😆, me too: “Not only would I need to see pics of a corpse before offering condolences, but I’d also require like a week’s worth of ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ type footage of you and a friend dragging said dead relative through the Hamptons clad in blue Member’s Only jackets.”
I will never share my most personal business in a generic form. It’s sickening that we’ve reached a point that exploiting your trauma, or what you think is trauma, in order to gain a like from a stranger who doesn’t give a fuck bc they’re busy growing their own “brand” is considered okay. Let’s “normalize” the stupidest shit and everyone’s a therapist. 😆
I will only worry about what I can change. And control my input.
I’m going through a very tough time right now (you know I have an actual disease that was diagnosed by an actual doctor) and I told my friend the other day that I’m going to write a vague post for prayers, I heard that will heal me. 😆 What I’m actually going to do is turn it into a great piece of writing. :)
omg, YES to all of that. you cheat the trauma when you sell it out like that, right? you honor it by writing a brilliant poem or essay or short story (or novel). I think that actually acts as a sort of prayer in a way.
Yes, everything is cheaper now in our society (but eggs, apparently, lol). The better form requires tons of effort and most “writers” just don’t have it. Truth.
ha! Ive been reading about MK Ultra mind control stuff lately, which is both psychological and ritualistic..and I'm seeing some disturbing parallels with social media
Yes, I look at it and wonder why it sounds familiar. Often, it's unironically adopting the language of advertising. Like an ad earnestly pronouncing the need to get a difficult stain out. Don't know anything about MK Ultra, other than having heard the name.
JoJo! You likely won't believe this but I'll tell you anyway...
Kurt Vonnegut suggested that writers write for 1 or 2 people. To have these people in their heads as they write, more or less. Just for focus and coherence. Well I have about 4 or 5 people, and you're one of them.
You prevent me from going too far. I can sense your amusement at times and disappointment:) I'm very serious! Some version of you exists in my head when writing and it's all very useful.
I've got a few other voices in there too, old friends and classmates, and they help me steer the ship.
Michael! 🤣 That’s awesome. The mom looks, focused accusatory stares and lectures about manners and being nice are coming through the ethos and landing on you. They work on my almost 10 year old like a charm, and boys are basically all the same. He listens about as much as you do, though! So I know I’m about 40% effective. 🤗
I don't know what signal.to.noise ratio is, but there's a very high shit to not shit ratio in notes. If ChatGPT isn't writing these notes I'm even more worried about the future of humanity.
-"Life’s a stage, some old crusty bastard once said, and all the men and women merely actors." It was William Shakespeare, and he said "players" (what they were called in his time), not "actors".
-It is labor intensive and time consuming, but so is/was Twitter/X, and the people there seem to be far more unhinged. At least I know someone that reads my Substack will read my Notes as well.
thanks so much Julie Dee. By the way, I've stolen "bang on" from you and I've already used it twice lol, so thanks for that. I just like the way it looks in print.
When I hear cliches, I come up in hives. Feel free to check out my substack. I hope I don't belong to any of the categories.
If you want to read stuff that is honest, cuts to the bone and peppered with humor and wry sarcasm, then look no further. I got to midlife, stopped caring about what others think, and started documenting the funny quirks that make me human.
‘cunt’ is another one of those great Brit slang words. It’s really not fair..you guys have all the good ones, and all we have is “idiot” and “asshole”. it forces me to culturally appropriate sometimes
Yeah, we do have some good ones. There's great pleasure to be derived from Wankers and Bollocks; Bellend is a personal fave (leaned into with real gusto on the ‘B'! Often pleasingly preceded by ‘Total.’) Twat deserves honourable mention (often said as ‘Twot' on your side—forgive me.) Think Cunt is of Germanic origin (fittingly or not?), but predictably, we've swallowed it up and made it our own!
P.S. ‘How very dare you!’
Appropriate away, my good man—it brings us herein these pages great pleasure indeed! :)
Hey, maybe think twice before posting next time. If you're doubting it, there might be a reason. Trust your gut and keep it to yourself if it doesn't feel right. You got this.
😆, me too: “Not only would I need to see pics of a corpse before offering condolences, but I’d also require like a week’s worth of ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ type footage of you and a friend dragging said dead relative through the Hamptons clad in blue Member’s Only jackets.”
I will never share my most personal business in a generic form. It’s sickening that we’ve reached a point that exploiting your trauma, or what you think is trauma, in order to gain a like from a stranger who doesn’t give a fuck bc they’re busy growing their own “brand” is considered okay. Let’s “normalize” the stupidest shit and everyone’s a therapist. 😆
I will only worry about what I can change. And control my input.
I’m going through a very tough time right now (you know I have an actual disease that was diagnosed by an actual doctor) and I told my friend the other day that I’m going to write a vague post for prayers, I heard that will heal me. 😆 What I’m actually going to do is turn it into a great piece of writing. :)
Thanks for the laughs, Mike. I’m glad I met you.
omg, YES to all of that. you cheat the trauma when you sell it out like that, right? you honor it by writing a brilliant poem or essay or short story (or novel). I think that actually acts as a sort of prayer in a way.
