Others have hinted at it and some have gone to UpScrolled, but I expect that all of these private formed and owned sites, with whatever good will they start with, will eventually succumb to making money as the only priority. Making money, in today's internet world will inevitably mean limiting progressive voices and amplifying the right-wing. Substack has already introduced a number of new gimmicks that make navigating it frustrating so I'm waiting for the Musk-like shoe to fall next.
Totally agree. I follow a lot but it’s too many and too costly. I mainly follow you and council estate media on here. Some times read others. But we can’t read everyone.
You have and I like your honesty and like me we are surviving this life. I was diagnosed as schizophrenia post menopause likely but the meds is working. And I’m stage 3A kidney disease. ( early stages). I worry about my future, these wars can be an excuse for the government to scrap welfare and the NHS. I had a bank check yesterday re UC universal credit. They were happy with it and told me the payment I got for a 3 year DWP error will be disregarded for the length of my claim. The had been taking half my ESA Payments. So I will know what will happen re pay on the 19th. But I’m glad it was done and accepted. I worry for when our NHS will come to an end.
You are absolutely correct about this. Neoliberalism is functioning exactly as intended and we've had 47 years of it and counting. What those who do manage to survive for some time under this is that AI will also rempove their jobs and security.
I post little these days as it seems mostly pointless, or someone else is already saying it, probably better. If I'm fired up and I think it's a little more original I'll make the effort, but I'm no longer trying to make money here in any case. Once upon a time I imagined sites like this and Patreon and Ko-Fi were going to be the solution and I'd succeed through them, but your analysis is spot on.
The dance-marathon image is powerful. The fatigue part especially feels right.
Still, I wonder if there’s a small contradiction lurking in the middle of it. Substack nudges writers toward constant output, but it’s also one of the few places online where you actually own your list and can be paid directly by readers. Compared with the algorithm platforms, that’s a pretty different structure.
What I notice more broadly is a pattern on the left at the moment. System's diagnosis is often sharp, but the final move quietly turns it into destiny. Everything becomes total, locked, inevitable.
History usually behaves in messier ways than that.
> The billionaires really do control everything, outside of their own mortality.
And some of them are working on that. Though personally I think for their kind it can’t come soon enough.
This post hits the nail on the head.
Others have hinted at it and some have gone to UpScrolled, but I expect that all of these private formed and owned sites, with whatever good will they start with, will eventually succumb to making money as the only priority. Making money, in today's internet world will inevitably mean limiting progressive voices and amplifying the right-wing. Substack has already introduced a number of new gimmicks that make navigating it frustrating so I'm waiting for the Musk-like shoe to fall next.
Totally agree. I follow a lot but it’s too many and too costly. I mainly follow you and council estate media on here. Some times read others. But we can’t read everyone.
I have always been very appreciative of your many years of loyal support. Cheers John
You have and I like your honesty and like me we are surviving this life. I was diagnosed as schizophrenia post menopause likely but the meds is working. And I’m stage 3A kidney disease. ( early stages). I worry about my future, these wars can be an excuse for the government to scrap welfare and the NHS. I had a bank check yesterday re UC universal credit. They were happy with it and told me the payment I got for a 3 year DWP error will be disregarded for the length of my claim. The had been taking half my ESA Payments. So I will know what will happen re pay on the 19th. But I’m glad it was done and accepted. I worry for when our NHS will come to an end.
This reminded me of the Leonard Cohen song ‘Everybody Knows’.
https://youtu.be/Gxd23UVID7k?
You are absolutely correct about this. Neoliberalism is functioning exactly as intended and we've had 47 years of it and counting. What those who do manage to survive for some time under this is that AI will also rempove their jobs and security.
This hit hard John - it articulated what I’ve been thinking/feeling more and more lately so perfectly. We are all barrow boys now
I post little these days as it seems mostly pointless, or someone else is already saying it, probably better. If I'm fired up and I think it's a little more original I'll make the effort, but I'm no longer trying to make money here in any case. Once upon a time I imagined sites like this and Patreon and Ko-Fi were going to be the solution and I'd succeed through them, but your analysis is spot on.
The dance-marathon image is powerful. The fatigue part especially feels right.
Still, I wonder if there’s a small contradiction lurking in the middle of it. Substack nudges writers toward constant output, but it’s also one of the few places online where you actually own your list and can be paid directly by readers. Compared with the algorithm platforms, that’s a pretty different structure.
What I notice more broadly is a pattern on the left at the moment. System's diagnosis is often sharp, but the final move quietly turns it into destiny. Everything becomes total, locked, inevitable.
History usually behaves in messier ways than that.