I found your Substack via an internet search wherein I was in the midst of doing one of my ever-widening line of inquiries. During my search one of the questions I had developed was "what is the most focused on topic/subject here at Substack?" This led me to the following article written by you- "The Top 40 Substack Newsletters by Organic Traffic, Who's who of the who." It was as close a result to the answer I was seeking that I could pull up during a first search, enough so that I decided to read it.
After I read it I naturally became curious about its author and their publication. Which of course led me to this article here; which resulted in my subscribing.
So for now I will keep my comment about this article short and simple.
There is no one of the named or similarly focused topics that directly affects me, and like you I recognize that for many people any one or number of the hyperbolical news items does have a such a direct personal effect.
That all being said, I for myself, am greatly concerned with the aggregate sum of these hyperboles and their consequential results, especially as seen in America's current cold civil war. This cold civil war is something that ultimately impacts the rest of the world, for it exemplifies the problems that can and are to be found in the rise of authoritarian, fascistic, and ultimately totalitarian mind-sets, from and towards which the goals and objectives of a few seek to dominate the many.
I am glad I found this article and do hope that we can engage in some deep, serious discussions; for the world today, as large as it might be physically, has become, due to the advances in technology, in so many ways very small; and it is up to a few of us who see the reality of Reality to work at maintaining a human existence that is genuinely reasonable, dignified, and beneficial for all concerned.
We have our share of drivers who make driving very exciting. I have other words to describe their actions, but this is a "family" site. Regarding the geopolitical situation, it is incredible what we can adjust to and learn to live with. Many years ago, I read an interview conducted with a citizen residing in Lebanon during their civil war. The interviewer could hear the shelling and rifle fire that the citizen was ignoring. Finally, he told the interviewer, "I can tell from the sounds that it is not near us; when it gets near, we can go to the basement." Then he calmly pulled his AK47 out from under his bed and prepared to do his morning shopping for food. Compared to Unkrane and Suddan, you live in the Garden of Eden. Just watch out for naked women selling apples, I hear they can have lasting consequences.
I agree with your thoughts, with one caveat. Closing our eyes to some things won't make them go away. The fact is, that is just what some people want. This is why, in America, the ERA didn't get passed, and women have lost control over their bodies. I have learned a great deal by reading people with very different views, and as long as they are rational, I will continue to listen. I will not waste my time with the "Flat Earth" people or others who deny science, but I will listen to people who ask reasonable questions about complex issues. Climate change is one example of reasonable people raising interesting questions about some aspects of our present theories, - but I will not listen to those who deny that anything is happening. One of my guiding rules is from Sun Tzu, "Know your enemy." Much of Canada is experiencing wildfires unlike anything in recent memory, but Alberta has just elected a conservative leader who wants to pump more oil. To me, this is irrational, but then again, I don't get a paycheck from an oil company. I might feel differently if my lively hood depended on my work in an oil field. My closing thought - only the paranoid are truly aware. The military talks about "situational awareness" and "watching your 6." Considering where you are living, I will wager there are some things you are hyper-aware of. Possibly?
I suppose we all have our 'strengths' or 'weaknesses' in that area, depending on how they're viewed. As far as hyper-awareness goes, living here requires a certain amount of subconscious attention be paid to the drivers on the road at all times. I can't tell you how many close calls I've had walking around this beautiful country and others. I get you might be referring to geopolitics, etc, but honestly, in the last year or so I've tried more of the close my eyes method -- just to save what's left of my sanity.
American media interests control much of the world's communication services, so, in consequence, America's hang-ups get more amplified exposure than those of other nations. It's not coincidental that those "culture war" subjects you brought up are almost exclusively American concerns and problems.
I'd say they *start* as American (media) concerns and then, unfortunately, spread. Or as another point, just follow where the Murdoch empire went and you'll see these issues suddenly pop up there, too.
