100%. I’m feeling the same. I stopped coming to Substack and Bluesky except maybe once every month or two (today’s that day). I deactivated my fb months ago. I deleted Instagram and never had twitter or whatever it’s called. Since making a choice to stay off fb and Bluesky and Substack and spend less time on my phone in general, im feeling more peace. I’m not reading the news more than a few Reuters headlines once a week and I’m feeling so much more peace. Ive realized I have no control over 99.9% of the horror show my phone tries to wind me up with and so I’m choosing the real life around me instead. Making meals from scratch while listening to music. Tending my house and the people, plants and animals in it. Reading real print magazines and books. Slowing down. Looking around. Journaling with a pen. Making art. Listening to birds and people and the sound of the wind moving the trees.
A fun side hobby of mine is studying how the Internet has impacted society. And we creatives are definitely at the centre of the storm as we are the contributors of content, so we are constantly pressured to produce a certain way to benefit the platforms. This is called 'digital sharecropping', where we contribute content and effort, free, to a platform that will gladly make profit from that free labour.
I've been told that Notes can be used productively and well. I'm not sure if it works as its algorithm is very ... unreliable? Useless? I don't know. I can only compare this to the algorithm of the very efficient Chinese social media, XiaoHongShu (RedNote) which gives you the ability to fine tune what you want to see and obeys you to a fault. It also seems to know what I want to watch without harming me mentally.
Not, so, Substack.
For example, I write about Chinese culture.
Guess what I'm being fed?
Hot takes about my culture from people who don't live it.
It can be very exasperating. No matter how many times I click block, they come back like mold. So, I've given up trying to tame my feed. I just don't look at it anymore but just share thoughts and comments I post at various Substacks I discover (like this one), so that I can help a little by promoting more voices.
I have, and will continue to miss you on here. You have no idea how much you inspired me with your art and your writing. So thank you for that.
I, too, am feeling sick of it all in many ways, but I'm going to stick around a little longer, just in case I can inspire someone as much as you have me.
Genuinely sending you all the best, Christopher, and I hope our paths will cross again.
This is the most wonderful response. I'm not deleting my account or anything and may post from time to time, but this won't be a lifestyle for me. You can always find me and I will always respond.
Yes, I too have reached the internet saturation point (more than once) and still struggle to find a balance between complete black out with no internet at all and moderation. It feels like everything is taken over by the same mechanics as Medium: everyone is a guru with a 50K follower count claim to fame. Btw, The Science of Storytelling is a great book.
Hi Christopher. I love this and I love you for saying everything I’ve been thinking. It doesn’t matter why I came to Substack. What matters is that the current me, the changed me on my new timeline is NOT an internet digit. I’m a blaze of light sent here to set something on fire, to make a positive ripple that somehow saves the lives of people I’ve never met and will never know about, like my crippled aunt did for me after my mom died. Rock on man! I hope our fiery paths cross again.
I feel you, Christopher! You are absolutely right. I know I did my part to add to your disappointment. This is sadly becoming a rat race. I am rooting for you. Take care. Peace over everything!
I completely understand your disenchantment. I think it depends on what you want to get out of it, while also accepting its inherent limitations. For me, its a place to read more detailed content and ideas from people I follow on the gram. And its a place to find art inspiration, while encountering individuals such as yourself that are more likely to offer suggestions and actually answer questions about which pen do you use? and what ink? its also an opportunity to connect with people I would not necessarily have ever met in person. even if for a short time. You get bits of their stories and knowledge, and it helps shape ideas in your brain......maybe add to depth of the stories we tell ourselves. And maybe not.
I totally understand! It's overwhelming to keep up and to convince and cajole and act witty, smart, funny, insightful all at the same time. Then you see people post a note asking to share your substack link and they get 1000 likes. Very frustrating.
I'm at the point where I'm gonna post pics and articles I feel are fun for me to write and post. My podcast helps me learn the lives of others I interview and I really enjoy that. So I'm going to keep running on the Substack hamster wheel until my legs get tired. Good luck to you!
