Hello all,
Firstly, I hope you’re well. Next, I have decided to move away from Substack due to their refusal to shut down “fringe voices on the platform (and particularly, in this case, Nazi views”. See a message from their co-founder below.
It’s certainly disappointing to see this refusal to take a stand, especially knowing that Substack takes a 10% cut of money made from publications hosted here—their refusal to demonitise fascists contributes directly to profits for themselves.
After looking at a number of different options I have decided to simply move to Medium, and even though it feels less ‘newsletter’ and more ‘collection of posts’ I will simply adapt. My original intention had been to move to Tinyletter (where I sent life updates like messages in bottles to dear friends during 2020 lockdowns) only to find out via another newsletter that Tinyletter is shutting down in February; I say this because it feels like a genuine shame for Mailchimp to shut down Tinyletter just to invest further in their little marketing service. Medium at least does have a policy against ‘hateful content’.
Anyway, you can find me for now at catasterisms.medium.com, if you still wish. I’m still exploring the site but I will post a media year-review here in a few days, and then look at transferring any old writing that I still wish to keep. I had had a short missive almost-written, about the year and poetry and hope—for now I will shelve this, maybe send it later. Most likely, I will eventually close this substack completely.
Hope you’re all keeping well. Thank you genuinely for reading my silly little thoughts across the past two years; it means more to me than you could know. Some final offerings:
These are the poets and writers who have been killed in Gaza., Dan Sheehan
Two Months, Palestinian Youth Movement
What is the ethical way to climb out of hell?, The Grief Witch
Much love,
Joanne
just signed up for medium to follow you there. as a jewish user it's been tough seeing substacks stances lately. much love Joanne!
oh let me know how medium is, im moving to beehiv soon