I just visited and read what’s been happening with substack writer known as Simplicius The Thinker, “Year of Troubles: The Hatchets Come Out for Substack and Simplicius”, who has two substacks, Simplicius's Garden of Knowledge, which was formerly Simplicuis76’s Battle Room
From the beginning, Substack only allowed payment to writers from rich, Western countries. Most of the world, which needs payment more, was excluded. Me too.
Excellent point and one I'd completely forgotten about. Problem is paid subscribers can live anywhere, but Stripe can only transfer funds within the USA. On those grounds alone, substack ought to change or add an additional collector/disburser for its international clients, for that's what paying subscribers are--clients. I'd be very pleased to accept donations in any national currency. By limiting the collections/disbursement spectrum, substack is limiting the income of its writers and itself. Perhaps us writers ought to make this point?!?
Looking at the broader perspective of a "VERY SPOILT - belly button watching - three year old brat" (I hope it doesn't get lost on anyone who/what it refers to) it is no wonder that such common sense - your comment refers to - gets lost on those participants and their institutions staring at their participation trophies calling them "exceptionalism", while at the same time bragging about their own depravity and wickedness in the hallways of THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN.
Substack is disingenuous hiding behind some monopoly trading banker. The banker turns into attack dog to erase unpalatable thoughts in its client's online host. History does contain some lessons in this regard. So really the ball is in substack's court to open up myriad channels to accept the cash - like immediately!. One can't really claim genuine free speech and then impose disingenuine closed finance and then say and do nothing when the hammer comes down.
Clearly an open global platform needs to be standing on a pillar of open global financial support and institutions. The westies are scoundrels.
I have been mocked by friends for decades when I say that all social media companies are either fully transparent to Intelligence or more likely unofficial subcontractors. Lots came out with the Twitter files story but I suspect there could have been a lot more. In any case, whether or not the substack owners are aware of it (and they probably are) their platform is subject to Intelligence oversight who will exercise control if and when they feel they need to. I very much doubt this arrangement with Stripe is due to ignorance or oversight. For any business, especially online and subscription-reliant, the payment processing portal is perhaps the single most important financial consideration.
The whole thing stinks (all social media, publishing etc, not just substack). Substack, once it has attracted a sufficient percentage of dissident authors (and readers) will get closed down. America is no longer a normally functioning 'democratic' representative republic but most of us refuse to acknowledge this because whatever it has become is occluded and not defined. It is a blank. But that's where we are.
Idea: substack authors should set up their own websites. And then find someone to set up an aggregator site which lists authors by name, subjects covered, rankings, whatever. But all decentralized. Of course websites can be shut down too, but I think some host companies are fairly resilient to this. Or maybe they could all be hosted by Russia who would no doubt love to stab a free-speech thumb into the Hegemon's eye! Get Snowden to set it up!
A heretical thought .... I don't have any concern if the nutjobs and nazis dont get a share of a host site replicated across the east and west. I care that the anti hegemon, anti empire critics and analysts that advocate for clear thinking and a humane future have a secure host site and dispersed financial framework. If that provides optional subscription channels via Bank of China, Moscow, Iran, India, South Africa, USA etc then that would be a more secure host I guess.
I doubt that the UKUSA scoundrels would leave it at that though and would set the dogs on it via 'hackers' etc. Something like novichok it with waterproof code on the entry ports ;)
Why would any aware person that creates a platform for people to publish articles without censorship enter in to a contract with an entity such as Stripe? It defeats the purpose IMO.
Stripe becomes involved ONLY if the writer wishes to accept pledges or go 100% paid subscription. The chart showing the # of paid subscriptions is very revealing of the sums involved here of which substack gets 10%, but how much Strip gets is unknown to me. Whatever it gets must come from substack, otherwise my agreement with Stripe would need to say it gets a portion of my earnings.
"Substack won't charge the reader any additional fees. For the writer, we take 10% of each paid transaction. Stripe charges a credit card fee (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction fee) and a Billing fee for recurring subscriptions (0.5% for recurring payments). If you enable local currencies, Stripe may apply a 1% to 2% fee if currency conversion is required."
Exclusive contracts are never smart, unless you're the one getting the benefit.
As Robert Ringer used to say, this is the problem with lawyers: Their sole function is to sink deals by telling you all the bad ways the deal could end up. This puts them in charge unless the client has a decent command of himself - or gives the lawyer a cut of the deal.
