Thank you for this, seriously -- hopefully we end up somewhere slightly better than hell but with the way tech bros are stomping around these days it would be unwise to make promises
I appreciate your ethical stance and sincerely wish others would do the same. When Twitter went bad in 2022, I (not a writer) closed my account on Thanksgiving (2022) and watched as so many writers all swore they would leave it too and even made accounts on Mastodon. But they never left Twitter and most didn’t use their new Mastodon accounts. They all have their excuses, which mean less and less as TwitteX has less and less concrete value to actual reporters and other writers. Yet they stay, while fascism continues its steady march into all the public spaces online and IRL where it wasn’t acceptable a short time ago.
Thank you SO MUCH for writing this post--I've been so busy that I haven't been following the thread of what's going on--but your post summarizes it perfectly. And it's horrifying. I have spent a number of years researching WWII and how Hitler came to power--I can't reconcile how someone couldn't take a very clear and hard stance on the topic of as you say--REAL Nazis. This is so disappointing and I will follow you and others to wherever your writing takes you.
You know those movies where there's some overarching tragedy going on, like zombies or a giant meteor, and the protagonists go through cycles of fleeing a bad place to a relatively safe place, only to find that's also messed up and have to flee again?
Not sure why that popped into my head. Just free associating, here.
I'm really, really excited to hear you're migrating off Substack. That their concept of "free speech" is inclusive of Nazis but moderating out other categories... sure is a take. Thanks for this newsletter, and thanks for your principles.
Wow! I am happy but not happy to read of your plans. I will follow you to wherever you end up, and you have given me the motivation to make the decision I need to, as well. I have nothing like your following - I haven't turned on paid subscriptions yet, and got my first "pledge" a few weeks ago. But still, I have agonized over how/when to decide what to do. You have laid it out so clearly and succinctly that now I can't believe I was waffling. I will move off of Substack because I can't imagine setting up payments, thereby giving even the smallest amount of profit to a platform that is now going out of its way to attract Nazi writers to it. Thank you for your integrity and decisiveness.
Full disclosure: I waffled for like a week and a half, just sort of hoping maybe it would magically go away, maybe Substack would do the right thing and I wouldn't have to make this decision. It's so shitty that we are in this place, and especially for you as you are just beginning to gain traction. Hopefully we'll find somewhere even better
This sucks ass. I’m so bummed. I love your writing and will follow you to whatever platform, but I also love a bunch of Substack writers who I’m sure will not move (or probably didn’t even hear about this) and that hurts.
Thanks for taking a stand and trying to make some change around it. Appreciate you ❤️
Yep yep yep. I’ve been cranky as hell about it on top of the non-selfish rage and frustration, and I’d barely gotten settled. I don’t make enough here for it to disrupt my life as much as pausing subscriptions does for you, so thank you for putting your money where your mouth is. I’ve posted a couple of notes about launching a Ko-fi and what steps I’m taking to make it easy for folks to support me without us contributing to the founders’ income and numbers. Am following you now to keep reading, and will look forward to getting to know you through the process over January 👏🏼
I am grateful to you for all you do, and especially for being forthright about what a ghastly situation this is. Hoping your next platform is morally responsible, technically competent and financially sustainable. Bonne chance!
Thank you for raising this subject to my attention as I was not aware of what was going on.
Considering your 2 years of legacy, you seem to be quite an early user of the platform, I have been here since March 23' and although I haven't had the opportunity to build a profitable audience, I have spent a lot of time thoughtfully writing content for my free subscribers.
I think that your thoughts are extremely valid but as you said yourself, free speech is quite a delicate issue nowadays where information and misinformation seems to be produced at the very same rate. Although I dislike Substack's positioning about this issue, I think I understand their neutrality because their slogan struck me to the chore the first time I read it: "A new economic engine for culture"
Culture is perhaps the most beautiful legacy of humankind as it regards the sum of our artistry, mythologies, information, discoveries, history, and beautiful particularities of each and every nation - But unfortunately there still is, and there will always be people lost amidst information and beliefs that can be harmful to not only society but also themselves. This doesn't mean they are right, but it doesn't mean it isn't culture either, a twisted view of the world is still a view of the world conceived in a human mind (or sick heart).
I think that what I'm trying to say is that if Substack is our home at the given moment, and if our home is being populated by information and users that are harmful to society, I don't think that abandoning it just because Substack don't know what to do about it, is the right choice. It feels like an extreme action and doing so can not only hurt your business but also leave substack without a proper resistance of sane minds.
With that said, I want you to know that I'm enlisting to help in any kind of substack project that you can think about on how to properly fight outdated and violent beliefs with some good and old hope, journalism, writing and finally, poetry.
