122 Comments
User's avatar
Frances Leader's avatar

Thanks to Sheila Dunn I am reminded of a post I wrote in 2022 on this subject. I did a fair bit of research for this one, so I am cross-referencing it here:

https://francesleader.substack.com/p/cancel-culture-creates-modern-martyrs

Expand full comment
The Word Herder's avatar

I have to say, I DO AGREE.

The upside is, we talk to each other, and for several years, that was great!

I also learned a bunch of stuff, and watched a lot of videos that were very interesting.

I met people I like and read their stuff.

So, that is how they keep us "enthralled," doncha know.

And suddenly, as I'm having a lot of trouble with GETTING online, whether that is a tech thing, or a spy thing, or just me fumbling around, I donut know but-- I'm finding I'm more and more drawn to reading BOOKS...

But I will, as long as it's possible, come to say Hi to my pals. 'Specially you, Franita! Woof!

Expand full comment
Ray's avatar

well put, i think it explains why i gave up here

my workmates are pretty clued in tho :)

Expand full comment
James Filbird's avatar

You hit the nail directly on the head with this article, Frances. 👍

Expand full comment
Sharon Churak's avatar

For you create your art- writing because you have to if only for yourself because something inside you would perish if you didn’t. Secondly you care to share your wisdom, words and spirit with others. And it is balm for the frustration of the margins placed upon you.

Expand full comment
Frances Leader's avatar

Beautifully said, Sharon…. xx

Expand full comment
The Mick's avatar

It is a battle of ideas, the best ones come from underground.

The bean counters rely on them.

It might not grow the way expected or wanted.

But origin impressions inspire others to rebranch.

Thus, the need for new material,

eventually reach the discerning masses , regardless of censorship.

Most main stream blockbusters, although twisted, come from writiers on unknown channels.

The trick is to produce something that cannot be obfuscated from the initial idea cleanly, for others to expand upon.

Multifacit expansion routes is hard to capture.

Why Art and Music is important.

Cheers,

Michael.

P.S.

How's it going? 🤣👍

Expand full comment
Frances Leader's avatar

Its going…. what can I say? xx

Expand full comment
California Girl's avatar

I write everyday, just not for publication. I write little on Substack out of fear of gaining the wrong - govt. - notice. I'm deliberately trying to stay under the radar of people with guns and courts and jails.

I have a question I have yet to post on my SS account: how many people died because of COVID in 2020 and 2021? Can we distinguish between COVID and the cause of death? For instance, too many people were hospitalized only to die there of iatrogenic causes - perhaps they died "with" COVID but not "of" COVID. I'm tired of politicians throwing out numbers in the millions - they are clearly fear-based and false.

Expand full comment
Frances Leader's avatar

I don't believe there ever was a virus which impacted the world. I believe that 5G was switched on in a sequence and the health of every living thing was compromised in that exact same sequence thereafter. It continues to kill all living things, not just humans.

Therefore, there is no answer to your question about how many people died because of Covid in 2020 and 2021. The impact of microwave telecommunications technology is intense and ongoing. Many deaths are attributed to wrong root causes because electro-magnetic radiation is such a taboo subject, completely unacknowledged by authorities who are controlled by the totalitarians at the World Health Organisation.

Expand full comment
Jean-Sebastien Savard's avatar

Well, my favorite article of the day! I am since a week Always on every one corner wondering… Will this help us in any way or is it time consuming folklore with no way out?

To answer your question on why i write on substack you ok be pleased i think!

1. At first i rade and found value for self. Every writer sharpen is skills, every Reader’s grow its knowledge.

2. I write in code and stuff that are mostly not actual but inside there is factual. So i not afraid of shadowban especialy since its only a lubie of mine. Not my job and all.

3. Aint writing our story the only way to have our apothéoses? What will i gain from all this propaganda pushed in my throat? Well, i turn shit into gold, i run ship into good 👍

Love that article, love the question, cause i freaking love what i do! And i am already in debt with substack for having met so many of you out there.

Many many fellow here are dedicated and 100% real, that i appreciate.

The others who bothers, i slash trough them like butter for you all my sister’s and brothers!

Expand full comment
Frances Leader's avatar

That is a wonderful answer, Jean-Sebastien! I can always rely on you to really think things through and find the rosy angle! xx

Expand full comment
NELiT the Captain's avatar

.. right now in deep s**..or, depends, from witch perspective u watch all this "charade.."

Expand full comment
Mooon's avatar

The Wise Wolf just proved that censorship has now come to Substack.

Expand full comment
Yolanda Pritam Hari's avatar

yes Frances, i have given much thought and brooding to this very point. However, the stack is a tech platform i can actually manage; i believe in educating myself, and i know for certain that pulling together cohesive articles that we actually write ourselves - not by chatbox - keeps the brain alive and neuroplasticizing enough that i'm not a programmed vegetable. A good article lifts me, and the good people here also lift my heart out of the trash. Basically, this is the intersection where authors feel forced to use chatboxes to produce prolifically and fast fast fast. i can't compete with that, and this vital turning point goes way beyond your simple question of why we are here. i show up somewhere consistently, authentically, and with the desire that some of my words will land in a much needed place for someone...