The problem with ANY money platform is it immediately puts them in charge. And the number one rule of dealing with humans: Never put anyone but you in charge. Never give anyone any power over you, to the degree possible. All human relationships are a matter of power. All of them.
i agree fully... lawyers have managed to put themselves in the middle and operate as successful middlemen... that is a byproduct of a legalistic society where other considerations are considered 'secondary'.. it wasn't always this way..
This was a problem with Patreon, all donations needed to be electronic, no old-fashioned items. By the terms of our agreement as writers using substack, we're not allowed to take payments from readers outside the approved system. However, proving any such occurrence would be very difficult, although it's clear such arrangements shouldn't be made at substack.
i read his article earlier, but i was aware of this from a few months ago.. the atlantic article is depressing for the stupidity it embraces, not to mention those who signed onto this stupid stuff... good riddance to those who left substack because of this.... the system of payment is always susceptible to this... i hope that another alternative is found soon to not let companies like stripe dictate their insanity onto those who are writing for substack...
I subscribe to him and read his stack right after he posted it. I know he mentioned in his previous post he made it a paid subscription read only because of issues he was having but I never expected that to be the problem. This whole thing to me is just a pissing contest. It’s not that hard to avoid content or people on Substack. I myself would never pay to subscribe to anyone who whined about other writers content.
i read him and i don't pay, so you aren't completely right on that point.. the bigger issue is controlling the platform itself and if you can control how the money does or doesn't flow - you control the platform.. it is very much like the sweet sounding ''financial sanctions'' the west under usa leadership have implimented towards russia, venezuala, iran and etc - that we also see in operation.. people need to find alternatives..
"the situation isn't "Civil War" it's revolt/revolution.". My thoughts exactly. As Trotsky once said, I think we've reached the point where the weapon of criticism has to give way to criticism with weapons.
They're just spitting in the face of the toiling mass now. Having a go at us. Until an organized movement teaches them to fear the wage slaves they'll just keep on with impunity. Class consciousness must be rebuilt. These hundreds of millions must become a material force on the stage of history again.
Many agree with my formulation, but it needs amplification. The several pieces of the 99% need to stop jawing at each other and turn their angst at the Establishment where it belongs. Getting those factions to understand that it the #1 job and of course it's the hardest.
Concur with your points and those of RSH below. Your forum is a “gymnasium” and not a “whisky bar” like MOA where the host has to be a “ bouncer” from time to time. I generally try to follow the comment threads as long as the signal-to-noise ratio doesn’t fall below a certain threshold and after 50 years playing music in bars and such I’m comfortable with being a “good barfly” (mind your manners and tip every drink). That said, I’m excited by the idea of a gymnasium for the exchange of ideas and valuable discourse - putting my thoughts to print has always been a “tooth pulling “ process and I find myself encouraged by your example and scholarship. Even when it strains the available hours in a given day!
I’m dismayed but not surprised at the tactics of the “ thought police/ usual suspects” aimed at higher-profile and quality essayists like Simplicius. Grifters gotta grift, power never yields without a fight and in the prophetic words of Gil Scott-Heron “the Revolution will not be televised!” Henceforth, I’m “ long” on pitchfork futures. Power to the People! Keep up the good fight and “illigitimi non carborundum”! (don’t let the bastards grind ya down)
That Substack would be attacked for not censoring speech was expected. I had subscribed to several "journalists" on Substack that are now leaving Substack due to its refusal to censor "Nazi" speech. The fact that these "journalists" (a) are in favor of censorship and (b) do not recognize that they live in a fascist country (minus swastikas) was amusing to me. Live, learn and be amused.
Substack's problems of payment to content creators (especially in non-West-aligned countries) was news to me. I had assumed that Substack, being a progressive, free speech platform had solved the payment issue. Shame on Substack for lagging in this area. Some authors on Substack use third-party payment channels (e.g, buymeacoffe.com, Ko-fi, Bitcoin). I had used Bitcoin to support WikiLeaks way back when Julian Assange was still a free man, but the Outlaw Empire had cut off all legal means of financial support. Consider using Bitcoin as there is no middle man.
Simplicius is correct: BuyMeACoffee uses Stripe. Crap. The issue of payment is of crucial importance. Far as I can see, only decentralized crypto currencies are a solution at this time.
See? 'The American War to Regain Independence' is pending..'.
Doesn't matter where you go in the American world the cry is always for war and violence.
I have yet to see all through the last four years of following global 'politics comment' ever since Covid anyone in alt-media, MSM or anywhere else ( if there is anywhere else) call for proper implementation of democracy. Nope. It's always revolution and violence. The American answer for everything. And the MIC smiles and smiles....
