528 Comments
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Quenby Morrow's avatar

Andreessen used to be viewed as beneficial, supportive. But he’s been sniffing the billionaire glue too long and has lost touch with reality, much like Musk. Being that wealthy really seems to destroy people.

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Jeff Fox's avatar

Once they get rich, they also think they know everything and can lecture everyone else.

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Karlon Olson's avatar

It’s almost as if having extraordinary wealth isn’t enough for them anymore. Now they feel the need to have power and control over people.

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Winston Smith London Oceania's avatar

That's the mark of the sociopath. They're really empty inside, and at some point, they discover they can't fill that void with more money, no matter how much they rake in, so they try power next. It's like switching from Oxycontin to Fentanyl.

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Thomas's avatar

Oooh excellent analogy there at the end, WSLO! Just wondering where Ketamine fits in there at Oligarchistan Valley :)

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Winston Smith London Oceania's avatar

I don't know, but there's massive amounts of it floating around over there. I think they're snorting it.

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Thomas's avatar

So you could add an analogy that their thirst for power was like going from cocaine to ketamine? I suspected that the stuff would be easy to find here adjacent to SV but so far the Pasty Supremacist seems to be chief cheerleader for the snowy nose stuff. Pretty sure it was ubiquitously available at Coachella and most any rock festival these days.

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The Autistic Rebel ~ MrJoe's avatar

Exactly. The guy is so out of touch. Not to mention not that smart. Ever listen to him actually talk. He’s living off the coattails of the one thing he did because he happened to be at the right time and place as a fucking teenager!

Total loser!

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Sera's avatar

I hope someone does a real analysis of the billionaire intelligence/ wealth/opportunity matrix. We’ve all known for years the origin story of Microsoft, Meta, and most others. And most if, we’re not distracted by their power and wealth, are truly ordinary. I have yet to hear a single remark from Zuckerberg that goes above the level of an average high school senior. What they have is focus and ruthlessness.

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Tess Private's avatar

I think Gates is pretty brilliant.

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Sera's avatar

Gates has, by his own admission, succeeded by being lucky, and by dominating markets through monopoly and market manipulation. Sometimes legal, sometimes not. Exactly like Bezos. That’s basically a brute force accumulation of wealth, something I don’t consider either brilliant or interesting.

Can you give an example of something Gates has said or done which you consider brilliant?

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The Autistic Rebel ~ MrJoe's avatar

And being int the right place at the right time! Through NO fault of their own.

These are no Will Huntings!

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Lisa Sands's avatar

Yep. No doubt Jeff Fox this destruction is real. It's so perplexing to me why with all that cash, all that access, this happens. I just can't take how dark all this IS.

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Nancy L. Hoffmann's avatar

I must say, I don't think that's true of Bloomberg. Or even Gates.

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Majesterial Joy's avatar

I won't deny that, but since Substack is competition for FB and X, I would take your allegations with more than a little salt.

Also, who do you mean? Palestinian writers? Or actual nazis like Proud Boys?

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Helene S's avatar

Yeah. It felt weird to read

about him this way, having been along for the ride from the first browser, through Netscape and onwards, and only hearing positive contributions. But money corrupts and distorts in so many ways.

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Jeff Fox's avatar

It seems he became an Ayn Ran fan. I was, too, when I was 18, but I grew out of it.

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Walt Svirsky's avatar

Every stinking Republicon must have been offered a piece by the Bloated Yam of Scam. Of course, they will all be left wanting when the tangerine conman takes it all for himself.

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Deidre Woollard's avatar

The Rand role in finance is something I am becoming more aware of. Rand and a sort of aggressive capitalistic libertarianism are fueling Thiel, Musk, and many others including Andreesen Horowitz. I feel like the end goal for them is a technocracy with decentralized currency.

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Phyllis Carlin, Miami's avatar

🤔Ya mean crypto??? That which is making the Trumps billions??? That which will power the US sovereign wealth fund and enable people and countries to direct US policy and make more untaxed money ? Oh that “decentralized [and hidden /block chained] currency…)

AND, ya mean the crypto that is now less likely than ever to be investigated because Trump has cut off or back the very government agencies whose bailiwick had been to investigate. And FURTHER: Trump family crypto businesses make $$$ in trading fees even if the underlying crypto loses $$$! Still further, unless whistle blowers or regulatory programs or admissions by the investors, etc, then we'll never know whether foreign governments are buying crypto to both line Trump pockets, curry favor, and specifically gain hidden access to Trump & his people.

WHY? Because Trump just ensured that FARA allegations will be very unlikely. What's FARA? "Foreign Agent Registration Act" that also existed in part to prevent money laundering!

