In response to Substack’s content and monetization policy I have decide to migrate to a new host — Ghost. I don’t want to be a part of a company that is taking a portion of my earnings while allowing some of the most vile people on the internet to take up space in their ecosystem.
I spent some time yesterday setting up specific links to all my J-stans on my bookmarks bar (at bottom). I left a reply deep down at J.Ling's last column with my logic, comes with free story:
Now that Jim Stanford is in the news a fair bit, I brag about rubbing elbows with him in 1979, doing "paste-up" (look it up) for the U.Calgary Gauntlet. It would be midnight before we'd drive the sheets up to the "North Hill News" The NHN made more money just printing neighbourhood/club newsletters, than their own little mostly-ads tabloid. They'd look over our "mechanicals" and we'd poke around with interest. Sometimes we saw fairly objectionable, if legal, stuff - maybe they printed the local KKK newsletter? (Look up "Tearlach Mac'a'Phersoin" a colourful Calgary character who recruited a Black member to prove they weren't racist.)
Here's the thing: using the NHN presses gave the KKK absolutely no access to Gauntlet readers. NHN staff didn't insert their comments into Gauntlet letters columns. They provided the KKK with all the freedom of speech they deserved, with no collateral damage to other customers.
If journalists use substack only to host a blog that has great control over comments (much appreciated), monetization options, etc - the base product is very impressive. And we readers can choose to use it that way, as above.
I'm taking a "Dry January" from Mastodon after the realization my time on it was spiralling. For me, even the no-algorithm X -replacement is STILL a dopamine slot-machine. And if I go to just "substack.com", it shows me the latest "Notes" and I was starting to reply to them because I'm so easily trolled. Praise be that Mastodon was my first socmedia peek. "Notes" is algorithm-run, and thus more-dangerous poison to the likes of me.
I'm not sure you can protect your readers from our vulnerabilities, Dave, just by not renting a unit in the same long mini-mall that has KKK at the other end. Either way, we have to learn to protect ourselves.
- Oh, hey, I can post the "dangerous poison" thing to Notes without going there! Fun! #%#% Notes!
- Blow more of your journalism in my ear, and I'll follow you anywhere.
I'm relieved David cos i was considering stopping my support though i didn't want to just to not give those crazies money. thank you for making the move! looking forward to your articles
Does this make you rethink leaving this platform? My guess is that even if this round of nazis are ejected, there will be new (lack of) moderation scandals in the future.
There's this remarkable SF author, John C. Wright. He is a converted Catholic who is very strong in his religious ideology. Outsider critics would say his real religion is Trump:
...but I would urge anybody to read a bit of Wright, to note that he's a on a whole different level of argument, pulling out Greek and Latin philosophers with ease, along with religious scholarship well beyond mine. The top issue today is about his earlier column on " Wokeness being a materialist restatement of Gnosticism." There's never violence threatened, no direct insults, Wright bans and deletes comments for such; it's more like the old USENET beat-downs called "fisking", after point-by-point critiques of Robert Fisk. It's instructive.
You should have a peek, Justin, it's a different kind of Trump debate.
A point? Yes, I have one! This very, very controversial material is hosted on his own blog, with all monetization and comment-handing provided by Disqus, who have been around a long time.
It seems to work for him; and Disqus, UNLIKE SUBSTACK, is like those newspaper printshops that handled both community newsletters and KKK newsletters in the age of newsprint: Mr. Wright's world does not interact with any other Disqus customers.
So what's wrong with them?
(reposting this now to Moscrop's note that he's moving to Ghost. Never heard of them, all-new relationship he's asking me to take up. Disqus account, I've had for many years.)
Awesome! I knew there had to be easy alternatives.
I've been trying out the substack app, as opposed to receiving newsletters as email, and found it getting to be much too much like another social network app/webpage. Recently switched back to receiving emails instead of getting app notifications. Much better. And this way, as you say, I won't have to do anything to keep getting your pieces.
You might need to point out to subscribers that they should opt for receiving emails rather than use notifications in the substack app to avoiding missing your newsletter once you've completed your move. I dunno, just thought it could be an issue.
How does one access material on Ghost?
Nothing will change for subscribers -- that's the good news. It'll show up, just like Substack does!
David, we could use your voice on Threads.
I'm trying to so hard avoid the Meta ecosystem...
Substack having their Shopify moment and also failing that test... (Breitbart)
Kudos on the principled move!
what was the shopify moment?
https://globalnews.ca/news/3281737/shopify-breitbart-petition/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/shopify-ceo-tobi-lutke-defends-decision-to-host-breitbart-1.3973798
Well, I figured one day you would go for the 'big' money and become a ghostwriter. Lol :)
See you on Ghost!
I didn't know about the problems with Substack and I'm grateful to you for pointing them out. I very much hope other writers I like will join you.
