Great icebreaker! Be interesting to see if Substack picks up on this!
A good start for all of the machinery to track issues, propose/refine feature requests and post release schedules could be had for cheap at GitHub.
Even could be staffed by volunteers!
I dreamed up a service enhancement idea, then went looking for a way to submit it. Couldn't find a generic channel, just specific ones for specific scenarios, if you're an author, if you're a reader.
My idea was this: have the service periodically publish a "transparency report" to provide the community with statistics on their compliance with their publish shed legal, copyright and terms of service policies.
Regarding the editor, I'm not a writer, haven't used it yet. But I can say that other stores finesse the issue by supporting markdown on the server ( several good off the shelf packages available for this) and optionally allowing writer to write a post locally, with whatever tools, then upload.
Dec 27, 2023·edited Dec 27, 2023Liked by Zork (the) Hun
I don't know too much. I, like you see blogging as linear. I think Substack is primarily a news feed, and yesterday's news sinks to oblivion.
I make an Index file on several of (all of) my substacks. and pin it to the top explaining the different categories. Then when there gets to be more and more posts to scroll through, I start making subject sub-indexes. Of course each index is another thing you have to open. The good part is it opens in another tab, so you don't get lost. I do use the navigation bar for some of the important topics, but not so many as wouldn't fit in the width. Not to arrow left or right. I don't worry about "next or previous", because just move over one tab, and you are back in the index, where it is all laid out.
The three size of graphic links are for posts already inside your site. Posts from the outside or other substacks are full size.
You could put a table in with a screen shot graphic, but it wouldn't be live. Plenty big enough to read though.
I thought of using a screen shot for excerpts with two columns. Like comparing two texts.
I want to make a discussion site out of this one (above). One way is to make shorter, to-the-point posts, that are easy to grab a hold of the one issue.
Another thing I have done is make for a team of posters. You can authorize other people in settings. That way various ideas can get exposed, and at least we in the team will comment. Acknowledgements are nice, like keep up the good work, or I really appreciate, or whatever. But I hope people will engage with the content. Ask questions, what about this?
I think a real detriment is there are no text enhancements in the comments. You can only talk normal, OR TALK LOUD, or say "how about this", or (not every day). It is difficult for me to make meaning talking mono-tone.
Yes, blogging is linear which is a problem for me, as everything in my head is structured and Substack is not helpful putting that structure (or any) onto their platform.
The idea you are recommending is the one I already decided to go with, I am working on it. @Margaret Anna Alice is doing something similar. I was just hoping that I can goad the platform into doing something about it. I find the lack of responsiveness rather frustrating.
Previous - Next links would be mostly for me as an author, making the management of my posts much easier. Not the most important one of my objections.
Thank you for the clarification of the three sizes, it will be very useful in creating my indexes.
I spent enough time in IT to learn to dislike workarounds while also understanding their occasional inevitability. Also, graphics handling is limited. I can attach a hyperlink to a screenshot, but I cannot put two next to each other.
Lack of editor in the comments is a big problem. What I miss the most – both as a writer and a reader is a vote down button next to like.
I checked out your writer community and I like it. I would love to be part of it, but less than 20% of what I write would be a fit to it.
Here are a few you may want to check out, feel free to subscribe and if over time you find enough that you like, I would be happy to partake. But I understand that I am little too political for most.
You aim for a discussion community, I aim for a debate society. What do you think of that idea?
I don't know why I didn't see this, I should have got notice of a reply. I'll check some of these links, and then I'll reply. I believe your articles would be a good addition to WNT.
Maybe I'll do a political section? I especially appreciate your Hungarian background.
You say: I aim for a discussion community, and you aim for a debate society. You say "I would love to be part of your writer community."
Noting our differences; I think that we could make things happen together. The primary difference being you put way more time, (by orders of magnitude) into your site than I do. So you have a depth of knowledge about what Substack offers. (Plus how much time on Wordpress with zorkhun.com) Some good statements on these links:
The ultimate test of the value of any statement is its utility. Does it help us to understand or to better operate in the real world?
Why we think what we think, why we think the way we think? Why do I feel compelled to do what I do? What is the source of personal fulfillment? It all starts with how we perceive reality.
Truth does not really matter. What matters are the decisions we make.
You say: " People will only engage in any activity if they can get something out of it." I have identified something I call the "synergy of dialog". What I discover talking with someone is much more than in my private contemplation. In every conversation I owe a debt of gratitude to the partner, whether we agree or not.
That is my reward, right there right now. I am not trying to increase my subscriber base, and that happens. I am not relinquishing freedom for money, no payments. That is not the general case on Substack. Some people will meekly engage on their own content, but it is clear they want to close, and get on with growing subscribers.
So "more subscribers - does not mean - more discussion". You have to find someone who will commit to examining your ideas. Discussion is only about differing opinions. So agreement is where discussion breaks down.
I read your proposal with interest. I want to proceed, but taking some time to explain our possibly different approaches.
Maybe I will comment on some of your current articles, to show that difference.
Great icebreaker! Be interesting to see if Substack picks up on this!
A good start for all of the machinery to track issues, propose/refine feature requests and post release schedules could be had for cheap at GitHub.
Even could be staffed by volunteers!
I dreamed up a service enhancement idea, then went looking for a way to submit it. Couldn't find a generic channel, just specific ones for specific scenarios, if you're an author, if you're a reader.
My idea was this: have the service periodically publish a "transparency report" to provide the community with statistics on their compliance with their publish shed legal, copyright and terms of service policies.
Where would something like this go?
Interesting questions, Bob.
I was planning a third post on this subject, but when I finally managed to post this one, I decided to put it away for a bit.
It will be an entirely positive vision of the possible future of Substack.
