I needed to *hear* this, Victoria. I’ve been struggling to grasp why podcasts and video options are so heavily promoted here, if Substack is truly laser-focused on writing. Thank you.
I’m old school. I put podcasts and the like under my personal category of “too lazy to read it”yourself…I know y’all live in a hurry up world. I did too in the 70s. We all have. To me, radio is for music. I don’t want to be read to! I wanna read it myself…to myself. I play more music than passively listen. I read writers words. It gives my insight into their work. Yea…I’m old but the simplicity of joining in with the singers, writers, teachers, philosophers etc gives me a sense of prescence in their worlds…which then broadens and enhances my own. Just sayin’
I really like hearing writers’ voices. I like the mix. I like what Hamish did in this post - he wrote it out and created a voice recording of it. I’m going to do more of that.
Your company may have single-handedly saved democracy. This post has inspired me to get writing - something I've been meaning to do for some time. Thank you from the depths of my heart for giving truth-tellers a platform when they've been shunned everywhere else.
Yes, Substack is very helpful platform - free secretarial support regarding the emails is worth some money even to a non-profit writer, saves time and money.
Thanks Hamish McKenzie for verbalizing the importance of writers and good writing to business.
I just came to Substack because Google Blogger censored me overtly, taking down my blog and email, after 7 years of covert censorship, of which I was aware, and mostly leading up to elections, beginning early spring of 2016.
I have over 1000 subscribers, and they are all free, and so am I, on Substack.
COVID-treating MD until fired October 2021 for vaccine refusal.
No, COVID-19 vaccination was a requirement at my clinic, and I refused on the moral grounds that "I needed to stand naked with the Jews" as the "unvaccinated" were declared to be the new sub-human group.
My analogy was offensive to some, because naturally, they did not see it that way at all.
I worked there 18 non-continuous years. I miss what the clinic was, and I miss my patients and friendly coworkers. The administration made this decision. There was no vote.
This story of the day of my firing is from my pre-Substack blog: Go Down Gardening
I will read it kind sir. I am truly appauled and disgusted as well as mad. What's happened to humanity is disgusting and definitely NOT human. My children whom are grown lost their father of brutal cancers. Only 6 months after ' Moderna's poison! He had no cancer prior. In his heart, lungs and spine. What we Couldnt understand was he had heart surgery the year prior. All kinds of tests, no cancers!! How can one go from 0 to stage 4 in months? He went in for trouble breathing and died 3 weeks later. Coming up on a year in October. Sorry to rant, I am glad you stayed true to who you are!!
Agree wholeheartedly with your tragic reality. The losses of our elders is the epidemic. So many of our age group were bullied into the bad decisions that they made. Fear and loathing from the many sources are the guilty ones now. No need to apologize for speaking the Truth! Remember he is still with you in Spirit. Be blessed for that. XOX
Thank you kindly. Also for taking the time to write a beautiful comment to a perfect stranger. If only we were all made of this kindness. Bless your heart!😊
Big up vote from me! A Doctor doing what should be done for himself and his patients. Forced to make a decision you shouldn't have been forced to make.
It's the times we are in. I was not sure how I would recognize them, but when I saw an "untermenschen" line forming, I knew I had to stand in it. That judgement has been born out already, and I see a trend of worsening health, and "excess mortality" in the folks that chose that other line.
I'm building a house, finishing the inside myself, approaching completion. I keep posting progress photos going back to shortly after I was fired. I cashed out my meager retirement and paid the taxes on it, had been saving for this project, and am doing it.
I am lucky to be a Sunday Times bestselling writer multiple times over. Yet the most rewarding part of my week is writing a quirky little newsletter to a small but growing group of friends who are traversing their middle years with gusto. I am enriched by fellow writers on this platform, many struggling but persevering. Don’t lose that energy Mr CWO - it’s rubbing off on me.
Thank you for signing Freddie deBoer. His Substack is unique and essential, and several commenters have started their own newsletters which are also wonderful.
The reason George Carlin left such a legacy to the world is because he cared about writing more than anything. And libraries.
When I hear city council members say things like "I didn't know we had a library." or "Will there even be a library in 10 years." I can only cringe or weep with despair.