I spent some time yesterday setting up specific links to all my J-stans on my bookmarks bar (at bottom). I left a reply deep down at J.Ling's last column with my logic, comes with free story:
Now that Jim Stanford is in the news a fair bit, I brag about rubbing elbows with him in 1979, doing "paste-up" (look it up) for the U.Calgary Gauntlet. It would be midnight before we'd drive the sheets up to the "North Hill News" The NHN made more money just printing neighbourhood/club newsletters, than their own little mostly-ads tabloid. They'd look over our "mechanicals" and we'd poke around with interest. Sometimes we saw fairly objectionable, if legal, stuff - maybe they printed the local KKK newsletter? (Look up "Tearlach Mac'a'Phersoin" a colourful Calgary character who recruited a Black member to prove they weren't racist.)
Here's the thing: using the NHN presses gave the KKK absolutely no access to Gauntlet readers. NHN staff didn't insert their comments into Gauntlet letters columns. They provided the KKK with all the freedom of speech they deserved, with no collateral damage to other customers.
If journalists use substack only to host a blog that has great control over comments (much appreciated), monetization options, etc - the base product is very impressive. And we readers can choose to use it that way, as above.
I'm taking a "Dry January" from Mastodon after the realization my time on it was spiralling. For me, even the no-algorithm X -replacement is STILL a dopamine slot-machine. And if I go to just "substack.com", it shows me the latest "Notes" and I was starting to reply to them because I'm so easily trolled. Praise be that Mastodon was my first socmedia peek. "Notes" is algorithm-run, and thus more-dangerous poison to the likes of me.
I'm not sure you can protect your readers from our vulnerabilities, Dave, just by not renting a unit in the same long mini-mall that has KKK at the other end. Either way, we have to learn to protect ourselves.
- Oh, hey, I can post the "dangerous poison" thing to Notes without going there! Fun! #%#% Notes!
- Blow more of your journalism in my ear, and I'll follow you anywhere.
davidmoscrop.com ; volts.wtf ; bugeyedandshameless.com ; paulwells.substack.com
I will of course follow you over.
I'm relieved David cos i was considering stopping my support though i didn't want to just to not give those crazies money. thank you for making the move! looking forward to your articles
I'm sorry to see you go, but I support you doing whatever you believe is right. For what it's worth, audi alteram partem:
Freddie DeBoer, "These Rules About Platforming Nazis Sure Seem Arbitrary and Incoherent!" (1 Jan 2024), https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/these-rules-about-platforming-nazis
Ben Dreyfuss, "Substack Doesn't Have A Nazi Problem. It Has A 'Deplatformers Won't Accept They Lost The War' Problem." (21 Dec 2023), https://www.calmdownben.com/p/substack-doesnt-have-a-nazi-problem
It looks like Substack is partially reversing its policy on the nazi issue. See https://open.substack.com/pub/platformer/p/substack-says-it-will-remove-nazi
Does this make you rethink leaving this platform? My guess is that even if this round of nazis are ejected, there will be new (lack of) moderation scandals in the future.
Oh, that is interesting. I have to think on this. Thank you.
First posted for Justin Ling:
There's this remarkable SF author, John C. Wright. He is a converted Catholic who is very strong in his religious ideology. Outsider critics would say his real religion is Trump:
https://www.scifiwright.com/2024/01/summary-2020-presidential-election-fraud/
...but I would urge anybody to read a bit of Wright, to note that he's a on a whole different level of argument, pulling out Greek and Latin philosophers with ease, along with religious scholarship well beyond mine. The top issue today is about his earlier column on " Wokeness being a materialist restatement of Gnosticism." There's never violence threatened, no direct insults, Wright bans and deletes comments for such; it's more like the old USENET beat-downs called "fisking", after point-by-point critiques of Robert Fisk. It's instructive.
You should have a peek, Justin, it's a different kind of Trump debate.
A point? Yes, I have one! This very, very controversial material is hosted on his own blog, with all monetization and comment-handing provided by Disqus, who have been around a long time.
It seems to work for him; and Disqus, UNLIKE SUBSTACK, is like those newspaper printshops that handled both community newsletters and KKK newsletters in the age of newsprint: Mr. Wright's world does not interact with any other Disqus customers.
So what's wrong with them?
(reposting this now to Moscrop's note that he's moving to Ghost. Never heard of them, all-new relationship he's asking me to take up. Disqus account, I've had for many years.)
let us know when you relocate from Canada eh .. where the condition your condition is in .. is obviously far more dire
I have high respect for much of your work in journalism .. don’t bail on us.. & no use nor need you defend your departure .. amen bro
My ambition for this country.. ? Perhaps at 72.. one fuck of a lot invested is what I’ll say .. in positive pathways forward .. there ya go eh ! 🏴☠️🦎
Awesome! I knew there had to be easy alternatives.
I've been trying out the substack app, as opposed to receiving newsletters as email, and found it getting to be much too much like another social network app/webpage. Recently switched back to receiving emails instead of getting app notifications. Much better. And this way, as you say, I won't have to do anything to keep getting your pieces.
You might need to point out to subscribers that they should opt for receiving emails rather than use notifications in the substack app to avoiding missing your newsletter once you've completed your move. I dunno, just thought it could be an issue.
Too bad, but I get it. Substack is convenient for me. I probably won’t venture to your next stop. All the best.