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Carson Ellis's avatar

This is well said, Seth. It makes a lot of sense to me but I'm conflicted. I was disillusioned with social media, especially instagram, and I came here in part to escape it. I liked the idea of a newsletter and a return to something that felt like blogging. But it's morphed into just more social media. That aspect of it has helped "grow my newsletter," I guess, but I don't know if it's worth it. Substack's response to this Nazi business makes my stomach hurt. They shouldn't be willing to turn a profit on Great Replacement Theory. This seems to be a can of worms they don't know how to open and moderate, but it's not my problem. I can go elsewhere. And yes, hate groups will be there too, but there won't be this robust social media component that allows their shitty gospel to spread like wildfire.

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Seth Lorinczi's avatar

Appreciate this so much. Ugh. It is SO complicated, isn't it? The crux--for me at least--is squaring the things I find distasteful (or worse) with my desire to exist and be seen. Which is, ultimately, what all social media feeds off of. I can pretend "I can't be marketed to or coerced" but of course I have this damned animal wiring too, and dopamine is dopamine is dopamine. For this stage of my evolution at least, I'm staying put. And it means a great deal to hear why you may feel and choose otherwise.

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Carson Ellis's avatar

Likewise. ♥️

And I may stay put too. I just started earnestly contemplating a move this morning. There are pros and cons. And yes to dopamine and animal wiring. I’ve been griping about IG for years, but I’m still there.

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Stacey Lorinczi's avatar

Dammmmnnnn. This is spot on. As someone who grew up in the same household, I felt exactly the same way when I first encountered Neo-Nazis—as shocked as if I'd bumped into a velociraptor. If only we'd all been a bit better prepared....

Seth, this is just absurdly well written. Right on. 👏

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Seth Lorinczi's avatar

Ah, thanks Dear. It's complicated, and tender. And: Sorry for burning your Barbies. I see now how that was wrong.

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Stacey Lorinczi's avatar

Too soon, Seth. Too soon.

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Kate Finazzi's avatar

That photo is unbelievably haunting.

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Seth Lorinczi's avatar

The kind of banality of it

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