I don’t have a paywall to read or comment because I don’t have the money to subscribe to many as a paid subscriber and I don’t want to lock others who can’t pay out of reading or the conversation. For those who do pay, I appreciate their contribution because it helps pay my actual expenses. But I’m not on Substack to make money, rather to build community and share ideas and news. A lot of us read and comment on a circle of Substacks and I feel like we know each other a bit. When my father died last year, my Substack Jewish friends were more caring than my in person friends in Philadelphia. We watched the terrible news together and the hostage releases together. Many of my readers are now friends I speak with regularly. The community is amazing. I make my living as a teacher and I have a community on Substack.
This was fun to read. I subscribe to far more than I can read and don’t always get to my paid ones, even, but I also feel loyal to them. I’m glad to see that David’s patronage of the arts extends to this platform in such a generous way. May many more jump in to support the great creative work here.
David, you were among the first to pledge a subscription to my new stack. I took it as a welcome from a writer I admire and a leader in this community. Although I've published nearly all my life and used to make a decent living from my work, one reader's choice to pay has a personal warmth that never came with a check from accounts payable. The money helps to pay the bills; the encouragement helps me keep writing. I've known for some time that you support a good number of us but had no idea until now what a big, awe-inspiring number it is. Eight hundred hopeful hearts. What a joyous party we could have! Thank you, my friend.
I noticed this about you a while back (sometimes I take a sneaky look at the profiles of my paid subs to see what else they're into) and I was stunned that you seemed to pay for nearly everything you read. I considered actually reaching out to thank you for that but I didn't know how to word it in a way that wouldn't sound weird and unsolicited.
I know you have wealth and I enjoy your Substack too for your perspective on that, and your mentality about it is very unique and, I think, very positive. As writers closer to the ground floor of income trying the long grind to "make it," after the collapse of the traditional ad-revenue model, so many of us feel like we're in this circular pattern of trying or wanting to support each other in solidarity but spending more than we earn defeats the purpose for all of us. Substack, as an ecosystem, is a market where every customer is also a vendor and everyone's mission is to sell more to each other than we purchase.
I'm a wealth inequality critic but certainly not an eat-the-rich guy, what the Musks and Bezos of the world do with their wealth is in the end an individual moral question that I think will always be an individual moral question. To be both able and willing to contribute a sustainable percentage of your wealth to maintaining a confederated industry of individuals--who you don't *have* to pay and don't get a charity tax break for doing so--is, I think, very big of you, and I thank you for it. Should more people of means have the same attitude, I think we as a society would be in a very good spot. I'd be surprised if Jeff Bezos even tips his servers, let alone pays a Substack writer.
Even during the Robber Baron Gilded Age, there were Oligarchs who very generously gave back. With Andrew Carnegie & John D Rockefeller obviously topping the list. But compare that with the pathological stinginess of Astor, Gould, and Vanderbilt.
Currently, only MacKenzie Scott appears to be a standout contrast to the skinflint Broligarch crowd.
And in the middle-tier richperson crowd, there's David Roberts! Keep up your targeted and generous support of Arts & Letters, David! Huzzah!
The encouragement you've given to "small" writers (including me) means more than you can imagine. You've found a very, very special way to patronize the arts, and I for one am so very happy to have the perfect opportunity to publicly say thank you!
Rock star. Supporting writers because you can is a true mitzvah. I'm honored to be one of them. 🙏🏼👏🏻 🥰 Yuri is right. There should be acknowledgement from hamishy Hamish.
Thanks for the insights, David. Supporting writers here is a generous way to spend money – I hope it's the new philanthropy! I really appreciate that you don't just read, you engage. And similarly, with your own writing, you take real interest in readers' comments.
I pay for a number of subscriptions and would pay for more if I could. I'm thrilled if someone opts to pay for mine, as there's no paywall so it's a generous vote of confidence.
Legend. Substack should give you a trophy. Or host a big party with all your subs.
Yes!
Thanks Yuri!
💯 percent! We would SO vote for this and bring PIE! 🥧
PIE
I don’t have a paywall to read or comment because I don’t have the money to subscribe to many as a paid subscriber and I don’t want to lock others who can’t pay out of reading or the conversation. For those who do pay, I appreciate their contribution because it helps pay my actual expenses. But I’m not on Substack to make money, rather to build community and share ideas and news. A lot of us read and comment on a circle of Substacks and I feel like we know each other a bit. When my father died last year, my Substack Jewish friends were more caring than my in person friends in Philadelphia. We watched the terrible news together and the hostage releases together. Many of my readers are now friends I speak with regularly. The community is amazing. I make my living as a teacher and I have a community on Substack.
