It has become crystal clear that today's conservatives are so fearful of independent voices (i.e., TN state legislature as a recent example) that they use their power (technical as well as verbal, emotional and physical violence) to try to control anyone who disagrees with them. They believe these tactics will work and they don't care who they hurt. I subscribe to numerous Substack newsletters because I'm interested in what writers have to write, I want to expose myself to various points of view (except for conservatives since they only insult and lie) and I want to support writers. But, people can access these newsletters without paying. I have a couple that I haven't yet decided if I want to pay for, but most are paid subscriptions. I'm a 70 year old retired woman and I've had a lifetime of people (mostly men) telling me how to behave and what I'm allowed, or not allowed to do. I have never listed to these people and there are always work-arounds. I was married twice, divorced twice, to two abusive men (abusive in different ways) and they are both dead because of their own behaviors and I'm still here. I believe there are a lot of people like me and we all fight back in different ways. We are survivors.
So very interesting that we were all fighting about the dangers of TikTok two weeks ago when a petulant billionaire man child now runs twitter and that’s okay...
I don't know what it would take to create a Twitter alternative, but since Musk has turned Twitter into Truth Social Lite, something else is going to be necessary.
I stopped using Twitter two months ago and overall don't miss any of it. I know I'm missing out on information, and I know I don't know where else to find it, but I no longer care. I simply don't need the dopamine rushes.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the bitcoin doge image that was showing up on my twitter website feed a few days ago. I love this newsletter, and I regularly read Lyz Lenz's "Men Yell At Me" because she is a great writer and she is really funny. Especially of note is her "Dingus of the Week" posting. Yes, Elon has been featured.
There's also an anti-trust angle to this. Using control of a dominant platform to snuff out competition and promote an alternative (e.g., Micosoft vs. Netscape).
Dan do you have any plans to just quit Twitter and take your cookies over to Post.news or Mastodon? Like Lovett, I took it off my phone which reduced my engagement by a lot, though I still look at it from time to time and it is just terrible - so many ads, and bad ads. The "Following" tab has very limited content and the "For You" tab is basically Mos Eisley. But the promised exodus by journos and blue checks has not come to pass, and Post and Mastodon are just not as interesting as a result.
Hey, Dan--just so you know, I didn't subscribe to Message Box thru Twitter. I don't use it and never have. I don't actually remember how I *did* find and subscribe to you, but likely thru one of the many Crooked pods. You do great and valuable work, and I have recommended you to many folks thru my very limited means -- I pretty much eschew social media, so it's down to those old fashioned ways of talking to people! Hopefully, all your subscribers will use all their avenues to support you and other independent thinkers.
Twitter feels like it is only continuing because an alternative has not been agreed on by the general population.
Maybe because the only way to share a new site would be to include a pointer in one of the existing sites and.... well, certainly Elon and Zuck wouldn't try to stifle competition, would they?? Why, the very idea! My pearls are clutched!
The NYT talked about Mammoth, Dan is here on SubStack but the conversation is still, "Oh woe is us, what will Elon do next to our one and only true app??"
I left Twitter on the day of Musk's arrival. I'm continually disappointed that so many journalists have indicated a relationship with Twitter that borders on addiction.
Elon has been in conversations with Rupert Murdoch. That's not paranoia, that's fact from a photograph of them talking privately a the last World Cup (or F1, I forget).
Absolutely no good can come from that. Zero. Twitter was wounded when Elon bought it and now he's bent on turning it into something we can all just guess at, all of my guesses result in a barely functioning Twitter with a countless number of back end shenanigans.