As for reactions, I am hoping more of a community response than Substack picking up on it.
I cannot possibly be alone with these problems and questions.
In that post I will solicit grand ideas like yours.
I still cannot understand why did I not get more response to my debate society idea:
https://zorkthehun.substack.com/p/an-audacious-proposal
Regarding the editor, I'm not a writer, haven't used it yet. But I can say that other stores finesse the issue by supporting markdown on the server ( several good off the shelf packages available for this) and optionally allowing writer to write a post locally, with whatever tools, then upload.
You can turn off your posts showing up in the bottom of the post they're reading in settings (don't think there's a "read more" button, though!).
Writer Dashboard > Settings > Website > then, turn off the "Enable previous & next post links" button.
Thank you Cierra, but I'm afraid you misunderstood my problem.
Of the 'previous' and 'next' buttons, I want more. I want them on the top of the posts as well
Its is the full listing of my last ten posts at the end of the page that I do not want
Ahhh, gotcha! Sorry about that (and that I couldn’t *actually* help haha). That, and all these questions are good ones that could be addressed!
I don't know too much. I, like you see blogging as linear. I think Substack is primarily a news feed, and yesterday's news sinks to oblivion.
I make an Index file on several of (all of) my substacks. and pin it to the top explaining the different categories. Then when there gets to be more and more posts to scroll through, I start making subject sub-indexes. Of course each index is another thing you have to open. The good part is it opens in another tab, so you don't get lost. I do use the navigation bar for some of the important topics, but not so many as wouldn't fit in the width. Not to arrow left or right. I don't worry about "next or previous", because just move over one tab, and you are back in the index, where it is all laid out.
The three size of graphic links are for posts already inside your site. Posts from the outside or other substacks are full size.
You could put a table in with a screen shot graphic, but it wouldn't be live. Plenty big enough to read though.
I thought of using a screen shot for excerpts with two columns. Like comparing two texts.
I want to make a discussion site out of this one (above). One way is to make shorter, to-the-point posts, that are easy to grab a hold of the one issue.
Another thing I have done is make for a team of posters. You can authorize other people in settings. That way various ideas can get exposed, and at least we in the team will comment. Acknowledgements are nice, like keep up the good work, or I really appreciate, or whatever. But I hope people will engage with the content. Ask questions, what about this?
I think a real detriment is there are no text enhancements in the comments. You can only talk normal, OR TALK LOUD, or say "how about this", or (not every day). It is difficult for me to make meaning talking mono-tone.
I'll check around for what you have to say.
.
Thank you for ‘seeing’ me 😊
Yes, blogging is linear which is a problem for me, as everything in my head is structured and Substack is not helpful putting that structure (or any) onto their platform.
The idea you are recommending is the one I already decided to go with, I am working on it. @Margaret Anna Alice is doing something similar. I was just hoping that I can goad the platform into doing something about it. I find the lack of responsiveness rather frustrating.
Previous - Next links would be mostly for me as an author, making the management of my posts much easier. Not the most important one of my objections.
Thank you for the clarification of the three sizes, it will be very useful in creating my indexes.
I spent enough time in IT to learn to dislike workarounds while also understanding their occasional inevitability. Also, graphics handling is limited. I can attach a hyperlink to a screenshot, but I cannot put two next to each other.
Lack of editor in the comments is a big problem. What I miss the most – both as a writer and a reader is a vote down button next to like.
I checked out your writer community and I like it. I would love to be part of it, but less than 20% of what I write would be a fit to it.
Here are a few you may want to check out, feel free to subscribe and if over time you find enough that you like, I would be happy to partake. But I understand that I am little too political for most.
You aim for a discussion community, I aim for a debate society. What do you think of that idea?
An Audacious proposal https://zorkthehun.substack.com/p/an-audacious-proposal
…and the links:
https://zorkthehun.substack.com/p/attawapiskat-kulturni-dom
https://zorkthehun.substack.com/p/291
https://zorkthehun.substack.com/p/oh-truth-why-is-thy-name-reality
https://zorkthehun.substack.com/p/truth-can-be-absolute
I don't know why I didn't see this, I should have got notice of a reply. I'll check some of these links, and then I'll reply. I believe your articles would be a good addition to WNT.
Maybe I'll do a political section? I especially appreciate your Hungarian background.
.
Hello Zork, I checked out these links.
You say: I aim for a discussion community, and you aim for a debate society. You say "I would love to be part of your writer community."
Noting our differences; I think that we could make things happen together. The primary difference being you put way more time, (by orders of magnitude) into your site than I do. So you have a depth of knowledge about what Substack offers. (Plus how much time on Wordpress with zorkhun.com) Some good statements on these links:
The ultimate test of the value of any statement is its utility. Does it help us to understand or to better operate in the real world?
Why we think what we think, why we think the way we think? Why do I feel compelled to do what I do? What is the source of personal fulfillment? It all starts with how we perceive reality.
Truth does not really matter. What matters are the decisions we make.
You say: " People will only engage in any activity if they can get something out of it." I have identified something I call the "synergy of dialog". What I discover talking with someone is much more than in my private contemplation. In every conversation I owe a debt of gratitude to the partner, whether we agree or not.
That is my reward, right there right now. I am not trying to increase my subscriber base, and that happens. I am not relinquishing freedom for money, no payments. That is not the general case on Substack. Some people will meekly engage on their own content, but it is clear they want to close, and get on with growing subscribers.
So "more subscribers - does not mean - more discussion". You have to find someone who will commit to examining your ideas. Discussion is only about differing opinions. So agreement is where discussion breaks down.
I read your proposal with interest. I want to proceed, but taking some time to explain our possibly different approaches.
Maybe I will comment on some of your current articles, to show that difference.
.