I love hearing that April.
Tell Sophia I said HI 👋🏻 🐕
Grateful for you. 🤍🕊️🤍
This was fun to read. I subscribe to far more than I can read and don’t always get to my paid ones, even, but I also feel loyal to them. I’m glad to see that David’s patronage of the arts extends to this platform in such a generous way. May many more jump in to support the great creative work here.
I am moved to tears
reading this, David.
You are making
so many writers
feel as honored as I feel.
How generous of you!
You understand
how hard it is
to write well.
You understand
how much
those of us sweating it out
every week
need affirmation.
Thank you
on behalf of all of us
for reading us
for supporting us
for believing in us.
Deborah
Well said. I feel the same. The kvelling continues.
Thanks Deborah. And thanks for your words of inspiration.
❤️
David Roberts for president.
Roberts 2028!!! His platform-- A true leader is one who serves.
Isabel, I thought you were my friend! Seriously, that you.
I subscribe to 8 and feel I can barely keep up. Good on you!
David was one of the first subscribers to my Substack. He will never know what that meant to me.
Same!! The validation was heartwarming! Still is. 🥰
David, you were among the first to pledge a subscription to my new stack. I took it as a welcome from a writer I admire and a leader in this community. Although I've published nearly all my life and used to make a decent living from my work, one reader's choice to pay has a personal warmth that never came with a check from accounts payable. The money helps to pay the bills; the encouragement helps me keep writing. I've known for some time that you support a good number of us but had no idea until now what a big, awe-inspiring number it is. Eight hundred hopeful hearts. What a joyous party we could have! Thank you, my friend.
Thanks Rona and thanks for your writing!
My articles are deliberately free, and free to comment, because I want as many to read as possible. Paid subscribers are very welcome!
Purpose of Hellish 2050: to push back against the Islamisation of the West
Our entire Western civilisation is at stake.
https://hellish2050.substack.com/p/purpose-of-hellish-2050-to-push-back-db8
I noticed this about you a while back (sometimes I take a sneaky look at the profiles of my paid subs to see what else they're into) and I was stunned that you seemed to pay for nearly everything you read. I considered actually reaching out to thank you for that but I didn't know how to word it in a way that wouldn't sound weird and unsolicited.
I know you have wealth and I enjoy your Substack too for your perspective on that, and your mentality about it is very unique and, I think, very positive. As writers closer to the ground floor of income trying the long grind to "make it," after the collapse of the traditional ad-revenue model, so many of us feel like we're in this circular pattern of trying or wanting to support each other in solidarity but spending more than we earn defeats the purpose for all of us. Substack, as an ecosystem, is a market where every customer is also a vendor and everyone's mission is to sell more to each other than we purchase.
I'm a wealth inequality critic but certainly not an eat-the-rich guy, what the Musks and Bezos of the world do with their wealth is in the end an individual moral question that I think will always be an individual moral question. To be both able and willing to contribute a sustainable percentage of your wealth to maintaining a confederated industry of individuals--who you don't *have* to pay and don't get a charity tax break for doing so--is, I think, very big of you, and I thank you for it. Should more people of means have the same attitude, I think we as a society would be in a very good spot. I'd be surprised if Jeff Bezos even tips his servers, let alone pays a Substack writer.
Thanks Peter for such a generous comment.
Even during the Robber Baron Gilded Age, there were Oligarchs who very generously gave back. With Andrew Carnegie & John D Rockefeller obviously topping the list. But compare that with the pathological stinginess of Astor, Gould, and Vanderbilt.
Currently, only MacKenzie Scott appears to be a standout contrast to the skinflint Broligarch crowd.
And in the middle-tier richperson crowd, there's David Roberts! Keep up your targeted and generous support of Arts & Letters, David! Huzzah!
Thanks David for your writing and for our reading. It has been an encouragement to me personally.
The encouragement you've given to "small" writers (including me) means more than you can imagine. You've found a very, very special way to patronize the arts, and I for one am so very happy to have the perfect opportunity to publicly say thank you!
Rock star. Supporting writers because you can is a true mitzvah. I'm honored to be one of them. 🙏🏼👏🏻 🥰 Yuri is right. There should be acknowledgement from hamishy Hamish.
Thanks Carissa. Wonder if Hamishy" would catch on as a nickname!
Thanks for the insights, David. Supporting writers here is a generous way to spend money – I hope it's the new philanthropy! I really appreciate that you don't just read, you engage. And similarly, with your own writing, you take real interest in readers' comments.
I pay for a number of subscriptions and would pay for more if I could. I'm thrilled if someone opts to pay for mine, as there's no paywall so it's a generous vote of confidence.
Thanks Wendy.