Yes, everything is cheaper now in our society (but eggs, apparently, lol). The better form requires tons of effort and most “writers” just don’t have it. Truth.
I am already waiting for part two of this brilliant analysis of Substack writers' types.
I think there's enough material for a part 2 for sure
“demented form of ritualistic sanctimony.” If the online writing gig doesn’t work out you might want to consider writing psychology textbooks.
ha! Ive been reading about MK Ultra mind control stuff lately, which is both psychological and ritualistic..and I'm seeing some disturbing parallels with social media
Yes, I look at it and wonder why it sounds familiar. Often, it's unironically adopting the language of advertising. Like an ad earnestly pronouncing the need to get a difficult stain out. Don't know anything about MK Ultra, other than having heard the name.
I’m the artist seeking validation (for long suppressed talent, and truncated education!) ahh, Mike…
JoJo! You likely won't believe this but I'll tell you anyway...
Kurt Vonnegut suggested that writers write for 1 or 2 people. To have these people in their heads as they write, more or less. Just for focus and coherence. Well I have about 4 or 5 people, and you're one of them.
You prevent me from going too far. I can sense your amusement at times and disappointment:) I'm very serious! Some version of you exists in my head when writing and it's all very useful.
I've got a few other voices in there too, old friends and classmates, and they help me steer the ship.
Always lovely to hear from ya.
Michael! 🤣 That’s awesome. The mom looks, focused accusatory stares and lectures about manners and being nice are coming through the ethos and landing on you. They work on my almost 10 year old like a charm, and boys are basically all the same. He listens about as much as you do, though! So I know I’m about 40% effective. 🤗
I don't know what signal.to.noise ratio is, but there's a very high shit to not shit ratio in notes. If ChatGPT isn't writing these notes I'm even more worried about the future of humanity.
lol exactly. I almost hope it's Chat GPT
Christ, I came here for my dopamine scroll and instead got punched in the spleen by a truth machine. wtf is going on here?
sorry Jaap, I was in a ranting mood :)
Finally, someone said it. Substack Notes is just high school with better fonts.
-"Life’s a stage, some old crusty bastard once said, and all the men and women merely actors." It was William Shakespeare, and he said "players" (what they were called in his time), not "actors".
-It is labor intensive and time consuming, but so is/was Twitter/X, and the people there seem to be far more unhinged. At least I know someone that reads my Substack will read my Notes as well.
I still haven't done the X thing yet. I don't feel that motivated either. I'll stick with Notes for the same reason you mentioned
Hilarious. Marinating in this with a chuckle.
Thanks Pebbles!
Bang on and superbly expressed. Social media has made cynics of the best of us. I can’t like this enough. 👌🏼
thanks so much Julie Dee. By the way, I've stolen "bang on" from you and I've already used it twice lol, so thanks for that. I just like the way it looks in print.
Pleased to have discovered you on here :)
right back at ya
Super true, I'm sad to say.
When I hear cliches, I come up in hives. Feel free to check out my substack. I hope I don't belong to any of the categories.
If you want to read stuff that is honest, cuts to the bone and peppered with humor and wry sarcasm, then look no further. I got to midlife, stopped caring about what others think, and started documenting the funny quirks that make me human.
https://open.substack.com/pub/ellabe?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4jszre
thanks for the read and thoughtful comment Ella. Hell yeah I'll read your stuff. You sound like a kindred spirit.
I’ve seen quite a few of these! They all start to blend together after a while.
zero strategy, moderate talent, somehow still here.
made me laugh! that’s awesome:)
Mike, I cannot begin to tell you how 'simpatico' I am with this piece—to use one of the cuntiest words of said cunts.
well from one cunt to another, thank you:)
‘cunt’ is another one of those great Brit slang words. It’s really not fair..you guys have all the good ones, and all we have is “idiot” and “asshole”. it forces me to culturally appropriate sometimes
Haha… always a pleasure, Mike.
Yeah, we do have some good ones. There's great pleasure to be derived from Wankers and Bollocks; Bellend is a personal fave (leaned into with real gusto on the ‘B'! Often pleasingly preceded by ‘Total.’) Twat deserves honourable mention (often said as ‘Twot' on your side—forgive me.) Think Cunt is of Germanic origin (fittingly or not?), but predictably, we've swallowed it up and made it our own!
P.S. ‘How very dare you!’
Appropriate away, my good man—it brings us herein these pages great pleasure indeed! :)
I fall into both the cute dog and whores categories. Are we still friends?
ChatGPT has something to tell you:
Hey, maybe think twice before posting next time. If you're doubting it, there might be a reason. Trust your gut and keep it to yourself if it doesn't feel right. You got this.
I feel restless if I don't talk about myself every five minutes. It's a terrible affliction.