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Deidre Woollard's avatar

Worse than Bitcoin, the USD1 stablecoin which is being put up as a dollar proxy. A con so egregious they are giving it to Eric Trump to manage, cutting a deal with an Emrati fund. Meanwhile Don Jr. Is on a world tour soliciting other crypto players to come to the U.S. Not to mention the Trump coin which is a direct way to buy governmental influence without having to declare anything.

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Winston Smith London Oceania's avatar

$KingMAGAcoin and $QueenMAGAcoin. They had to have a matching set.

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Winston Smith London Oceania's avatar

The combination of Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman has been the "bible" of the Capitalist branch of the reichwing for decades.

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Solemna's avatar

Exactly

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Jean Peters's avatar

He grew into it.

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Milret2@gmail.com's avatar

I am beginning to think nobody gets out alive, competent, and still with money.

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Andrew Sniderman 🕷️'s avatar

Jeff, how do you mean this piece tests Substacks commitment to free speech? Are you thinking they would take it down or suppress it?

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Jeff Fox's avatar

At the time I wrote that, a lot of people were experiencing mysterious changes in their subscription numbers. Some suspected foul play. I have no evidence that Substack is censoring anything.

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Trevy Thomas's avatar

I hold onto the belief that money doesn't have to corrupt. I know we don't see many examples of it but then why would we? It's the corruption that draws attention.

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Helene S's avatar

I often think about this. One of my favorite parts about having disposable income is giving it away. I mean, not willy nilly but when a need arises. A friend loses everything in a fire and I can send them some money. A cat I’ve loved online needs medical and the owner can’t do it but I can contribute. I truly enjoy being an anonymous fairy godmother - recalling when I had no money or income and was on the brink, and friends showed up with a trunk full of groceries and cat food. So I think about how much GOOD the likes of billionaires could do and it makes absolutely no sense to me that they don’t.

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Trevy Thomas's avatar

I feel the same! But again, maybe some billionaires do good things and we don't hear about it

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Helene S's avatar

I’m sure there are! I wouldn’t be surprised because I always try to be anonymous and that would make sense.

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Sam Uelmarinus's avatar

yesterday i read a POSITIVE news story on SS...i can't remember it! i talk shit but, i do pretty much the same as mass culture and i'm more likely to recall bad shit.

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Trevy Thomas's avatar

Exactly! And it's the negative news that earns media dollars.

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Sam Uelmarinus's avatar

I have a bad taste in my mouth for all old school network media.

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Aocm🇨🇦's avatar

That name niggled at me until I read “Netscape,” ancient times

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Jane John Jones's avatar

Depressing as hell. Greed ruins everything. I’m waiting for the signs of Substack’s move to vulture capitalism. Ugh…

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Dan's avatar

Power corrupts....give me an example where it hasn't.

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Aocm🇨🇦's avatar

I wonder how much time needs to pass before they become corrupt. A handful are doing some good, or halfway decent work with their money now, Mark Cuban and MacKenzie Scott come to mind. Just 2, huh.

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Charles Bastille's avatar

JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois, has helped turn Illinois into possibly the most progressive state in the nation. He's also a billionaire. Go figure.

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Aocm🇨🇦's avatar

I didn’t know Pritzger’s a bnaire

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Winston Smith London Oceania's avatar

Heir to the Hyatt Hotel empire.

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LoveIsCourage's avatar

I figured and there’s a ton of money to be made if you’re okay with lying stealing cheating and hurting humans. Now that private equity, big pharma, CIA, media etc have switched out their masks … well let’s just say I will never call myself a progressive

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Jeannie Litz's avatar

Buffett

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Kat N mouse's avatar

Warren Buffet. But he’s very much an exception.

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Kathie Chiu's avatar

Yes, he a few others re anomalies.

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Aocm🇨🇦's avatar

👍

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Milret2@gmail.com's avatar

I also suspect Buffett does not hang out on internet boards much.

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The Alchemist's Dream's avatar

He sucks!

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Shirley Jackson's avatar

And absolute power corrupts absolutely.

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Deborah Grace Steward's avatar

Jesus Christ and Buddha they say.

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Maggie's avatar

Oprah

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Eugene Phillips's avatar

They can’t build storehouses fast enough to store their money. Damn them.

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Robert Forde's avatar

Money is power. "All power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely". One of the best arguments for democracy, which the oligarchs are busy dismantling.

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Sherry Johnson's avatar

A camel can not pass through the eye of a needle.

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Amy Moore's avatar

For the Love of money is the root of all evil. 1 Tim.6:10

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Flashman58's avatar

Another Ketamine Kowboy?