Reminds me of the. Twilight Zone' episode where he's the only human alive, wears glasses, surrounded by tons and tons of books! Then breaks his glasses! That one tore my heart strings!!
Not to pile pessimism on pessimism but the fact that the libraries that are surviving are becoming increasingly noisy and tech driven and moving away from being places to, you know, read and study is also a problem.
But you are dead on, libraries are vital to a communities health.
Is this the Declaration of Independence for writers? Bill of writes? :)
Good one, Maria!
Thank you, Jean! Starstruck to have you comment back ⭐️😊
Best possible comment. I don’t even need to read on
LoL… Thanks for laugh, they forgot to add the dash of quick wit when they baked me up.. :)
Yes!
Absolutely. Censorship has no rightful place in American
That's a really good one 🤣💫
Nope, it's a miserable excuse.
What is?
I love to see this company prioritize *writing* over a nebulous idea of “content”. I’m not a “content creator”, I’m a writer, and that’s why I’m here.
Someday one of us will write a great book called 'Content and its Discontents'
It's only here really that I see people who are properly discussing the art vs content issue.
That’s a great Band name!!
Feel free to take it and run with in Lenny…
Hahaha!! I’ve already got a band. We’re The New Old
Well put.
I like the video and voice note options too, but when I create those it’s always based on my writing.
I needed to *hear* this, Victoria. I’ve been struggling to grasp why podcasts and video options are so heavily promoted here, if Substack is truly laser-focused on writing. Thank you.
I’m old school. I put podcasts and the like under my personal category of “too lazy to read it”yourself…I know y’all live in a hurry up world. I did too in the 70s. We all have. To me, radio is for music. I don’t want to be read to! I wanna read it myself…to myself. I play more music than passively listen. I read writers words. It gives my insight into their work. Yea…I’m old but the simplicity of joining in with the singers, writers, teachers, philosophers etc gives me a sense of prescence in their worlds…which then broadens and enhances my own. Just sayin’
And well said.
I’m so verbose…my comments always go toooo long
I really like hearing writers’ voices. I like the mix. I like what Hamish did in this post - he wrote it out and created a voice recording of it. I’m going to do more of that.
Your company may have single-handedly saved democracy. This post has inspired me to get writing - something I've been meaning to do for some time. Thank you from the depths of my heart for giving truth-tellers a platform when they've been shunned everywhere else.
Couldn’t agree more. There’s something real here. It’s not often you find it.
Wish I had said this.
Thank the gods for Substack!
And thank YOU, too, Chief Writing Officer Hamish McKenzie!
Amen!
Agreed!
Reading this makes me especially proud to be part of the Substack community, paid or unpaid.
Same. Never felt the same about any other platform or service before. Long may it continue.
Yes, Substack is very helpful platform - free secretarial support regarding the emails is worth some money even to a non-profit writer, saves time and money.
Thanks Hamish McKenzie for verbalizing the importance of writers and good writing to business.
Would you believe I had tears in my eyes when I finished reading this? I swear, I did.
Thank you, Hamish. I feel seen. Validated. Respected. And that is more inspiring than anything else I've clapped eyes on in months.
Thank you is not sufficient, but I say it from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you.
🏳️🌈🇬🇧
I just came to Substack because Google Blogger censored me overtly, taking down my blog and email, after 7 years of covert censorship, of which I was aware, and mostly leading up to elections, beginning early spring of 2016.
I have over 1000 subscribers, and they are all free, and so am I, on Substack.
COVID-treating MD until fired October 2021 for vaccine refusal.
drjohnsblog.substack.com
Just signed up for your substack Dear Doc!!
Pss. Are all Doctors in USA absolutely required to get the jab??
No, COVID-19 vaccination was a requirement at my clinic, and I refused on the moral grounds that "I needed to stand naked with the Jews" as the "unvaccinated" were declared to be the new sub-human group.
My analogy was offensive to some, because naturally, they did not see it that way at all.
I worked there 18 non-continuous years. I miss what the clinic was, and I miss my patients and friendly coworkers. The administration made this decision. There was no vote.
