Bear17, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
I sat down Thursday evening with my notes to write about money and the history of taxes. I opened the document of links/resources I compiled to include in the article and a Substack draft page, only to find myself unable to write what I had intended. In fact, I couldn’t write much of anything.
Typically, I can sit down and accomplish whatever I intend, whether it be article writing or another project. But after more than an hour of false starts, I shut down my computer and walked way.
Something was up. The only times in my life when such things have happened—mentally blocked—are when I need to make significant changes.
So, I stayed away and gave myself the space to reflect. And I didn’t step foot in my home office again until this morning.
Now, I’m here writing a completely different article than I intended.
The thoughts that danced around in my head between then and now revolved around money, ethics, and the new world we’re creating alongside the crumbling one. About doing things that really inspire and invigorate us. About putting values into action.
This is what I came up with:
How I Approached Substack
When I set up this Substack newsletter, I added paid subscription option to stave off trolls and bot farms that so love to pollute the comments section of articles tackling any subject remotely controversial. Paid subscribers could see and comment on all articles I write. Free subscribers would only see occasional posts and not have commenting “privileges.”
This past weekend, I realized that doing that was one of the first times in many years that I took pre-emptive measures before a problem even arose.
Why didn’t I say let’s cross that bridge when/if we get to it, as I usually do? I’m not sure. It could be the PTSD of writing in an echo chamber like Medium for a while. Who knows.
Free for All
The fact of the matter is that I want to share what I write with anyone and everyone who wants to read it — without barriers, including money. And since I can already provide for myself without charging subscription fees, I don’t see the need to have a paid tier. However, if bots/trolls become an issue, I will revisit the idea of putting a paywall in place.
Also, charging for my work comes with expectations. Expectations in terms of content and frequency (from subscribers). These expectations—be they imagined (by me) or real—create a sense of duty/responsibility on my end. I want to give freely without any strings or pressure (from myself).
Should others wish to contribute monetarily, I only want them to do so if it inspired action, making both sides of the exchange free from conditions and expectations. I may add a “tip jar” to future articles to facilitate such an energy exchange.
What About My Paid Subscribers?
First, thank you to the handful of people who jumped in and immediately bought paid subscriptions. I appreciate your generosity and the value you place in my writing.
I am happy to do one of two things. Each of you gets to choose how you prefer I handle this, and I will reach out to you all in a private post.
Regardless of whether you chose a monthly or annual subscription, I can:
Refund your money. No questions. No judgment. I can find out how to do this via Stripe and Substack. Bear with me, though, as I’m not very adept at using Stripe yet. I’ve only ever had Medium revenue pass through the account. Subscriptions are an entirely new beast to conquer on this end. Note: Stripe/Substack may not let me refund transaction or platform fees, so I will have to explore this more. If it doesn’t, I will double that amount and donate it. See #2. For example, if I can’t refund you $2 from a $44 subscription, I’ll donate $4 to a small non-profit. (See #2 for more information on.)
Donate your subscription fee and match it. If you want to put your subscription fee to work (for the good of others), I will donate it and match it. I will also provide paid subscribers with proof of donation. I only donate to small non-profits primarily run by volunteers, as these organizations see the least amount of fiscal waste. I will put together a small, private article about the organization I donate to, their work, and the good our donation can accomplish.
Going Forward
I enjoy writing here on Substack and want to continue enjoying it. From here on out, I will only write twice monthly. If I write more on the odd month, it will only be because I felt inspired to do so. Nothing more.
Going forward, everyone can read every article and participate in the comments section. In addition, you can respond to articles via email—at the bottom of each email you receive—or your Substack account. By responding via your Substack account, you can see and engage with others’ comments.
I’ll also be making changes to my presence on Medium. I will post an article on Medium in the next day or two, so keep your eyes peeled.
Lastly, I’m about to start the first of my twice-annual fasts, so I will take the next two weeks off from writing to rest. If I feel energized at some point throughout the fast, I may write an article, but no guarantees. Regardless, I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.
In the meantime, I will liaise with paid subscribers to determine how they want to move forward.
A big thank you to ALL for joining me in this censorship-free zone. Looking forward to the road ahead.
Now that all my articles are FREE to read, catch up on the ones you missed:
This Former KGB Spy’s Message Begs Our Attention
2023 Predictions: Using Historical Patterning to Predict Future World Events
The US Will Lose Its World Reserve Currency
One of the West’s Last Bastions of Peace and Serenity?
GarageGate: The Coordinated Takedown of Joe Biden
Converging Crimes That Will Unravel the US Government
Central Bank Digital Currencies: The Wet Dream of Aspiring Totalitarians
Totally get it and I will continue appreciating your articles whenever you are inclined to create them. I no longer have energy or enthusiasm to keep my finger firmly on the pulse in areas of shared interest, but I trust your credibility, research, and voice that keeps me informed. This is a comfort that enables me to invest what little energy I have into exploring and developing another project.
And thank you for offering to compensate yearly subscription JM. As far as I'm concerned my investment has been well spent already so please leave me out of the refund option. Your future contributions will be a bonus.
"liaise"? oh you're just showin' off now:)