my heavy-framed spectacles. I like to think that the

1:24.0

the combination made me look well like a like a libertarian philosopher. That was

1:28.8

until the night when in the face of good advice I walked into an overcrowded Glasgow pub and ordered a pint of heavy.

1:36.0

And even as I was taking my first sip, I found myself being forcibly addressed by a man leaning on the bar next to me.

1:42.0

You're Rotholf Harris.

1:44.8

He said, I'm so sorry, I said.

...

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