I found your Substack via an internet search wherein I was in the midst of doing one of my ever-widening line of inquiries. During my search one of the questions I had developed was "what is the most focused on topic/subject here at Substack?" This led me to the following article written by you- "The Top 40 Substack Newsletters by Organic Traffic, Who's who of the who." It was as close a result to the answer I was seeking that I could pull up during a first search, enough so that I decided to read it.
After I read it I naturally became curious about its author and their publication. Which of course led me to this article here; which resulted in my subscribing.
So for now I will keep my comment about this article short and simple.
There is no one of the named or similarly focused topics that directly affects me, and like you I recognize that for many people any one or number of the hyperbolical news items does have a such a direct personal effect.
That all being said, I for myself, am greatly concerned with the aggregate sum of these hyperboles and their consequential results, especially as seen in America's current cold civil war. This cold civil war is something that ultimately impacts the rest of the world, for it exemplifies the problems that can and are to be found in the rise of authoritarian, fascistic, and ultimately totalitarian mind-sets, from and towards which the goals and objectives of a few seek to dominate the many.
I am glad I found this article and do hope that we can engage in some deep, serious discussions; for the world today, as large as it might be physically, has become, due to the advances in technology, in so many ways very small; and it is up to a few of us who see the reality of Reality to work at maintaining a human existence that is genuinely reasonable, dignified, and beneficial for all concerned.
Thanks for joining Robert, looking forward to more of your thoughtful comments. Cheers
We have our share of drivers who make driving very exciting. I have other words to describe their actions, but this is a "family" site. Regarding the geopolitical situation, it is incredible what we can adjust to and learn to live with. Many years ago, I read an interview conducted with a citizen residing in Lebanon during their civil war. The interviewer could hear the shelling and rifle fire that the citizen was ignoring. Finally, he told the interviewer, "I can tell from the sounds that it is not near us; when it gets near, we can go to the basement." Then he calmly pulled his AK47 out from under his bed and prepared to do his morning shopping for food. Compared to Unkrane and Suddan, you live in the Garden of Eden. Just watch out for naked women selling apples, I hear they can have lasting consequences.
I agree with your thoughts, with one caveat. Closing our eyes to some things won't make them go away. The fact is, that is just what some people want. This is why, in America, the ERA didn't get passed, and women have lost control over their bodies. I have learned a great deal by reading people with very different views, and as long as they are rational, I will continue to listen. I will not waste my time with the "Flat Earth" people or others who deny science, but I will listen to people who ask reasonable questions about complex issues. Climate change is one example of reasonable people raising interesting questions about some aspects of our present theories, - but I will not listen to those who deny that anything is happening. One of my guiding rules is from Sun Tzu, "Know your enemy." Much of Canada is experiencing wildfires unlike anything in recent memory, but Alberta has just elected a conservative leader who wants to pump more oil. To me, this is irrational, but then again, I don't get a paycheck from an oil company. I might feel differently if my lively hood depended on my work in an oil field. My closing thought - only the paranoid are truly aware. The military talks about "situational awareness" and "watching your 6." Considering where you are living, I will wager there are some things you are hyper-aware of. Possibly?
I suppose we all have our 'strengths' or 'weaknesses' in that area, depending on how they're viewed. As far as hyper-awareness goes, living here requires a certain amount of subconscious attention be paid to the drivers on the road at all times. I can't tell you how many close calls I've had walking around this beautiful country and others. I get you might be referring to geopolitics, etc, but honestly, in the last year or so I've tried more of the close my eyes method -- just to save what's left of my sanity.
American media interests control much of the world's communication services, so, in consequence, America's hang-ups get more amplified exposure than those of other nations. It's not coincidental that those "culture war" subjects you brought up are almost exclusively American concerns and problems.
I'd say they *start* as American (media) concerns and then, unfortunately, spread. Or as another point, just follow where the Murdoch empire went and you'll see these issues suddenly pop up there, too.