"Freedom of Speech" is a term that I have spent a lot of time thinking about these last years as the last elections in my country were quite concerning. I came to the conclusion that trying to understand it in the times we are living puts us in an inconclusive loop of confusion - and so, I have thought about "Responsible Freedom of Speech" which regards a more contemporary approach to how information is distributed today and the many different layers of impact that it conveys. Perhaps we could write and undersigned and propose it to Substack's content guidelines (https://substack.com/content)
I'd certainly be willing to write and send in such a thing, but McKenzie's statement makes me think it would do no good. I think the paradox of tolerance means that we should not, in fact, tolerate a version of culture that seems to destroy culture: not just in the obvious, genocidal way but because real fascism is the destruction of art, beauty, free thought, etc.
I fully plan to continue pushing back, it'll just be on a different platform, free to read as always.
This is a great idea, but there is already a group of writers who have been working on something similar, and Substack leadership has not been responsive. If you want to know more about it or get, involved, take a look at Marisa Kabas, who writes The Handbadket" and has been organizing the whole thing.
I have the info somewhere. I had just gotten it when I came down with COVID, so I lost track of the project, but I will find it and pass it on. It might take me a day or two.
Hey, Thiago, so sorry I didn't get back to you sooner - I contacted Marisa but never heard back. I believe she has actually left Substack, for the most part, but is still involved in this project. If you still want to get involved with it, you might be able to connect with Marisa here: https://www.thehandbasket.co/.
Hi Laura,
I love your writing and I'll follow you to hell to keep reading you. I support you 100% to close the Substack tip jar at the Nazi bar.
Thank you for this, seriously -- hopefully we end up somewhere slightly better than hell but with the way tech bros are stomping around these days it would be unwise to make promises
Please let me know where you land. I would like to go there too.
Apparently the former location IS hell, or at least an open door to it. I'm following Laura even to hell, but not arm in arm with Nazis.
I appreciate your ethical stance and sincerely wish others would do the same. When Twitter went bad in 2022, I (not a writer) closed my account on Thanksgiving (2022) and watched as so many writers all swore they would leave it too and even made accounts on Mastodon. But they never left Twitter and most didn’t use their new Mastodon accounts. They all have their excuses, which mean less and less as TwitteX has less and less concrete value to actual reporters and other writers. Yet they stay, while fascism continues its steady march into all the public spaces online and IRL where it wasn’t acceptable a short time ago.
Thank you SO MUCH for writing this post--I've been so busy that I haven't been following the thread of what's going on--but your post summarizes it perfectly. And it's horrifying. I have spent a number of years researching WWII and how Hitler came to power--I can't reconcile how someone couldn't take a very clear and hard stance on the topic of as you say--REAL Nazis. This is so disappointing and I will follow you and others to wherever your writing takes you.
You know those movies where there's some overarching tragedy going on, like zombies or a giant meteor, and the protagonists go through cycles of fleeing a bad place to a relatively safe place, only to find that's also messed up and have to flee again?
Not sure why that popped into my head. Just free associating, here.
BOY HOWDY IT SURE DOES SEEM LIKE THAT SOMETIMES DOESN'T IT
I'm really, really excited to hear you're migrating off Substack. That their concept of "free speech" is inclusive of Nazis but moderating out other categories... sure is a take. Thanks for this newsletter, and thanks for your principles.
let me know where you move to, and I will subscribe. It's disgusting to see venality cloaked as virtue.
Wow! I am happy but not happy to read of your plans. I will follow you to wherever you end up, and you have given me the motivation to make the decision I need to, as well. I have nothing like your following - I haven't turned on paid subscriptions yet, and got my first "pledge" a few weeks ago. But still, I have agonized over how/when to decide what to do. You have laid it out so clearly and succinctly that now I can't believe I was waffling. I will move off of Substack because I can't imagine setting up payments, thereby giving even the smallest amount of profit to a platform that is now going out of its way to attract Nazi writers to it. Thank you for your integrity and decisiveness.
Full disclosure: I waffled for like a week and a half, just sort of hoping maybe it would magically go away, maybe Substack would do the right thing and I wouldn't have to make this decision. It's so shitty that we are in this place, and especially for you as you are just beginning to gain traction. Hopefully we'll find somewhere even better
Hey, a week isn't long at all, considering it's a chunk of your livelihood!
This sucks ass. I’m so bummed. I love your writing and will follow you to whatever platform, but I also love a bunch of Substack writers who I’m sure will not move (or probably didn’t even hear about this) and that hurts.