Expand full comment
Rob D's avatar

Well, crap. Even though I was aware of what you posted, Ms Leader, now I'm bummed. Haha. Yeah, unfortunately, what we are saying here isn't read by the people who should be/need to be reading it. My only hope is that because what we have written is (barring an asteroid hitting the earth, or some other major unforeseen event) permanent. It's forever. Maybe, just maybe, someone will discover things we have written long after we are dead and gone. I know that doesn't help us now, but maybe it will help someone in the future. Things are bound to continue to spiral downward as the society continues to consider spirituality and morality to be "things of the past" and embraces immorality and other negative "virtues" that have destroyed civilizations throughout history, thinking that is "freedom". Eventually there will be a significant number of those who realize that it is important to have standards of some kind if we are to live freer lives and they will go in search of the truth. And there we will be! (We can hope anyway... and if we aren't doing what we are doing for the future generations, then we probably shouldn't be doing it anyway, IMHO).

Expand full comment
Jill Tennent's avatar

I love the proverb, "We don't own the land, we borrow it from our children." The words in your last sentence are probably a better way of explaining this to 21st century humans, most of whom are divorced from the land. Thank you, Rob D. I will share your words with others.

Expand full comment
Yolanda Pritam Hari's avatar

so true Rob. The people here really THINK about things.

Expand full comment
Mark Taylor's avatar

My experience with SS has taken a very weird turn and I think your explanation for the name makes perfect sense. To begin with, I have never monetized my SS. I would actually be willing to pay a subscription to SS if -- and only if -- uncensored access would be a guarantee. My subscriptions were on a modest but steady increase but at 800 subs I hit some kind of artificial ceiling. It will tick up or down but not go above 804. It's been that way for months now.

I have also noticed other than a half-dozen critical comments in the first several months, I get no negative feedback. Everyone agrees with me! While that support is appreciated, it tells me that something is going on. Social media owners have a concept of "podding" subscribers into groups (pods) of like-minded people. My guess is getting constant agreement and affirmation is another example of social media dopamine addiction.

So rather than a public square of dialogue, what we increasingly have is a public square of benches with small groups of people huddled up agreeing with and complementing each other.

I recently read something about a billionaire investor in SS telling the company he needs to see a higher return on his investment. Is that playing a role? WTH do I know?

I'd be interested in hearing if others are experiencing similar things.

Expand full comment
Yolanda Pritam Hari's avatar

Mark, i've been frustrated for a long time, because YES, they somehow cap my readership at 200! Let me say that again: 200! Yet in over 2 1/.2 years here, i've done some of the best writing of my life. If that guy wants a better return, he could look into the censorship that must be shrinking us into a smaller corner every day...

Expand full comment
Mark Taylor's avatar

There's definitely something going on, Yolanda. Do you have the same experience with reader comments?

Expand full comment
Yolanda Pritam Hari's avatar

Mark, do you mean are people pleasant and supportive of my writing? Yes to that. But very few comment, and though i've plugged several writers, most have not reciprocated which i think is very bad manners, considering the quality and subject matter of my posts. Or was there a different question i missed?

Expand full comment
Mark Taylor's avatar

Yolanda, no, I'm thinking of people who disagree or challenge some point I made or position taken. I'm a lefty socialist and hear nothing from conservatives or even fascists telling me to go to hell. There's no real pushback. Referring back to the metaphor above, it's like I'm sitting with my readers on a park bench. I appreciate the chat, but I really think it is about podding people, which is not good.

Expand full comment
Yolanda Pritam Hari's avatar

hmmm, those labels everyone seems to have adopted make no sense to me Mark. You seem like a decent guy; you have not threatened me in any way. Why would i tell you to go to h*&&? Personally, i don't have one of those labels. The PRODDING part - that came up in another chat - we (in that chat) feel unable to stir a deeper conversation. Is THAT what you mean? (thank you, this is at least the beginning of what a real conversation might look like in chat texts)

Expand full comment
Mark Taylor's avatar

"Podding" not "Prodding" ... as in a pod -- or group of fish.

The idea of social media podding is to keep people in like-minded groups chatting to themselves and not reaching others with differing or opposite views. It's a form of separation and isolation, which is exactly what those in power want. As long as people are fragmented into small groups they cannot exchange ideas, form coalitions and unite into any kind of meaningful opposition to those with power and control. Podding is a subtle, pernicious, unseen means of dominance and control.

Expand full comment
Frances Leader's avatar

To build an audience you need to post at least twice a week and then add links to your posts anywhere appropriate. It is a hard slog.

Expand full comment
Yolanda Pritam Hari's avatar

i'm on it, m'lady!

Expand full comment
Sunny Reads's avatar

Love how you Lead, Frances! Thank you. Blessings to you and yours.

Expand full comment
Fred Carpenter's avatar

Thank you Francis, for your work & thoughts. Consciousness is rising for us prisoners. Yes, to borrow a metaphor from the Eagles song we're all just prisoners here in Substack hotel moving on from on our devices but still seemingly trapped to never able to leave! But we have each other. I'm going to watch Alone in Berlin tonight and get anchored, once again.

Expand full comment
Charo's avatar

I wasn't aware Substack is a "marginalised ghetto for diisidents"... Good to know.

Expand full comment