A WEEK OFF

I attended a four-day anti-Coronamania retreat and now need to catch up on life. Thus, I don’t have time to write this week. I’ll post again next week.

Recently, some readers have spontaneously pledged to support my work by becoming paid subscribers. While I appreciate these expressions of support, I haven’t sought or accepted subscriptions for a few reasons.

First, I don’t know how much more I have to say about the Scamdemic. So far, a relevant experience and/or theme has presented itself to me each week. But I don’t expect this to continue indefinitely. I don’t want to accept money from people and then, shortly thereafter, tell them I’m done writing.

Second, I don’t want to write just to maintain an income stream. I don’t look down on Substackers who offer paid subscriptions. To the contrary, their work is important and well-executed and I’ve paid for some of it; it’s infinitely better than the content presented on TV, public radio or in newspapers and thus, deserves support.

So does Substack. They’ve provided me and many others with a platform after other platforms censored or canceled me. Because Substack gets a cut of paid subscriptions, subscribing funds a platform that allows the truth to be told.

Nonetheless, I don’t want deadlines or the desire for income to influence how often I write. Though I’m likely overstating that problem, which seems self-limiting: if I ran out of worthy ideas, readers would promptly let me know by ending their subscriptions. Many one-hit wonder band members could tell that story.

Third, and most importantly, I began writing to let others who, like me, saw this extremely destructive Scam from the beginning know they weren’t alone. Receiving messages from readers telling me that I had written what they were thinking, or that I had cut through some of the many lies or that they look forward to reading Dispatches from a Scamdemic lifted my spirits far more than money could.

And readers support each other in the Comments. I’m pleased to facilitate this. Y’all deserve all of the affirmation you get, and more than that, because the world lost its marbles and you didn’t.

Until next week, best wishes to all. Speak against the craziness at every opportunity but compartmentalize, count your blessings and be as happy as possible.