I’m with you, Steve. And as the first executive responsible for Ford Motor Company’s social media and digital communications efforts (from 2008–2014), not only did I never expect to say that, but in some ways I feel partly responsible for it. In those early days, we saw the promise of giving everyone a voice and a chance to interact. But the owners of these sites, knowing that nothing can be free forever, realized that enragement = engagement, and off we went.
I’ve been banging the drum of slow, deliberate thought here on Substack for five years. Reading, writing, and thinking are time-honored practices that need to be brought back. And so, like F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “We beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
While I agree that we would benefit to going back to thinking slowly and deliberately I don't see that as a realistic goal. I do hope that the novelty of the current forms of public discourse wears off and people lose interest in news as a hobby.
Substack seems to give you people rather than the ones you have chosen to follow. It is intensely irritating. I don’t know enough to understand what is at work. We have had a huge increase in trolls and what I assume are bots in the last ten days. It seems if people engage, then the trolls or whatever reappear. I tend to ignore them and they go away.
Do we know how many users Twitter has lost since the orange man took him on formally?
Steve, I so agree: I retained my profile on X and occasionally read perhaps Andrew Weismann and Neal Katyal and Lawrence Tribe, but I am no longer active and no longer post anywhere but here on Substack where I read you--and can only hope that one day you might read me ... ~ Mary
All very good points, Steve. I refer you to Asha Rangappa's substack here on disinformation and social media, it's been a very good course on their impacts on all aspects of our society. Perhaps having her on your show, or you on one of her usual guest classes for a deeper dive will be a very interesting discussion.
I didn’t leave X because I couldn’t tolerate differing opinions. I left due to the venom&misinformation.
I was blocked almost immediately by Musk or Musk minion after violent attack on Paul Pelosi. I suggested Mr Pelosi did not request being hit on the head with a hammer. Apparently that was objectionable.
I’ve never been a Zuckerberg enthusiast.
I’m also in despair over the difference between Twitter resistance warrior’s brave words&their inability to go vote.
I’m equally concerned about the devolution of legacy/corporate news. I see nothing inherently superior about a Columbia J school grad paid by Bezo vs a well thought out citizen opinion posted on social media.
I argue that like American manufacturing, legacy media is on life support&may not survive.
I’m with you, Steve. And as the first executive responsible for Ford Motor Company’s social media and digital communications efforts (from 2008–2014), not only did I never expect to say that, but in some ways I feel partly responsible for it. In those early days, we saw the promise of giving everyone a voice and a chance to interact. But the owners of these sites, knowing that nothing can be free forever, realized that enragement = engagement, and off we went.
I’ve been banging the drum of slow, deliberate thought here on Substack for five years. Reading, writing, and thinking are time-honored practices that need to be brought back. And so, like F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “We beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
While I agree that we would benefit to going back to thinking slowly and deliberately I don't see that as a realistic goal. I do hope that the novelty of the current forms of public discourse wears off and people lose interest in news as a hobby.
Let me think about this and I’ll get back to you.
Substack seems to give you people rather than the ones you have chosen to follow. It is intensely irritating. I don’t know enough to understand what is at work. We have had a huge increase in trolls and what I assume are bots in the last ten days. It seems if people engage, then the trolls or whatever reappear. I tend to ignore them and they go away.
Do we know how many users Twitter has lost since the orange man took him on formally?
Steve, I so agree: I retained my profile on X and occasionally read perhaps Andrew Weismann and Neal Katyal and Lawrence Tribe, but I am no longer active and no longer post anywhere but here on Substack where I read you--and can only hope that one day you might read me ... ~ Mary
All very good points, Steve. I refer you to Asha Rangappa's substack here on disinformation and social media, it's been a very good course on their impacts on all aspects of our society. Perhaps having her on your show, or you on one of her usual guest classes for a deeper dive will be a very interesting discussion.
https://open.substack.com/pub/asharangappa?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=mwz4r
I didn’t leave X because I couldn’t tolerate differing opinions. I left due to the venom&misinformation.
I was blocked almost immediately by Musk or Musk minion after violent attack on Paul Pelosi. I suggested Mr Pelosi did not request being hit on the head with a hammer. Apparently that was objectionable.
I’ve never been a Zuckerberg enthusiast.
I’m also in despair over the difference between Twitter resistance warrior’s brave words&their inability to go vote.
I’m equally concerned about the devolution of legacy/corporate news. I see nothing inherently superior about a Columbia J school grad paid by Bezo vs a well thought out citizen opinion posted on social media.
I argue that like American manufacturing, legacy media is on life support&may not survive.
Great perspective. Subscribing
Thank you Steve! Keep going, deep and steady!