Great points and thanks for putting my muddled thoughts into words.
I understand the concerns about trolls and slurs. That reality is so difficult to centrally manage online. But I am always so taken aback by people’s condescension towards other adults. I read through some of the comments to try and understand where people are coming from. I don’t want anyone to be harassed. But I definitely feel more than capable of kicking people off my Substack if they are a problem. Boom. Solved. I get that it bothers people that hate exists at all. But it does. A block or a mute or content mods won’t stop that. But you get to decide your own boundaries. Who is allowed into your house so to speak, and who isn’t. I hope it stays civil. My group of people on Notes and in my comments are wonderful so far.
I agree with all your points. I think it is such a shame that your civil discussions with a friend who thinks completely differently from you is these days considered something to be remarked upon.
"Lots of people around the world use Substack, and it may shock some of you that not all of us believe the same things. We do not, for the love of God, want to be trapped in yet another American-centric, culture-war-obsessed platform."
As an American immigrant to Japan, I could not agree more.
Nicely written. Good to see thoughts on the subject that aren't entirely ridiculous. :D
Part of the frustration is that it's difficult to even have a conversation about how content moderation can be done better, because as soon as the subject is broached you immediately get two diametrically opposite reactions:
1. The Free Speech At All Costs brigade appear, refusing to even have an open discussion (ironically), because even *debating* it is tantamount to risking totalitarian censorship. Which makes me question their true commitment to free speech, but moving on--
2. People convinced that Substack is going to become 100% Nazi overnight.
I'm very lefty, so my concerns inevitably lean more towards #2, but that's by the by. The answers are extremely difficult to figure out, but not being able to even *talk* about it is really frustrating.
For me, none of this is about trying to restrict respectful conversations. I mean, I don't think I've ever seen that happen on any of these platforms, especially Substack. That's a bit of a strawman fear, I think, that is fed by the weird culture war industry (I hesitated to use that word, but it makes sense. Here in the UK at least, nobody ever really talks about 'culture war'. It's specifically the province of the political/media discourse circus, which blows it massively out of proportion).
The problem is the disrespectful conversations. And, more specifically, when people are actively targeted. The "just block the baddies!" approach works perfectly fine for me, but I'm unlikely to be on the receiving end of direct harassment. That approach really isn't sufficient to protect people who have become active targets.
It does sound like Substack is working on new features to help with that, so we'll see where it ends up.
One encouraging aspect is that Substack, via newsletters and via Notes, is functionally designed to support decent discussion. No silly character limits or rewarding of controversiality. That gives me hope that there might be the potential for progress.
I loved this story. I’m so tired of the culture wars and ready for adult kitchen table discussions again where knives aren’t drawn at a moment’s notice.
Thank you for this. When I recently told some friends that I had joined Substack (switching my newsletter here from Mailchimp) and how much I was enjoying it, I was immediately told by some friends that I shouldn't have joined. Now I can point them to this thoughtful post.
Great post. I agree with a lot of your thoughts about and hopes for Notes. I love the parts about your conversations with your old friend and being able to hangout and have friendly conversations even though you disagreed on many things.
I've spent some years reading about Buddhism and now consider myself a Buddhist. I love the Dalai Lama's words on ignoring all the things that divide us - nationality, color, political views etc - and focusing on the one thing we all have in common - we're all human beings seeking happiness and trying to avoid suffering.
The dehumanization that happens when someone exists outside of our personal politics is not working for us in America. I, too, am so tired of the culture wars here.
So much this: We do not, for the love of God, want to be trapped in yet another American-centric, culture-war-obsessed platform.
That wasn't the reason we left America six years ago, but, man, it is not something I miss having a front row seat to.
Great points and thanks for putting my muddled thoughts into words.
I understand the concerns about trolls and slurs. That reality is so difficult to centrally manage online. But I am always so taken aback by people’s condescension towards other adults. I read through some of the comments to try and understand where people are coming from. I don’t want anyone to be harassed. But I definitely feel more than capable of kicking people off my Substack if they are a problem. Boom. Solved. I get that it bothers people that hate exists at all. But it does. A block or a mute or content mods won’t stop that. But you get to decide your own boundaries. Who is allowed into your house so to speak, and who isn’t. I hope it stays civil. My group of people on Notes and in my comments are wonderful so far.
I agree with all your points. I think it is such a shame that your civil discussions with a friend who thinks completely differently from you is these days considered something to be remarked upon.
Very well said! It's so bizarre to me that people are trying to restrict respectful conversations.
Just from an online writing perspective, I love how you wrote the headline and delivered in the content itself.
Great work
"Lots of people around the world use Substack, and it may shock some of you that not all of us believe the same things. We do not, for the love of God, want to be trapped in yet another American-centric, culture-war-obsessed platform."
As an American immigrant to Japan, I could not agree more.
Nicely written. Good to see thoughts on the subject that aren't entirely ridiculous. :D
Part of the frustration is that it's difficult to even have a conversation about how content moderation can be done better, because as soon as the subject is broached you immediately get two diametrically opposite reactions:
1. The Free Speech At All Costs brigade appear, refusing to even have an open discussion (ironically), because even *debating* it is tantamount to risking totalitarian censorship. Which makes me question their true commitment to free speech, but moving on--
2. People convinced that Substack is going to become 100% Nazi overnight.
I'm very lefty, so my concerns inevitably lean more towards #2, but that's by the by. The answers are extremely difficult to figure out, but not being able to even *talk* about it is really frustrating.
For me, none of this is about trying to restrict respectful conversations. I mean, I don't think I've ever seen that happen on any of these platforms, especially Substack. That's a bit of a strawman fear, I think, that is fed by the weird culture war industry (I hesitated to use that word, but it makes sense. Here in the UK at least, nobody ever really talks about 'culture war'. It's specifically the province of the political/media discourse circus, which blows it massively out of proportion).
The problem is the disrespectful conversations. And, more specifically, when people are actively targeted. The "just block the baddies!" approach works perfectly fine for me, but I'm unlikely to be on the receiving end of direct harassment. That approach really isn't sufficient to protect people who have become active targets.
It does sound like Substack is working on new features to help with that, so we'll see where it ends up.
One encouraging aspect is that Substack, via newsletters and via Notes, is functionally designed to support decent discussion. No silly character limits or rewarding of controversiality. That gives me hope that there might be the potential for progress.
I loved this story. I’m so tired of the culture wars and ready for adult kitchen table discussions again where knives aren’t drawn at a moment’s notice.
Thank you for this. When I recently told some friends that I had joined Substack (switching my newsletter here from Mailchimp) and how much I was enjoying it, I was immediately told by some friends that I shouldn't have joined. Now I can point them to this thoughtful post.
Great post. I agree with a lot of your thoughts about and hopes for Notes. I love the parts about your conversations with your old friend and being able to hangout and have friendly conversations even though you disagreed on many things.
I've spent some years reading about Buddhism and now consider myself a Buddhist. I love the Dalai Lama's words on ignoring all the things that divide us - nationality, color, political views etc - and focusing on the one thing we all have in common - we're all human beings seeking happiness and trying to avoid suffering.
Pageau is a great include. Filter into our modern and post modern world
The dehumanization that happens when someone exists outside of our personal politics is not working for us in America. I, too, am so tired of the culture wars here.