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AmericanCitizen's avatar

Read Power Paradigm…gaining too much wealth actually changes your brain and reduces empathy

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Brit Hey's avatar

I like Substack. It's the only outlet that shows you what the Israeli Jews are doing to Palestinian children. How they are being blown apart, crushed, and starved. Because of Substack I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Israel is a barbarous state, much like it was 5,000 years ago. They, the Jews, haven't changed much in all that time. It's no wonder they have been persecuted. They bring it upon themselves by their actions. A barbarous, greedy, self centered, but smart people. Thank you Mr. Andreessen.

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Will Food Forest Permaculture's avatar

Absolutely. Substack is super important for folks learning about this planets JEWISH PROBLEMS and the long history of these problems. JEWS DID 911, and 10/7, and had the chutzpah to blame it on "the" Muslims... So incredibly disgusting. Every gargantuan lie about Holocaustianity, jisrael, and self chosenism needs to be exposed asap. All the Jewish conspiracies and atrocities are laid bare here on substack, and hopefully the whole subject will go a lot more viral as everyone wakes up to the obvious truths that are most important today. https://archive.org/embed/911-missing-links-full-length

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Bea's avatar

Thank you for your information. This is definitely very important to be aware of. Looking forward to any input you may have on an alternative to substack. I’ve had it with the oligarchs owning our sources of information.

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Elizabeth Tierney's avatar

Yup thanks

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Maka's avatar

Ghost … it’s in the article

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Chuck's avatar

We must regulate and break up the tech world. Too much control of media in too few hands. Andereeson musk et al are the Carnegie and Vanderbilt’s of our day. We broke up conglomerates once and it led to the greatest long term economy in world history. We must break up and get control of the tech world out of the hands of these few people. They are not wise or courageous enough to make proprer decisions. They are solely about cash. They believe trickle down bullshit and that they somehow are the only ones whose opinions matter. Fuck them. Break them up. Tax the fuck out of them. Regulate them. This must be the platform, of the left. I won’t stay on here long if this asshole is in control

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Louise Champagne's avatar

They are about much more than cash!!!

“Dark MAGA: a shadow agenda”

“If you're a little confused about what Musk is trying to achieve, here's a breakdown.

“He has a company and it's not Trump:

Elon Musk and Peter Thiel co-founded a company that became PayPal. Musk was ousted from the company in 2000.

Other executives at PayPal went on to found or lead other huge tech companies including YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, Affirm, and many VC firms.

“This group became known as ‘the PayPal Mafia’ because they basically controlled Silicon Valley.

“Peter Thiel mentored a young JD Vance and helped him get set up in his first Venture Capital firm.

“The three of them, plus a lot of other tech billionaires, subscribe to an ideology called The Dark Enlightenment, espoused by this weird, creepy dude, Curtis Yarvin aka Mencius Moldbug…

“Yarvin asserts that true political power in the United States resides within an informal alliance of academia and the mainstream media, which he collectively refers to as ‘The Cathedral.’ According to him, this elite establishment covertly shapes public opinion and wields influence behind the scenes, necessitating its dismantling.

“He advocates for a corporate-run monarchy, led by a CEO-Dictator.

He says that democracy is "outdated software" and openly opposes it…

“The elite tech billionaires should rule because they have the intelligence to ‘fix’ society…

- If successful, democracy in America will be permanently replaced by a corporate-run authoritarian state.

“That's it. Now that you understand that you can see how everything that's happening fits within that lens.

“Now the only question is what do we do about it?”

Excerpts adapted from synopsis by Jon Sneider

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Demetri Dourambeis's avatar

So, The Darkenati instead of The Illuminati. I guess one -nati is pretty much the same as any other.

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Peggy M's avatar

Totally know this diabolical plan. Problem is where has Congress been in warning their constituents and trying to thwart the plan. Take over and gerrymandering at the local level has been occurring over the years laying the groundwork and support structure to carry this out

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Celia Ludi's avatar

Congress is totally in their pocket - that's who is funding elections. That's why it's so important to support politicians like AOC, who don't take corporate money. At this point I don't think it's possible that the US will ever have the cleaner elections of countries that limit and require disclosure of donations and don't allow corporations to participate.

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Peggy M's avatar

Sad but true. Our elections are bought.

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shelspenc's avatar

Isn’t the answer to gather our wisdom and $ leave for healthier spaces? I suppose those also could go the bad way eventually. I guess the point is to build connections and don’t get too comfortable in any one spot.

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Winston Smith London Oceania's avatar

Yarvin is such a worthless POS. He should be sent to the guillotine with all the rest of them.

