Thank you for your commitment to getting important news out to people without requesting payment. As a pensioner, I don’t have a surplus for this sort of thing, so from me it’s very much appreciated. Keep up the good work!
There are arguments for an against and aav is not stopping anyone paying to support him as he notes at the end of the article. Myself - I am using Patreon for subscribers who wish to show financial support although I have it enabled here. One of the aspects of charging for content means that creators can submit tax returns instead of effectively being economically invisible. It’s a complex filled and I’m not trying to provoke anyone’s ire. I’m politically socialist and yes it is a contradiction in terms but none of the platforms are charities and we have to forge our path.
I just wrote a reply and managed to instantaneously delete it. This is a complex field and as AAV notes at the end of this post he is not stopping anyone from financially supporting him. As for myself I use Patreon where people are at liberty to support or not for as much or as little as they like in the short term or over time. I am a socialist however none of these platforms are charities.
Same for me. I’m a pensioner too and writers like AAV keep me sane in an otherwise torrid media market. It’s a reminder that there are still sensible caring people who speak truth to politicians. And still people out there who agree with him.
You should consider using Mastodon. Being open and free in all senses, no algorithms and no censorship except self-imposed. It is now large enough to be worthwhile in terms of meeting new people and still growing fast. Its only drawback is that many of the "big names" worry because their followers are not there; the Catch 22 being that they won't move until those they are following do. It only takes an apt quote from your piece and a link to substack (as many already do) in addition to your other outlets and with a few recommendations you may find it possible to ditch fb and twitter completely, which has to be something to aim for.
AAV starts by writing “Substack includes the option of hiding content behind a paywall to encourage readers to set up paid subscriptions, but I won't be using this feature.” then in the final paragraph says he will. 🤷🏽♂️
I'm never posting any of my actual articles behind the paywall.
I will however occasionally say thank you to the people who do donate, because without them I wouldn't be able to produce anything like as much content.
Someone who doesn't contribute would have to be pretty weird and entitled to want to see the private thank you messages to the people who do.
I’ve read it that you’re putting actual essays behind the paywall as a thank you to those who are paid subscribers. Those essays will not be available to all whether they be weird, entitled or just ordinary subscribers.
You took the words right out of my mouth (and I, of course, stole them from Meatloaf). I too am publishing on this platform to enable those readers (especially women, who suffer from a constant challenges around how to spend what little money they earn while acquiring a modicum of independence and not dying in poverty) who would most benefit from my fiction. Thank you for raising this important topic; it's easy to stay quiet when you know how these algorithms can be turned against you.
What AAV does is allow freeloaders like me to comment, but offers those who pay some free posts. On my Substack, all posts are available to everybody, but you must pay to comment. Just out of curiosity, which approach do you favor?
Thank you for your commitment to getting important news out to people without requesting payment. As a pensioner, I don’t have a surplus for this sort of thing, so from me it’s very much appreciated. Keep up the good work!
There are arguments for an against and aav is not stopping anyone paying to support him as he notes at the end of the article. Myself - I am using Patreon for subscribers who wish to show financial support although I have it enabled here. One of the aspects of charging for content means that creators can submit tax returns instead of effectively being economically invisible. It’s a complex filled and I’m not trying to provoke anyone’s ire. I’m politically socialist and yes it is a contradiction in terms but none of the platforms are charities and we have to forge our path.
precisely
I just wrote a reply and managed to instantaneously delete it. This is a complex field and as AAV notes at the end of this post he is not stopping anyone from financially supporting him. As for myself I use Patreon where people are at liberty to support or not for as much or as little as they like in the short term or over time. I am a socialist however none of these platforms are charities.
Same for me. I’m a pensioner too and writers like AAV keep me sane in an otherwise torrid media market. It’s a reminder that there are still sensible caring people who speak truth to politicians. And still people out there who agree with him.
You should consider using Mastodon. Being open and free in all senses, no algorithms and no censorship except self-imposed. It is now large enough to be worthwhile in terms of meeting new people and still growing fast. Its only drawback is that many of the "big names" worry because their followers are not there; the Catch 22 being that they won't move until those they are following do. It only takes an apt quote from your piece and a link to substack (as many already do) in addition to your other outlets and with a few recommendations you may find it possible to ditch fb and twitter completely, which has to be something to aim for.
I have used it albeit briefly.
Is there an option to make one off payments when you can?
Yes
Thanks 😀
https://substack.com/profile/121777421-elspeth/note/c-21939053?r=ggpzd&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
AAV starts by writing “Substack includes the option of hiding content behind a paywall to encourage readers to set up paid subscriptions, but I won't be using this feature.” then in the final paragraph says he will. 🤷🏽♂️
I think it is in the context of you can if you want to. Fair enough imo.
Of course it’s only if you want to but you then get thank you articles that are specifically written behind the paywall that others cannot see. 🤷🏽♂️
True it can be very annoying.
It’s only the thankyou to the subscribers that’s behind the wall. In which case they have made the donation, and they get a thankyou.
Exactly
I'm never posting any of my actual articles behind the paywall.
I will however occasionally say thank you to the people who do donate, because without them I wouldn't be able to produce anything like as much content.
Someone who doesn't contribute would have to be pretty weird and entitled to want to see the private thank you messages to the people who do.
I’ve read it that you’re putting actual essays behind the paywall as a thank you to those who are paid subscribers. Those essays will not be available to all whether they be weird, entitled or just ordinary subscribers.
I really don't get your objection. If you want the very occasional "Thank You for your paid subscription" message then pay.
Why would you want to read that if you hadn't paid?
You took the words right out of my mouth (and I, of course, stole them from Meatloaf). I too am publishing on this platform to enable those readers (especially women, who suffer from a constant challenges around how to spend what little money they earn while acquiring a modicum of independence and not dying in poverty) who would most benefit from my fiction. Thank you for raising this important topic; it's easy to stay quiet when you know how these algorithms can be turned against you.
Quite!
why can't ethical standards be a pre-requisite for ALL media outlets(I feel, strongly , that AAV is 1 - of very few to do so )
I’m not objecting, just pointing out that an essay, unnecessarily behind a paywall, is clearly beyond a thank you.
You regularly thank individuals openly and actually thanked all of us recently for subscribing to Substack. I didn’t object to that.
What AAV does is allow freeloaders like me to comment, but offers those who pay some free posts. On my Substack, all posts are available to everybody, but you must pay to comment. Just out of curiosity, which approach do you favor?
Wow. Pay to comment is interesting. Good luck. I would not choose to pay.
As for AAV he consistently rails against a paywall for anything.
Pay to comment isn't unusual. But my question was about which approach you would prefer, not whether you would be willing to pay for either. Thanks
I prefer AAV’s original approach of full access without payment. If the choice is AAV’s current Substack approach and yours I prefer AAV’s.
Thanks for your reply!
It’s interesting that the majority of the Substackers who charge for their content or for a reply are multi millionaires.
This is how I feel as well. Pay-as-you-Can. The debate over whether to make subscriber-only content is one I struggle with too.
I am an artist. My art is free to view. If someone likes it enough to support my efforts, it is greatly appreciated
I added a $5 paywall mainly out of curiosity if I make $5 I’ll be shocked.
Thank you for being committed to reaching out to people with low income. Really apprlecilatle your stance