have been thinking about this a lot—and remember feeling very disturbed seeing a writer apologize for all of the “spam” in the chat with no other acknowledgment of what those messages were about. appreciate you putting words to it.
This! And it’s been going on since day 1 — I can’t tell you the number of Americans I know who “prioritised their mental health” after October 2023 and got off Instagram because it was too much for them to see the images … like if it’s too much for you to see images of genocide, what do you think it feels like to live through one?
This is why I cringe whenever they compare Notes to Twitter. It’s not the meta discourse or declarations of love toward Substack that bother me but that the entire thread is deprived of politics unless you have a newsletter where you choose to highlight topics including the genocide in Gaza and more. But what’s really concerning is that people think that’s a “category.” I think people are more “involved” on Ig stories or twitter compared to here.
the IGF (yes, the genocide army) has an official substack! Block them btw.
And the fashion side of the app is absolutely crawling with zios though they're now being a bit lowkey since the western media narrative has started to shift away from 'boohoo poor settler state can do no wrong'. I remember even the few fashion substacks (other than this one) who have mentioned the genocide and appealed for aid in their posts, used to get scolded by Zio apologists who'd hop into their comments and berate them for having the audacity to say it's a genocide, going 'it's such a complicated issue' and basically 'you can't call it a genocide, we haven't killed enough of them'-ing it. Even substacks with 100 subscribers who had the gall to feel bad, weren't spared this treatment btw there's one who haunts fashion substacks in particular and the 'such a thoughtful post, such great style advice, such wisdom!' kind of comments she routinely leaves on shopping and 'personal style' posts make an interesting juxtaposition against the rabid 'hdu call it a genocide' entitlement her tone takes on when the fashion substacker bucks the zio talking points and says things like 'don't bomb civilians'.
as someone who follows a mix of newsletters-i feel this so much. the studied and intentional turning away from those messages with the most acknowledgment being "im so sorry about all the spam lately!" from newsletters authors. let the real world "intrude" ur bubble.
long live 🙈 honestly it was worse than described, the girl who said it “wasn’t the time and place” first described the statement “not visiting a country carrying out genocide” as “hate speech.” grateful for this essay because I honestly felt like i was losing my mind reading that chat and all the follow up “nuuly!l comments.
Thank you for this post & the reminder to donate to PCRF (done and done!). How can one turn away from the worst thing most of us have ever witnessed?
You really nailed it here: "The genuinely coolest people I know care deeply about the real world and understand the way they move through it has a ripple effect — has real, tangible consequences, big and small."
have been thinking about this a lot—and remember feeling very disturbed seeing a writer apologize for all of the “spam” in the chat with no other acknowledgment of what those messages were about. appreciate you putting words to it.
This! And it’s been going on since day 1 — I can’t tell you the number of Americans I know who “prioritised their mental health” after October 2023 and got off Instagram because it was too much for them to see the images … like if it’s too much for you to see images of genocide, what do you think it feels like to live through one?
EVERY WORD
Thank you for this. I’ve been shocked at how apolitical this app is in general - very little mention of the real world & whats going on ever.
That’s a good point, much of this app happens in an echo chamber
This is why I cringe whenever they compare Notes to Twitter. It’s not the meta discourse or declarations of love toward Substack that bother me but that the entire thread is deprived of politics unless you have a newsletter where you choose to highlight topics including the genocide in Gaza and more. But what’s really concerning is that people think that’s a “category.” I think people are more “involved” on Ig stories or twitter compared to here.
the IGF (yes, the genocide army) has an official substack! Block them btw.
And the fashion side of the app is absolutely crawling with zios though they're now being a bit lowkey since the western media narrative has started to shift away from 'boohoo poor settler state can do no wrong'. I remember even the few fashion substacks (other than this one) who have mentioned the genocide and appealed for aid in their posts, used to get scolded by Zio apologists who'd hop into their comments and berate them for having the audacity to say it's a genocide, going 'it's such a complicated issue' and basically 'you can't call it a genocide, we haven't killed enough of them'-ing it. Even substacks with 100 subscribers who had the gall to feel bad, weren't spared this treatment btw there's one who haunts fashion substacks in particular and the 'such a thoughtful post, such great style advice, such wisdom!' kind of comments she routinely leaves on shopping and 'personal style' posts make an interesting juxtaposition against the rabid 'hdu call it a genocide' entitlement her tone takes on when the fashion substacker bucks the zio talking points and says things like 'don't bomb civilians'.
all of this x100000000. the moral depravity is harrowing
as someone who follows a mix of newsletters-i feel this so much. the studied and intentional turning away from those messages with the most acknowledgment being "im so sorry about all the spam lately!" from newsletters authors. let the real world "intrude" ur bubble.
Ok I did complain about it but this take is correct.
I’m weak
Haha I was like STOP interrupting me & in a non believable fashion. 😞
justice for learning new things, accepting when we messed up, and growing!!
FREE PALESTINE AND F*CK THOSE BITCHES
so curious what chat this was lol
long live 🙈 honestly it was worse than described, the girl who said it “wasn’t the time and place” first described the statement “not visiting a country carrying out genocide” as “hate speech.” grateful for this essay because I honestly felt like i was losing my mind reading that chat and all the follow up “nuuly!l comments.
lol resubscribing to gumshoe please hold
lol yes sorry initial misreport! knew I saw it and get those two chats confused.
no you're good! but also kinda concerning that I was like "yep this tracks"
welllllllll if you’re in that chat you know why
i avoid chats for this reason LOL
Thank you for this post & the reminder to donate to PCRF (done and done!). How can one turn away from the worst thing most of us have ever witnessed?
You really nailed it here: "The genuinely coolest people I know care deeply about the real world and understand the way they move through it has a ripple effect — has real, tangible consequences, big and small."
Holy shit thank you so much for writing this I’ve felt INSANE!!!!
Reading this was cathartic
1000000000000%
Thank you so much
Every word of this!!!!
It’s such a shame we live in a society that lacks an immense amount of empathy.
Such a brilliant text !.. what an absolute nightmare it must be to live without any sense of empathy or compassion.