Thanks for taking a stand and trying to make some change around it. Appreciate you ❤️
Yep yep yep. I’ve been cranky as hell about it on top of the non-selfish rage and frustration, and I’d barely gotten settled. I don’t make enough here for it to disrupt my life as much as pausing subscriptions does for you, so thank you for putting your money where your mouth is. I’ve posted a couple of notes about launching a Ko-fi and what steps I’m taking to make it easy for folks to support me without us contributing to the founders’ income and numbers. Am following you now to keep reading, and will look forward to getting to know you through the process over January 👏🏼
When the paradox of tolerance is ignored in favor of the straightforward simplicity of profiteering from Nazi comment.
I've followed your work for ages and look forward to following it to whatever alternative medium you select.
Wishing you the best and applauding your principled stance.
Thank you for your principled stand, Laura! I hope more Substack writers follow your lead in a “January pause!”
I support your position not to do business with substack. Good luck finding a new platform.
I look forward to following this work of yours wherever you land.
I am grateful to you for all you do, and especially for being forthright about what a ghastly situation this is. Hoping your next platform is morally responsible, technically competent and financially sustainable. Bonne chance!
Hi Laura!
Thank you for raising this subject to my attention as I was not aware of what was going on.
Considering your 2 years of legacy, you seem to be quite an early user of the platform, I have been here since March 23' and although I haven't had the opportunity to build a profitable audience, I have spent a lot of time thoughtfully writing content for my free subscribers.
I think that your thoughts are extremely valid but as you said yourself, free speech is quite a delicate issue nowadays where information and misinformation seems to be produced at the very same rate. Although I dislike Substack's positioning about this issue, I think I understand their neutrality because their slogan struck me to the chore the first time I read it: "A new economic engine for culture"
Culture is perhaps the most beautiful legacy of humankind as it regards the sum of our artistry, mythologies, information, discoveries, history, and beautiful particularities of each and every nation - But unfortunately there still is, and there will always be people lost amidst information and beliefs that can be harmful to not only society but also themselves. This doesn't mean they are right, but it doesn't mean it isn't culture either, a twisted view of the world is still a view of the world conceived in a human mind (or sick heart).
(As a quick sidenote, this subject reminds me of a very intriguing article I read some years ago: "https://medium.com/the-establishment/why-punching-nazis-is-not-only-ethical-but-imperative-db47a167c2fb" - I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.)
I think that what I'm trying to say is that if Substack is our home at the given moment, and if our home is being populated by information and users that are harmful to society, I don't think that abandoning it just because Substack don't know what to do about it, is the right choice. It feels like an extreme action and doing so can not only hurt your business but also leave substack without a proper resistance of sane minds.
With that said, I want you to know that I'm enlisting to help in any kind of substack project that you can think about on how to properly fight outdated and violent beliefs with some good and old hope, journalism, writing and finally, poetry.
"Freedom of Speech" is a term that I have spent a lot of time thinking about these last years as the last elections in my country were quite concerning. I came to the conclusion that trying to understand it in the times we are living puts us in an inconclusive loop of confusion - and so, I have thought about "Responsible Freedom of Speech" which regards a more contemporary approach to how information is distributed today and the many different layers of impact that it conveys. Perhaps we could write and undersigned and propose it to Substack's content guidelines (https://substack.com/content)
I'd certainly be willing to write and send in such a thing, but McKenzie's statement makes me think it would do no good. I think the paradox of tolerance means that we should not, in fact, tolerate a version of culture that seems to destroy culture: not just in the obvious, genocidal way but because real fascism is the destruction of art, beauty, free thought, etc.
I fully plan to continue pushing back, it'll just be on a different platform, free to read as always.
This is a great idea, but there is already a group of writers who have been working on something similar, and Substack leadership has not been responsive. If you want to know more about it or get, involved, take a look at Marisa Kabas, who writes The Handbadket" and has been organizing the whole thing.
https://open.substack.com/pub/thehandbasket
If you can't find it, reply to this comment and let me know, and I'll see if I can find the contact info for you.
Hey LC! I really liked the project but I couldn't find a way or email to actually sign my substack to the list. Do you have any ideas?
I have the info somewhere. I had just gotten it when I came down with COVID, so I lost track of the project, but I will find it and pass it on. It might take me a day or two.
Hey, Thiago, so sorry I didn't get back to you sooner - I contacted Marisa but never heard back. I believe she has actually left Substack, for the most part, but is still involved in this project. If you still want to get involved with it, you might be able to connect with Marisa here: https://www.thehandbasket.co/.
Thank you so much! I will look it up.
thank you for remaining honest - even when the stakes a serious, and personal.
Ghost seems to be the only viable alternative:
https://ghost.org/