Yes, many readers don't seem to understand (or care, maybe) that their paid subscriptions to celebrities are only making the rich richer and pushing the rest of us down.
After a week of being on Substack, Kathy Griffin said, "I only have 12 paid subscribers..."
Are you kidding? After being here for months, I'd be saying, "Yay! I have 12 subscribers!"
Oh no, poor Kathy Griffen! That's hardly even the most entitled celebrity Substack behavior I've heard of on here. People who are already rich and famous really get on here and act like they're owed something.
Seriously, and they already have a following so they don’t have to go through the screaming into the void phase on Substack. It’s pretty annoying, and I wish Substack was better about curating communities so it wasn’t just full of celebrities.
I agree with a lot of the spirit of this, but I think when people pay to read Yglesias or Krugman (just to name two very rich, popular guys I have paid subscriptions to) it's not for purposes of "supporting" them but just because they write really good shit we want to read.
All that said - I do think you are right that people should try to also support (actually support!) less popular and newer writers, if they enjoy their work on the same level as the big names. Throw some tithes to small stacks with fresh voices rather than subscribing to a 10th "DC insider Democratic strategy brainstorming" stack from a Dan Pfieffer type. (No offense to Pfieffer, he just came to mind as an example... well, I guess some offense.)
Although it is super fun for me to read Slow Boring or The New Republic, it is also rewarding as a stacker to know when you are helping to build a community and supporting someone trying to do something great with their talent. I'm sorry that I'm not a paid subscriber here at the moment, Ben - I can only carry so many subs at once - but you will get in my rotation.
Thanks for the comment! Heather Cox Richardson has been the only purple badge profile I’ve ever supported because I believe so much in what she does, but eventually I unsubscribed and accepted that I did my part by supporting her at all, and whether I support her or not makes no ultimate difference. But you’re totally right that some peoples’ offerings are just that enticing. I’ve thought about supporting at least a couple of people for that reason.
And appreciate you saying that, Miles! Treating it as a rotation really is the best way to approach it. Most of us can’t afford to indefinitely support all of the writers who deserve it, and that’s okay! I know I can’t. Any support you can offer for any length of time means the world, but I’d never want you to feel that you owe it to me.
I really do get where you’re coming from, and maybe you’re right. I post here for the hell of it; I’m not looking for a writing career. Good fucking thing. I do support MeidasTouch, and they have that top check mark. They started on Substack not long ago, but they have had a considerable presence on YouTube and patreon. They went through all the check marks. Frankly I no longer remember the perks — I do know that I shell out 300 dollars a year.
I don’t think they are millionaires buying yachts — I guess they could be. They would probably not appreciate this particular post, Ben. With subscription renewals coming up, you’ve given me something to think about. I will gently remind you, Ben, I DO support you, motherfucker. 🫣
I guess it may at least be different with those teams of writers, like Meidas. I doubt each contributor has yachts-buying power. But I’m not so sure they’d disagree with the idea that if a reader has a choice between them and an author who can’t afford food without it, they should go with the needier one. Between all of Meidas’ streams of income, I imagine each of those writers are doing pretty fabulously even if they’re not in the top 1% of the top 1%.
Glad I could inform! It really is a stupid system. I don’t totally hate the transparency, but I hate the way it’s hung over our heads and hate what it says about the platform.
Yes, many readers don't seem to understand (or care, maybe) that their paid subscriptions to celebrities are only making the rich richer and pushing the rest of us down.
After a week of being on Substack, Kathy Griffin said, "I only have 12 paid subscribers..."
Are you kidding? After being here for months, I'd be saying, "Yay! I have 12 subscribers!"
Oh no, poor Kathy Griffen! That's hardly even the most entitled celebrity Substack behavior I've heard of on here. People who are already rich and famous really get on here and act like they're owed something.
Seriously, and they already have a following so they don’t have to go through the screaming into the void phase on Substack. It’s pretty annoying, and I wish Substack was better about curating communities so it wasn’t just full of celebrities.
Exactly. They don't have to do anything but show up and immediately have a following.
I agree with a lot of the spirit of this, but I think when people pay to read Yglesias or Krugman (just to name two very rich, popular guys I have paid subscriptions to) it's not for purposes of "supporting" them but just because they write really good shit we want to read.
All that said - I do think you are right that people should try to also support (actually support!) less popular and newer writers, if they enjoy their work on the same level as the big names. Throw some tithes to small stacks with fresh voices rather than subscribing to a 10th "DC insider Democratic strategy brainstorming" stack from a Dan Pfieffer type. (No offense to Pfieffer, he just came to mind as an example... well, I guess some offense.)
Although it is super fun for me to read Slow Boring or The New Republic, it is also rewarding as a stacker to know when you are helping to build a community and supporting someone trying to do something great with their talent. I'm sorry that I'm not a paid subscriber here at the moment, Ben - I can only carry so many subs at once - but you will get in my rotation.
Thanks for the comment! Heather Cox Richardson has been the only purple badge profile I’ve ever supported because I believe so much in what she does, but eventually I unsubscribed and accepted that I did my part by supporting her at all, and whether I support her or not makes no ultimate difference. But you’re totally right that some peoples’ offerings are just that enticing. I’ve thought about supporting at least a couple of people for that reason.
And appreciate you saying that, Miles! Treating it as a rotation really is the best way to approach it. Most of us can’t afford to indefinitely support all of the writers who deserve it, and that’s okay! I know I can’t. Any support you can offer for any length of time means the world, but I’d never want you to feel that you owe it to me.
Brandon and Ben— 2 of my favorites.
I really do get where you’re coming from, and maybe you’re right. I post here for the hell of it; I’m not looking for a writing career. Good fucking thing. I do support MeidasTouch, and they have that top check mark. They started on Substack not long ago, but they have had a considerable presence on YouTube and patreon. They went through all the check marks. Frankly I no longer remember the perks — I do know that I shell out 300 dollars a year.
I don’t think they are millionaires buying yachts — I guess they could be. They would probably not appreciate this particular post, Ben. With subscription renewals coming up, you’ve given me something to think about. I will gently remind you, Ben, I DO support you, motherfucker. 🫣
And as always, thank you much for the support, Brent! I hope this didn’t seem to imply I don’t appreciate it.
Not at all, Ben.
I guess it may at least be different with those teams of writers, like Meidas. I doubt each contributor has yachts-buying power. But I’m not so sure they’d disagree with the idea that if a reader has a choice between them and an author who can’t afford food without it, they should go with the needier one. Between all of Meidas’ streams of income, I imagine each of those writers are doing pretty fabulously even if they’re not in the top 1% of the top 1%.
Sheesh. Talk about bad marketing. I didn't even know about the checkmark, much less filling them with color, until I read this.
Glad I could inform! It really is a stupid system. I don’t totally hate the transparency, but I hate the way it’s hung over our heads and hate what it says about the platform.
Thanks for reading, Charles!
Thanks and crossposted to one of my Substacks
Thanks for sharing my guy!
It's a good guide