128 Comments

I've found Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and any other platform outside of substack to be entirely lacking in both humanity and interest. I love substack because it's a community here, a community of readers and writers, all actively engaged in one big game of dodge ball. I am devoting 100% of my writing and reading time to the Substack platform, and so far I have been richly rewarded for it.

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I’ve only been on Substack for 4 months and I have learned so much more about what matters than in all the years I’ve wasted on Twitter and FB and IG. I couldn’t explain this but others have shared a similar sentiment. I tried to get into these sm platforms again for class assignments on distribution but it just feels icky.

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Would agree there just wish I understood editor suite and how to post a writing because it never works for me so my stuff is comments and notes.

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I thing there are a lot of interesting things and a lot of humanity on social media.

That's part of the problem.

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BOOM! This comment, "A really hard-learned lesson in life is you can’t make a good deal with a bad person," and the one about karma earned my applause. We are not on this planet to prove that we are better than one another and amass fortunes at the expense of the planet and other living creatures. We're here to learn about what it means to be human in the best and most creative ways possible that honor and celebrate the other lives that share the planet with us. Thank you Doomberg.

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Western folks use the word karma as if it was a sanitary napkin. Just like Twitter.

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Egggzactly, Jena!

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Great minds and all that :-)

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I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that they don't know what it means to be human or that they celebrate other lives.

The real world is that we live our lives, do our best and try to respect other people for who they are. If you don't respect someone, move on because she probably has little respect for you, too.

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I too have removed myself from Twitter but also IG and FB. I quit FB two years ago and feared my reach would suffer. The truth is people sought me out because I wasn’t just hanging about anymore. My revenue is still very small on Substack but I have no doubt I will flourish here. Other platforms drain me of creative energy because the culture is focused on “look at me” videos and finger pointing. While there is certainly constructive dissent here, it is respectful and helpful. Substack will be my only platform going forward so I can write and perfect my craft rather than wasting time trying to gather attention.

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Exactly. And what you said is exactly what I now see on Youtube on almost EVERY video, and I was against that platform from the outset too as I knew it could not be trusted. I used to run independent open source social media networks, but everyone wanted to be on FB. I've watched Substack for a year now and I'm impressed. I'm thinking of using it when I finally get to tell my life story that countless people have urged me to write! THIS would be the platform.

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I removed my podcast from Apple too because once Covid was discussed, I went from top 1% to several hundred listeners per episode. I refuse to work this hard and be censored. It was a very difficult choice but I believe in the long run it will pan out. Plus there is great personal reward in standing my ground no matter the cost.

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💯

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Yes Evie, on the cusp of quitting X & IG (I never really got started with either anyway) and only use FB for finding local marketplace deals. All in on the most serious writer-friendly platform makes the most sense TBH. I need to commit to one platform for a good 18mths and see what happens.

The ability to host a podcast, and use either audio or text as the main draw with the other as a paid extra, is also a major factor

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After my IG account was shadow banned I moved most of my audience to Locals, which I loved for Live Streams but not for writing. As Substack developed their voiceover, podcast hosting and other features I again asked my audience to make a move with me.

Managing Locals and Substack requires too much time and was confusing to my audience. They never knew where to find my stuff. It's been frustrating but also necessary to find the best place and so far, Substack has been a success. I look forward to the days when we all don't have to spend so much time and energy trying to find a home. I do wish they would create a live stream option here.

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Doomberg is a legend. Best finance writing on substack and far better than Bloomberg, The Economist, Jim Cramer, etc. Well deserved and curated feature here!

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Excellent! This is a great and informative read. In fact, this article illustrates why Substack is becoming *the* place to read good and great content. This gives me hope as a writer, too.

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Hilarious to call Elon Musk, the "new owner", pretty classy.

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This is useful because it is the story of someone who created a Twitter account, thought it was going to align with their reasons for writing, then discovered Substack. The reason I created a Twitter account and never used it was because one client, years and years ago, asked me to create an account. As it turned out, it was still so much easier and faster to have a conversation with me by dialing my number (talk and text). Substack gets it. The whole reason for writing is the connection with others and amplifying their reasons for living, working, loving, and creating. I've never heard of Doomsberg until today and I probably won't subscribe to a cartoon green bird. I do better with people who have names, identities, and questions for me.

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Never liked Twitter myself, so breaking up with it was pretty easy.

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Even easier than voluntarily leaving Twitter is getting your account suspended!

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I tried to get suspended 😆 I kept poking the muskrat. Lol.

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I honestly think my suspension was because I challenged a Satanist and Friend of Oprah called Prince Ea.

Or maybe because I exposed U.S. Representative (California) Robert Garcia as a child sex trafficker.

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Zero surprise on that politician.

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Oi Vey

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Same here, I did take a longer look again with the new owner, but, the honeymoon is over.

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Looked at Twitter once and ran a mile.

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Substack is a nice place to be. A lot of good writers and info.

Not many nasty or completely stupid people yet.

Hope prices don't go up.

Still wondering about "bundles?"

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“Not many”. Hahaha. This made my day;)

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Happy to hear this.

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I understand the reasoning behind moves like this, but I would be paying $200-$300 a year In subscription fees for the different feeds that I like. I just won’t do it. You do what you gotta do, and I’ll do what I gotta do. No hard feelings.

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We are in unprecedented times when writers have little choice but to go to a subscription model. The censorship is real. While I appreciate some people won’t pay for content, the truth is we can’t expect journalism to change unless people are willing to supper writers who stand up for freedom of speech. I personally enjoy the challenge - to create content that is so good people have no problem paying for it.

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I find the model good: I too will not subscribe to all those I follow but if I want to support even just one, or gain access to a little more, then I'd do it and I think that's the model. I hope it works, free of advertising and throttling is exactly what's needed.

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Better late than never. Twitter a cesspool of lies, hate, misinformation, fake news, propaganda, anti-science, racism and worse. that too owned by a messianic capitalist turd, Elon Musk. Except some very wicked self-serving people nobody should be on Twitter.

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I don't know what you call "misinformation" but I've discovered Substack because people propagating "misinformation" I was following there were being banned and moved here (or have an account on both plateform).

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By misinformation, one means the extent of unverified sources, individuals and institutions which profit from spreading a type of information which is false. Substack is also a platform for such instances of propaganda and misinformation. Check it out!

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Sounds like you've just explained the internet in general minus the Musk part since it doesn't own the entire network.

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Hi ... In essence, all the information that was supposed to enlighten us, make us smarter et all, is also darkening the internet, even us with all the misinformation and a constant stream of validation. Elon Musk is just one enemy of humanity, however like all the 1% Ruling Elite (Winners of Capitalism) - Wicked types, especially those who worship technology and wealth.

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Interesting note about ethics....would be good to see Substack taking more of a stand on some issues. One reason so many are leaving Twitter is because of the amount of horrendous abuse that they get as marginalised people. Substack has been infamous not only for hosting these same kinds of accounts, but enabling them to monetise their hatred (and it is hatred - not debate). I want Substack to be this utopia for creatives so desperately, but they need to make a choice about what they want to support on their platform. They talk about revolutionising the industry - let's see the revolution.

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Great interview, did not know about you before, love the thinking and share in the hopes!

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Here's a really wild, out-there prediction:

We're going to see a lot more of folks leaving Twitter for good.

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See ya, Elon.

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Doomberg, you had me with "it’s just a karma thing. We’re big believers in surfing the sea of abundance and that the NPV [net present value] of giving is infinite. It costs you nothing to help other people."

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