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Peggy M's avatar

Who is going to do this ? Congress doesn’t work anymore. Also, the only trickle down that ever existed was trickle down into the billionaire club’s pockets. I believe that was a long standing hoax to siphon more money through tax breaks. That was the biggest crock of shit that they rammed down our throats for years

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Winston Smith London Oceania's avatar

I doubt they actually believe the trickle down bullshit. They know perfectly damn well it's bullshit. They just want us to believe it. They're in for a rude surprise when they find out even the suckers who once bought into it, along with all the other St. Reagan bullshit, aren't buying it anymore.

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Nathan Drescher's avatar

The Dems need a Teddy Roosevelt character for today.

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Tamar Kranick's avatar

I agree, we do!

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Peggy M's avatar

Absolutely. He and his administration were the right people for that period in our history. He brought dignity to and respect for the human condition and used government in the way it was intended: of the people, by the people and for the people.

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Sharon Hays's avatar

Thanks for the heads up. This is my only social/informational network, especially of well researched articles, finding like minded people, and other artists. The minute they bring in advertising or I get spammed and im outta here. I only lasted 3 weeks on Facebook before I deleted that crap. There are good people here, and I'd like to stay connected to them.

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Jeff Fox's avatar

I'm staying and hoping it lasts as long as possible. But I'm preparing to move if I have to.

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Paul Smith's avatar

Nice to meet you, Jeff! I’m following.

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Troy's avatar

I agree wholeheartedly.

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Patricia Diane McKenzie's avatar

Thanks for the warning, Jeff. It looks like the "evil empire" is lurking everywhere. I'm still on Twitter (X), since I made up my mind they'll have to remove me because I'm not done saying what has to be said. Many others seem to agree. I joined Tribel in it's infancy as an alternative to Twitter and it appears to be gathering momentum. It's originator used to post on Twitter. BlueSky and Substack are invaluable for their embrace of free speech and I pray it will continue up to and after Trump's eventual removal. He's pissed off and hurt way too many people in too many different ways to think he's a permanent fixture.

Joe Biden was up in years but his mind kept cranking out the good things for the American people, too many to list year. Trump isn't too much younger but is clearly mentally ill. Grounds enough to impeach and remove him as if the reign of terror he's leading isn't enough to throw him out of office. One person is the cause of all the chaos and there are millions worldwide who want to see him out of the picture. We have the power and the people to do it. We will win.

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Beth's avatar

I agree with much of what you said, Patricia, but I think it’s a mistake to believe that “one person is the cause of all the chaos”. The cancer is metastatic. Vance, Bondi, Patel, Miller, the entire cabinet, are all propping up the anti-democratic values of Project 2025. The entire slate needs to be wiped clean, and we need to face up to our racism problem before we can make real progress.

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Connie Mackley's avatar

Absolutely, there’s more than one individual. It was just not Hitler, it was his malevolent ministers who held significant power and influence.

They need to go after 47’s entire cabinet and his enablers.

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Patricia Davis's avatar

Hear Hear!

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Paul Smith's avatar

Excellent points Beth!

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Lauralee's avatar

For the love of God, while Trump³⁴ is younger than Biden, in relation to their presidential terms, Trump³⁴ is the OLDEST president, beating Biden out by 5 months on his Inauguration Day.

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Life in The Upside-Down's avatar

I'd be interested in what you discover about other platform possibilities. Substack is the only platform I use because social media is so toxic to my mental health. The only reason I can tolerate it here is because I have literally blocked hundreds of other users. But Marc Andreesen is a techno-cultist and I loathe partaking of anything he touches. I enjoy the lovely little community I've carved out for myself here, but if I found something better, I would encourage everyone I know to jump with me.

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Jeff Fox's avatar

I'm still enjoying it here. But I can't totally ignore the possibility that it may meet Facebook's fate.

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Musings of a Silver Fox's avatar

There is nothing better. Tech bro billionaires run it all.

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Mad Dog's avatar

“Substack is the only platform I use because social media is so toxic to my mental health. The only reason I can tolerate it here is because I have literally blocked hundreds of other users.”

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Mike Stark's avatar

Great information sir... You know as well as I with the information the repugs have on all of now through Muskrat and his doge boys....... the stealth war on independent thought is well under way... Thats why they keep us focused on Trump.... He's a thug and obviously suffering the effects of dementia.... But his shenanigans keep all the focus on him..... Not on the Curtis Yarvins, Marc Thiels etc... ... the Russel Vought and the purveyors of P-2025 operate in silence, and shadows But every day the goal for them gets one step closer.....

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Singfromthesoul's avatar

Peter Thiel

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Jeff Fox's avatar

I don't know. Once Wall Street or a new owner is involved, all bets are off.

