I have a Substack column that I, like you, don't want to have to post to every day. But I do know that I skip past all the video versions of other Substack writers and read their text columns if I have time to engage at all. And I can't for the life of me imagine why I would want to become a video producer on top of research, thought, drafting, and publishing.
Anyone ever try skimming a video? I can read a lot faster than people can lay out their arguments in real-time, and my time is too valuable to spend it watching videos all day. Plus, I can go back and re-read exactly the pieces I want to enjoy, remember, or restack.
My response is, fuck the algorithm. I don't depend on Substack for a living, and the paid subscriptions are very nice. But I get off on the writing and the reading and the discussion, not the moving pictures that are often just people talking. And, like others here, I'm supporting you for your analysis, not your flash. Peace!
That’s called privilege. That’s one I do not have, however, even if I did why would I want to confine it to writing if I could also take it to the masses who do not like to read like we do?
“And I can't for the life of me imagine why I would want to become a video producer on top of research, thought, drafting, and publishing.”
You are preaching to the choir here. However, your privilege that allows you to completely ignore the algorithm is blinding you to a simple human motive. Ambition.
I think it’s a good thing my lack of material means did not become an obstacle to taking this thing as far as I’ve taken it.
If you launched this Substack as a business and are doing your best to make it go, respect.
That's no call to start flinging the "privilege" word at someone who worked his ass off to be able to afford a little free-lance writing time and to build a small subscriber base from scratch.
I wish you every kind of success, but it seems you are on a different path from the one I thought I was subscribing to.
Didn’t start as a business. I started this as a search for truth. I’m still searching. I’m playing the capitalist game because it’s the game I’ve been forced to play in order to spread this message.
I'm a subscriber and a strong supporter of the analysis. But talking about talking, and the platform and promotional strategies is not what brings me to your page. its the analysis.
Just a comment that I absolutely love the graphics that you put on every edition! I love the bold colors and see the movement in the ones you chose today. You have a good, artistic eye.
This sounds like a good plan. I’m so disappointed Substack is forcing writers to move away from writing. I used to enjoy Steve Schmidt’s essays, then he switched to video interviews and it made no sense, until now. What a loss.
I am kind of a stick in the mud, and watch very little Internet video, excepting my guilty pleasure of streamed murder mysteries. I think that video is a powerful and worthy art, or can be, but there is more than (directly) meets the eye in written and oral language, and I crave the kind of clarity I have found on these pages. Our societies and circumstances are increasingly complex, and I think we cannot successfully self-govern without shared and robust abilities to read and write effectively. It seems to me that reading involves more engagement of ongoing thought than video, and in contrast, excessive reliance on video makes a society more passive. Could that have contributed to the circumstances that have put us in our present pickle?
Exactly. Most videos are poorly crafted interviews. Robert Arnold is one of the exceptions. He clearly works from a carefully constructed script. But, most are just talking heads opining online. Boring and pointless.
Exactly. Most videos are poorly crafted interviews. Robert Arnold is one of the exceptions. He clearly works from a carefully constructed script. But, most are just talking heads opining online. Boring and pointless.
It is neither here or there, but I have a vivid memory of being in maybe the first row of some outdoor theater space on the UC Berkley campus in the early 1970s, having sat though some dreary warm-up band, and when Ike and Tina Turner came on stage and began with "The Theme From Shaft". My musical reception went from muddy to hypnotic focus. I was amazed by the impact of the band's precision. The precision in itself was unique and powerful, to say nothing of the magic of exciting music. And of course Tina sang "Rolling on a River". My girlfriend was with me. It was a memorable night.
I have a Substack column that I, like you, don't want to have to post to every day. But I do know that I skip past all the video versions of other Substack writers and read their text columns if I have time to engage at all. And I can't for the life of me imagine why I would want to become a video producer on top of research, thought, drafting, and publishing.
Anyone ever try skimming a video? I can read a lot faster than people can lay out their arguments in real-time, and my time is too valuable to spend it watching videos all day. Plus, I can go back and re-read exactly the pieces I want to enjoy, remember, or restack.
My response is, fuck the algorithm. I don't depend on Substack for a living, and the paid subscriptions are very nice. But I get off on the writing and the reading and the discussion, not the moving pictures that are often just people talking. And, like others here, I'm supporting you for your analysis, not your flash. Peace!
“I don't depend on Substack for a living”
That’s called privilege. That’s one I do not have, however, even if I did why would I want to confine it to writing if I could also take it to the masses who do not like to read like we do?
“And I can't for the life of me imagine why I would want to become a video producer on top of research, thought, drafting, and publishing.”
You are preaching to the choir here. However, your privilege that allows you to completely ignore the algorithm is blinding you to a simple human motive. Ambition.
I think it’s a good thing my lack of material means did not become an obstacle to taking this thing as far as I’ve taken it.
If you launched this Substack as a business and are doing your best to make it go, respect.
That's no call to start flinging the "privilege" word at someone who worked his ass off to be able to afford a little free-lance writing time and to build a small subscriber base from scratch.
I wish you every kind of success, but it seems you are on a different path from the one I thought I was subscribing to.
Didn’t start as a business. I started this as a search for truth. I’m still searching. I’m playing the capitalist game because it’s the game I’ve been forced to play in order to spread this message.
I'm a subscriber and a strong supporter of the analysis. But talking about talking, and the platform and promotional strategies is not what brings me to your page. its the analysis.
Just a comment that I absolutely love the graphics that you put on every edition! I love the bold colors and see the movement in the ones you chose today. You have a good, artistic eye.
Damn right! Me too.
This sounds like a good plan. I’m so disappointed Substack is forcing writers to move away from writing. I used to enjoy Steve Schmidt’s essays, then he switched to video interviews and it made no sense, until now. What a loss.
I am kind of a stick in the mud, and watch very little Internet video, excepting my guilty pleasure of streamed murder mysteries. I think that video is a powerful and worthy art, or can be, but there is more than (directly) meets the eye in written and oral language, and I crave the kind of clarity I have found on these pages. Our societies and circumstances are increasingly complex, and I think we cannot successfully self-govern without shared and robust abilities to read and write effectively. It seems to me that reading involves more engagement of ongoing thought than video, and in contrast, excessive reliance on video makes a society more passive. Could that have contributed to the circumstances that have put us in our present pickle?
Exactly. Most videos are poorly crafted interviews. Robert Arnold is one of the exceptions. He clearly works from a carefully constructed script. But, most are just talking heads opining online. Boring and pointless.
I used to watch Ted Koppel; one of the few that would react to evasive mush with "I don't think you have answered my question".
Exactly. Most videos are poorly crafted interviews. Robert Arnold is one of the exceptions. He clearly works from a carefully constructed script. But, most are just talking heads opining online. Boring and pointless.
It is neither here or there, but I have a vivid memory of being in maybe the first row of some outdoor theater space on the UC Berkley campus in the early 1970s, having sat though some dreary warm-up band, and when Ike and Tina Turner came on stage and began with "The Theme From Shaft". My musical reception went from muddy to hypnotic focus. I was amazed by the impact of the band's precision. The precision in itself was unique and powerful, to say nothing of the magic of exciting music. And of course Tina sang "Rolling on a River". My girlfriend was with me. It was a memorable night.