It has become crystal clear that today's conservatives are so fearful of independent voices (i.e., TN state legislature as a recent example) that they use their power (technical as well as verbal, emotional and physical violence) to try to control anyone who disagrees with them. They believe these tactics will work and they don't care who they hurt. I subscribe to numerous Substack newsletters because I'm interested in what writers have to write, I want to expose myself to various points of view (except for conservatives since they only insult and lie) and I want to support writers. But, people can access these newsletters without paying. I have a couple that I haven't yet decided if I want to pay for, but most are paid subscriptions. I'm a 70 year old retired woman and I've had a lifetime of people (mostly men) telling me how to behave and what I'm allowed, or not allowed to do. I have never listed to these people and there are always work-arounds. I was married twice, divorced twice, to two abusive men (abusive in different ways) and they are both dead because of their own behaviors and I'm still here. I believe there are a lot of people like me and we all fight back in different ways. We are survivors.
Nothing would make me happier than Substack replacing Twitter.
So very interesting that we were all fighting about the dangers of TikTok two weeks ago when a petulant billionaire man child now runs twitter and that’s okay...
Robert Hubbell’s Substack called Today’s Edition is also great!
I don't know what it would take to create a Twitter alternative, but since Musk has turned Twitter into Truth Social Lite, something else is going to be necessary.
I stopped using Twitter two months ago and overall don't miss any of it. I know I'm missing out on information, and I know I don't know where else to find it, but I no longer care. I simply don't need the dopamine rushes.
He is a fascist. He meant “free speech” for himself and those who agree with him. Sad we have been unable to ween ourselves off of Twitter.
If it’s any consolation I didn’t find your newsletter on Twitter. I think the world could survive and even thrive without Twitter.
Substack is fabulous! I consider it an important valance to MSM news. And I've downloaded the app and indeed it helps me find other important voices.
FYI: I tried the link you embedded and it took me to my subscription page.
Please include Robert Hubbell’s Today’s Edition on your list.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the bitcoin doge image that was showing up on my twitter website feed a few days ago. I love this newsletter, and I regularly read Lyz Lenz's "Men Yell At Me" because she is a great writer and she is really funny. Especially of note is her "Dingus of the Week" posting. Yes, Elon has been featured.
There's also an anti-trust angle to this. Using control of a dominant platform to snuff out competition and promote an alternative (e.g., Micosoft vs. Netscape).
The Substack app also has a superb text to voice reader.
Dan do you have any plans to just quit Twitter and take your cookies over to Post.news or Mastodon? Like Lovett, I took it off my phone which reduced my engagement by a lot, though I still look at it from time to time and it is just terrible - so many ads, and bad ads. The "Following" tab has very limited content and the "For You" tab is basically Mos Eisley. But the promised exodus by journos and blue checks has not come to pass, and Post and Mastodon are just not as interesting as a result.
Hey, Dan--just so you know, I didn't subscribe to Message Box thru Twitter. I don't use it and never have. I don't actually remember how I *did* find and subscribe to you, but likely thru one of the many Crooked pods. You do great and valuable work, and I have recommended you to many folks thru my very limited means -- I pretty much eschew social media, so it's down to those old fashioned ways of talking to people! Hopefully, all your subscribers will use all their avenues to support you and other independent thinkers.
Twitter feels like it is only continuing because an alternative has not been agreed on by the general population.
Maybe because the only way to share a new site would be to include a pointer in one of the existing sites and.... well, certainly Elon and Zuck wouldn't try to stifle competition, would they?? Why, the very idea! My pearls are clutched!
The NYT talked about Mammoth, Dan is here on SubStack but the conversation is still, "Oh woe is us, what will Elon do next to our one and only true app??"
I left Twitter on the day of Musk's arrival. I'm continually disappointed that so many journalists have indicated a relationship with Twitter that borders on addiction.
Elon has been in conversations with Rupert Murdoch. That's not paranoia, that's fact from a photograph of them talking privately a the last World Cup (or F1, I forget).
Absolutely no good can come from that. Zero. Twitter was wounded when Elon bought it and now he's bent on turning it into something we can all just guess at, all of my guesses result in a barely functioning Twitter with a countless number of back end shenanigans.
Are you planning on getting onto the Substack Notes thing Dan?