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Anna's avatar
May 5Edited

I was hoping Substack could consider creating Public Benefits Corporation once it goes IPO. But given what you're sharing about Andressen’s beliefs about the virtues of accumulating wealth, that's obviously off the table. If I don't delete my profile soon, I’ll most likely migrate to Ghost. No reason to stay here to pad the pockets of billionaires. I'm sure Substack won’t miss me. 😂 I’m plankton swimming in the land of whales and sharks.

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Communication Intelligence's avatar

But we like you, plankton.. :)

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Michael Persin's avatar

Every time a business goes public, you have to worry about dozens of billionaire oligarchs influencing the business.

I wish more businesses take note of Arizona Ice Tea and Valve on how to properly run their companies.

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Gadou's avatar

What’s Ghost?

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samantha rose johnson's avatar

I’m also wondering!

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Cliff MacLeod's avatar

I would add JB Pritzker to the list of altruistic billionaires. And maybe Bill Gates too (not sure on that one). Maybe we should ask Mr Andersen to comment in direct response to this article to let us all know where he stands and what he sees as the future of Substack. So far there are clearly not any content restrictions being placed on the writers yet!

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Jeff Fox's avatar

And Mark Cuban is excellent. I hope the current environment here lasts as long as possible. The future can't be predicted. But the workings of the market economy are well known.

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AmericanCitizen's avatar

I wish he had run for Pres not that I dont think Harris would have done a good job but because….sigh the world is so F’in racist and sexist.

He would have won ..but maybe this is when we get to know WHO all the cockroaches are so we can deal with them.

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Patisu Lambert's avatar

I reserve judgement until he messes with Substack, then, we can remind him of tesla’s fate.

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Kim C Dickerson, MS's avatar

This ^^^

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Treemason's avatar

Gates?! Really. Hah….haha

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John Mendelssohn's avatar

I think Andreessen's greater resemblance is to the lovely and talented Tom Homan.

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Solemna's avatar

I feel he resembles someone who shouldn’t spend a lot of time sitting on walls for his own safety.

Resemblance aside, I’m really happy that article is here on Substack. I’ve been worrying for months now that the support that allows this platform to exist is just as vulnerable to being taken over or ended abruptly as any other; precisely because those few in the (.10%) appear to be driven solely by money/power.

I just wish that Ghost was free.

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Elizabeth H. Cordes's avatar

Yes, I like for worthless things to be free. I also like for worthwhile things to be free!

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BluPeople Forever's avatar

The HOROWITZ CONNECTION RAISES MY FURR… but DAVID JUST DIED… so where does MARC & STEPHEN MILLER go from here… or is HERE their tool? Like everything else, once the spider enters the web, TIME TO GO.

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Jeff Fox's avatar

Perfect metaphor.

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Treemason's avatar

Millers a spider without a web. Filthy lil sychophant

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Dr. Eileen Antalek's avatar

Ugh... not happy to hear this. Is anywhere truly safe?

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Gatekeeperken's avatar

Mastodon.social

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Dr. Eileen Antalek's avatar

I’ve heard of mastodon, but from what I understand, it’s more of a social media than a writer’s medium. True?

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Jeff Fox's avatar

I have used Mastodon occasionally, mostly as a Twitter substitute. I don't know if you can build subscription lists there. And I don't think it supports paid subscriptions.

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Dr. Eileen Antalek's avatar

Exactly—I didn’t think it was a “true” writer’s forum. I don’t charge for my writing, but I want to be on a forum with professional writers.

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Gatekeeperken's avatar

No that's false. Try it. It's actually more easy to read and share. It's much more diverse.

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J K's avatar

I had no idea and kudos for publishing. Once I see the well known writers and political pundits disappear I will as well.

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Jeff Fox's avatar

Keep an eye out. As long as the big names are not censored and make money, I think they will stay here.

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TeeJAY's avatar

Great information! Excess wealth truly changes people…and rarely for good.

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Amy's avatar

I'd feel a lot better about the billionaires who want to surveil/ control us and privatize "government" if they weren't all Nazis. It's still a monopoly in theory because Thiel/ Musk/ Andreesen are all of the same basic immoral philosophy of life.

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Jeff Fox's avatar

True. But no oligarchs are really good.

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AmericanCitizen's avatar

Along with the Federalist society and Knights of the Golden Circle. Racist, sexist asshats that want to enslave the world.

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Cute Boots RocketCat's avatar

Thank you so much for illuminating the Tech Bro Agenda. It was painful to read his manifesto, but helpful context for understanding their psychotic, self-centered delusions and the frightening accelerationism of Trump

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