100%. I’m feeling the same. I stopped coming to Substack and Bluesky except maybe once every month or two (today’s that day). I deactivated my fb months ago. I deleted Instagram and never had twitter or whatever it’s called. Since making a choice to stay off fb and Bluesky and Substack and spend less time on my phone in general, im feeling more peace. I’m not reading the news more than a few Reuters headlines once a week and I’m feeling so much more peace. Ive realized I have no control over 99.9% of the horror show my phone tries to wind me up with and so I’m choosing the real life around me instead. Making meals from scratch while listening to music. Tending my house and the people, plants and animals in it. Reading real print magazines and books. Slowing down. Looking around. Journaling with a pen. Making art. Listening to birds and people and the sound of the wind moving the trees.
Im happier for it.
Me too.
Same. It's all a load of bollocks 💗
I love ya, Chris. But you know that already. ❤️
A fun side hobby of mine is studying how the Internet has impacted society. And we creatives are definitely at the centre of the storm as we are the contributors of content, so we are constantly pressured to produce a certain way to benefit the platforms. This is called 'digital sharecropping', where we contribute content and effort, free, to a platform that will gladly make profit from that free labour.
I've been told that Notes can be used productively and well. I'm not sure if it works as its algorithm is very ... unreliable? Useless? I don't know. I can only compare this to the algorithm of the very efficient Chinese social media, XiaoHongShu (RedNote) which gives you the ability to fine tune what you want to see and obeys you to a fault. It also seems to know what I want to watch without harming me mentally.
Not, so, Substack.
For example, I write about Chinese culture.
Guess what I'm being fed?
Hot takes about my culture from people who don't live it.
It can be very exasperating. No matter how many times I click block, they come back like mold. So, I've given up trying to tame my feed. I just don't look at it anymore but just share thoughts and comments I post at various Substacks I discover (like this one), so that I can help a little by promoting more voices.
So well stated, and yes, Substack has or is changed and it like what I walked away from.
It’s becoming more and more people are realizing that the internet has probably done more to hurt society rather than enhance it.
Burnout sums it up about right.
I have, and will continue to miss you on here. You have no idea how much you inspired me with your art and your writing. So thank you for that.
I, too, am feeling sick of it all in many ways, but I'm going to stick around a little longer, just in case I can inspire someone as much as you have me.
Genuinely sending you all the best, Christopher, and I hope our paths will cross again.
This is the most wonderful response. I'm not deleting my account or anything and may post from time to time, but this won't be a lifestyle for me. You can always find me and I will always respond.
Yes, I too have reached the internet saturation point (more than once) and still struggle to find a balance between complete black out with no internet at all and moderation. It feels like everything is taken over by the same mechanics as Medium: everyone is a guru with a 50K follower count claim to fame. Btw, The Science of Storytelling is a great book.
It's one of those books that gives you ideas and things to think about that challenge conventional wisdom. I love that crap!
Are you leaving Substack, then?
I'll be around but not very active.
Love the painting
Hi Christopher. I love this and I love you for saying everything I’ve been thinking. It doesn’t matter why I came to Substack. What matters is that the current me, the changed me on my new timeline is NOT an internet digit. I’m a blaze of light sent here to set something on fire, to make a positive ripple that somehow saves the lives of people I’ve never met and will never know about, like my crippled aunt did for me after my mom died. Rock on man! I hope our fiery paths cross again.
Agree with all of this Christopher!!
This si exactly how I feel about it all.
I’m here too. Try to spend an hour a day on my art and ignore the rest.
I enjoy your voice. I hope you can be here sometimes.
I feel you, Christopher! You are absolutely right. I know I did my part to add to your disappointment. This is sadly becoming a rat race. I am rooting for you. Take care. Peace over everything!
I completely understand your disenchantment. I think it depends on what you want to get out of it, while also accepting its inherent limitations. For me, its a place to read more detailed content and ideas from people I follow on the gram. And its a place to find art inspiration, while encountering individuals such as yourself that are more likely to offer suggestions and actually answer questions about which pen do you use? and what ink? its also an opportunity to connect with people I would not necessarily have ever met in person. even if for a short time. You get bits of their stories and knowledge, and it helps shape ideas in your brain......maybe add to depth of the stories we tell ourselves. And maybe not.
I totally understand! It's overwhelming to keep up and to convince and cajole and act witty, smart, funny, insightful all at the same time. Then you see people post a note asking to share your substack link and they get 1000 likes. Very frustrating.
I'm at the point where I'm gonna post pics and articles I feel are fun for me to write and post. My podcast helps me learn the lives of others I interview and I really enjoy that. So I'm going to keep running on the Substack hamster wheel until my legs get tired. Good luck to you!