I feel like this is such a moral dilemma for both writers and readers. But due to the fact that Silicon Valley companies seem to range from amoral to immoral I will support writers regardless of whether they leave or stay. I admit on a purely aesthetic level, I prefer Substack. I enjoy reading in the app, saving articles to read later, perhaps dropping a comment. It’s more chaotic in my email inbox. I do subscribe to newsletters that aren’t housed here so I can live with it. But at the moment, it’s an inferior experience. So either way I will support your decision on this thorny issue.
I think your points about the current commercial viability of this platform are probably correct, they're always worth bearing in mind and it probably drives the founders' decision making and actions more than we realize.
Thanks for your thoughts on Substack’s Nazi problem. I back your decision to rage against the machine from inside the machine. And I really hope enough writers leave so Substack will reverse their decision. I’ll continue to read writing on Substack, but I just pulled the plug on introducing the platform to my writing students. I thought it was the perfect place for them to explore self-publication, but I cannot in good faith invite high school students to a party where Nazis are hanging around.
Incidentally - and this really is incidental in the context - I learned a great deal several years ago from collaborating with Eugene Smith on his powerful memoir Back to the World: A Life after Jonestown. And part of what I learned was that the expression “drinking the Kool-Aid” - which has become so ubiquitous - is very hurtful to actual Jonestown survivors.
But I say that not to scold but to share a small dollop of my own recent education.
Thank you again for all that you do and are about.
My comment has nothing to do with sub stack or Nazi’s, but it regards an old book that I believe is very relative to today’s world; I have given this book before as gifts a couple of times, I think am going to buy four copies to give away - Mockingbirds by Walter Tevis, any thoughts?
Disappointed to see you speaking out in favor of restrictions on speech. As someone who loves books, you should know the chilling effect of censorship on the arts.
I’ve been pretty vocal about why I pulled my stuff off of this platform. I only had just over 100 subscribers and 4 of those were paid. I could afford to walk away. And I know it come across as kinda hypocritical that I haven’t nuked my account here yet. I want to be able to support the people I subscribe to, who, for whatever reason they are choosing to stick around. I found an amazing community of writers here who have been a huge supporter of my writing and were my biggest cheer leaders when three of my stories were accepted for publication in lit mags. I’ll keep writing and submitting stories, for now, though, I’m choosing to not go anywhere else. (I’m also REALLY burnt out on social media in general)
I want to repeqt that on a very basic level Substack is no Utopi unless Utopia has hierarchies too.
Why must people have to "SUBSCRIBE " - AT ALL? In order to participate in ALL "discussions"- supposedly of literature people bring toshare and diiscuss.If the discussion deepens or expands is there some Jolly Orange Censor with Star Wars paling and peeeling waters saying, ' ALL NONSUBSCRIBERS ATTENTION,: YOU MUST LEAVE THE PREMISES. TURN IN ANY BOOK OR REFERENCE'
I CALL THIS - WELCOME TO THE SUBSTACK DELI. WE SPECIALIZE IN BOLGNA. I AM NOT SUBSCRIBING TO A SINGLE STACK. I DONT BELIEVE I SHOULD PAY ANYONE TO READ THEIR WORK. I STAY ON SUBSTACK BECAUSE IT HASTWO OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS- ETGAR KERET, THE VISIONARY AND DEADPAN HILARIOUS KING OF QUIRK, AND SHERMAN ALEXIE, ONE OF THE MOST DARING AND ORIGINALWIT
I feel like this is such a moral dilemma for both writers and readers. But due to the fact that Silicon Valley companies seem to range from amoral to immoral I will support writers regardless of whether they leave or stay. I admit on a purely aesthetic level, I prefer Substack. I enjoy reading in the app, saving articles to read later, perhaps dropping a comment. It’s more chaotic in my email inbox. I do subscribe to newsletters that aren’t housed here so I can live with it. But at the moment, it’s an inferior experience. So either way I will support your decision on this thorny issue.
I think your points about the current commercial viability of this platform are probably correct, they're always worth bearing in mind and it probably drives the founders' decision making and actions more than we realize.
Thanks for your thoughts on Substack’s Nazi problem. I back your decision to rage against the machine from inside the machine. And I really hope enough writers leave so Substack will reverse their decision. I’ll continue to read writing on Substack, but I just pulled the plug on introducing the platform to my writing students. I thought it was the perfect place for them to explore self-publication, but I cannot in good faith invite high school students to a party where Nazis are hanging around.
Very well said indeed, as always. Thank you.
Incidentally - and this really is incidental in the context - I learned a great deal several years ago from collaborating with Eugene Smith on his powerful memoir Back to the World: A Life after Jonestown. And part of what I learned was that the expression “drinking the Kool-Aid” - which has become so ubiquitous - is very hurtful to actual Jonestown survivors.
But I say that not to scold but to share a small dollop of my own recent education.
Thank you again for all that you do and are about.
"I have a self-righteous streak that I haven’t been able to squelch no matter how much I try." Ditto, John. Ditto.
My comment has nothing to do with sub stack or Nazi’s, but it regards an old book that I believe is very relative to today’s world; I have given this book before as gifts a couple of times, I think am going to buy four copies to give away - Mockingbirds by Walter Tevis, any thoughts?
Get out the swim fins. The poison is filling the pool. If your subscribers are barking about convenience, well...a greater adventure awaits.
The “Nazi problem” is a red herring.
Disappointed to see you speaking out in favor of restrictions on speech. As someone who loves books, you should know the chilling effect of censorship on the arts.
You’ve just lost a subscriber.
Again, thank you.
Thank you for everything. I appreciate reading your thoughts.
I’ve been pretty vocal about why I pulled my stuff off of this platform. I only had just over 100 subscribers and 4 of those were paid. I could afford to walk away. And I know it come across as kinda hypocritical that I haven’t nuked my account here yet. I want to be able to support the people I subscribe to, who, for whatever reason they are choosing to stick around. I found an amazing community of writers here who have been a huge supporter of my writing and were my biggest cheer leaders when three of my stories were accepted for publication in lit mags. I’ll keep writing and submitting stories, for now, though, I’m choosing to not go anywhere else. (I’m also REALLY burnt out on social media in general)
I want to repeqt that on a very basic level Substack is no Utopi unless Utopia has hierarchies too.
Why must people have to "SUBSCRIBE " - AT ALL? In order to participate in ALL "discussions"- supposedly of literature people bring toshare and diiscuss.If the discussion deepens or expands is there some Jolly Orange Censor with Star Wars paling and peeeling waters saying, ' ALL NONSUBSCRIBERS ATTENTION,: YOU MUST LEAVE THE PREMISES. TURN IN ANY BOOK OR REFERENCE'
I CALL THIS - WELCOME TO THE SUBSTACK DELI. WE SPECIALIZE IN BOLGNA. I AM NOT SUBSCRIBING TO A SINGLE STACK. I DONT BELIEVE I SHOULD PAY ANYONE TO READ THEIR WORK. I STAY ON SUBSTACK BECAUSE IT HASTWO OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS- ETGAR KERET, THE VISIONARY AND DEADPAN HILARIOUS KING OF QUIRK, AND SHERMAN ALEXIE, ONE OF THE MOST DARING AND ORIGINALWIT