This story of the day of my firing is from my pre-Substack blog: Go Down Gardening
https://www.johndayblog.com/2021/10/go-down-gardening.html
I will read it kind sir. I am truly appauled and disgusted as well as mad. What's happened to humanity is disgusting and definitely NOT human. My children whom are grown lost their father of brutal cancers. Only 6 months after ' Moderna's poison! He had no cancer prior. In his heart, lungs and spine. What we Couldnt understand was he had heart surgery the year prior. All kinds of tests, no cancers!! How can one go from 0 to stage 4 in months? He went in for trouble breathing and died 3 weeks later. Coming up on a year in October. Sorry to rant, I am glad you stayed true to who you are!!
I'm sory maam. It's not a rant. I do understand how it could happen.
There are no words that I could choose to lessen this crime, and the load that you and your children must bear alone.
I'm sorry.
Agree wholeheartedly with your tragic reality. The losses of our elders is the epidemic. So many of our age group were bullied into the bad decisions that they made. Fear and loathing from the many sources are the guilty ones now. No need to apologize for speaking the Truth! Remember he is still with you in Spirit. Be blessed for that. XOX
Thank you kindly. Also for taking the time to write a beautiful comment to a perfect stranger. If only we were all made of this kindness. Bless your heart!😊
I just read your story and cried. I am happy to see all the positive comments! I left you one from today. God Bless dear Doc.
Oh, the Substack blog gets a lot more hits these days, but I just started it in March, so it doesn't go back 6 years.
Thank You, Sister. I am blessed, and I'm trying not to miss guidance in these critical times we are living through.
We have to work this problem. Nobody will hand it to us, but The Divine wants to guide us, if we can listen and pay attention and follow the advice.
I can tell that you listen and care and follow Divine guidance.
Same Master...
Big up vote from me! A Doctor doing what should be done for himself and his patients. Forced to make a decision you shouldn't have been forced to make.
It's the times we are in. I was not sure how I would recognize them, but when I saw an "untermenschen" line forming, I knew I had to stand in it. That judgement has been born out already, and I see a trend of worsening health, and "excess mortality" in the folks that chose that other line.
My hat and heart go out to you! Brave souls suffer no trolls.
That is sad to hear.
I'm building a house, finishing the inside myself, approaching completion. I keep posting progress photos going back to shortly after I was fired. I cashed out my meager retirement and paid the taxes on it, had been saving for this project, and am doing it.
"Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" :-)
drjohnsblog.substack.com
Congrats on the promotion, Hamish. :)
Love this platform. Can’t wait to publish my first post !
Shialabeoufdoit.gif
I am lucky to be a Sunday Times bestselling writer multiple times over. Yet the most rewarding part of my week is writing a quirky little newsletter to a small but growing group of friends who are traversing their middle years with gusto. I am enriched by fellow writers on this platform, many struggling but persevering. Don’t lose that energy Mr CWO - it’s rubbing off on me.
Your newsletter sounds interesting. Just subscribed!
I've reciprocated and see that you're supposed to be doing nothing today!
Ha! I wish.
Thank you, Hamish! I’m grateful how Substack has elevated writers and given us this beautiful platform to just do what we do and make a living of it.
Yes!
Honestly, this was moving. 🙌🏾
This. Is. Amazing.
Every. Single. Word of it.
Thank you for all you do, both for this amazing platform, as well as for the chance to maximize our potential as writers.
I. Agree.
Thank you for signing Freddie deBoer. His Substack is unique and essential, and several commenters have started their own newsletters which are also wonderful.
It's unbelievable how prolific (and consistent) he is.
Thanks for everything, Hamish--we appreciate you!
The reason George Carlin left such a legacy to the world is because he cared about writing more than anything. And libraries.
When I hear city council members say things like "I didn't know we had a library." or "Will there even be a library in 10 years." I can only cringe or weep with despair.
The written word is the foundation of society.
Reminds me of the. Twilight Zone' episode where he's the only human alive, wears glasses, surrounded by tons and tons of books! Then breaks his glasses! That one tore my heart strings!!
“Time Enough At Last” starring Burgess Meredith. That’s one of my favorite episodes.
Yes. That's it. Wonderful and sad.
Not to pile pessimism on pessimism but the fact that the libraries that are surviving are becoming increasingly noisy and tech driven and moving away from being places to, you know, read and study is also a problem.
But you are dead on, libraries are vital to a communities health.