Now we are all aware that unz is continuously attacked as a anti-semitic platform (which I dispute, believing it to be unfriendly toward zionists and I appear to be in more company these days ;) However given the history and persistent accusations, HOW COME IT IS STILL a .com ? One would think it would have been deplatformed by now as were so many other leading journals. Note UNZ and its .com are a westie based journal. It does not add up well for substack.
Have they made any intelligent announcements/ reassurances yet?
Excellent points. No info sent to me, but then substack doesn't communicate directly via writer's pages and sends emails instead. For those of us who only sporadically check email, it makes for very poor communication. Even the questions I posed on substack's Writer's Forum were never answered. I read Escobar's review at Sputnik, which I learned about because I frequent his VK and Telegram sites.
What happens if you were to post a link to an alternative donation service outside of substack? Does this violate the terms of service or would the link be censored on substack?
I've yet to reread the terms of service, but as I recall trying to circumvent the protocol is grounds for termination. I thought of doing a PBS Pledge Break type of thing, but I need to review the terms first.
"My policy is to allow all comments as trolls will out themselves and usually get chased off by other commentators."
I generally follow that policy except where the trolls both contribute nothing and are repetitive in doing so. This idiot grr who has responded to me in your comments section is one such. I usually simply mute the thread so I don't read any more comments.
From the beginning, Substack only allowed payment to writers from rich, Western countries. Most of the world, which needs payment more, was excluded. Me too.
Excellent point and one I'd completely forgotten about. Problem is paid subscribers can live anywhere, but Stripe can only transfer funds within the USA. On those grounds alone, substack ought to change or add an additional collector/disburser for its international clients, for that's what paying subscribers are--clients. I'd be very pleased to accept donations in any national currency. By limiting the collections/disbursement spectrum, substack is limiting the income of its writers and itself. Perhaps us writers ought to make this point?!?
Looking at the broader perspective of a "VERY SPOILT - belly button watching - three year old brat" (I hope it doesn't get lost on anyone who/what it refers to) it is no wonder that such common sense - your comment refers to - gets lost on those participants and their institutions staring at their participation trophies calling them "exceptionalism", while at the same time bragging about their own depravity and wickedness in the hallways of THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN.
Substack is disingenuous hiding behind some monopoly trading banker. The banker turns into attack dog to erase unpalatable thoughts in its client's online host. History does contain some lessons in this regard. So really the ball is in substack's court to open up myriad channels to accept the cash - like immediately!. One can't really claim genuine free speech and then impose disingenuine closed finance and then say and do nothing when the hammer comes down.
Clearly an open global platform needs to be standing on a pillar of open global financial support and institutions. The westies are scoundrels.
I have been mocked by friends for decades when I say that all social media companies are either fully transparent to Intelligence or more likely unofficial subcontractors. Lots came out with the Twitter files story but I suspect there could have been a lot more. In any case, whether or not the substack owners are aware of it (and they probably are) their platform is subject to Intelligence oversight who will exercise control if and when they feel they need to. I very much doubt this arrangement with Stripe is due to ignorance or oversight. For any business, especially online and subscription-reliant, the payment processing portal is perhaps the single most important financial consideration.
The whole thing stinks (all social media, publishing etc, not just substack). Substack, once it has attracted a sufficient percentage of dissident authors (and readers) will get closed down. America is no longer a normally functioning 'democratic' representative republic but most of us refuse to acknowledge this because whatever it has become is occluded and not defined. It is a blank. But that's where we are.
Idea: substack authors should set up their own websites. And then find someone to set up an aggregator site which lists authors by name, subjects covered, rankings, whatever. But all decentralized. Of course websites can be shut down too, but I think some host companies are fairly resilient to this. Or maybe they could all be hosted by Russia who would no doubt love to stab a free-speech thumb into the Hegemon's eye! Get Snowden to set it up!
Stripe and substack are both HQ'd in San Francisco and they probably socially interact.
A heretical thought .... I don't have any concern if the nutjobs and nazis dont get a share of a host site replicated across the east and west. I care that the anti hegemon, anti empire critics and analysts that advocate for clear thinking and a humane future have a secure host site and dispersed financial framework. If that provides optional subscription channels via Bank of China, Moscow, Iran, India, South Africa, USA etc then that would be a more secure host I guess.
I doubt that the UKUSA scoundrels would leave it at that though and would set the dogs on it via 'hackers' etc. Something like novichok it with waterproof code on the entry ports ;)
Agreed. Nothing short of regime change in the West will solve this. Until then, it's an endless skirmish...
apparently they ( substack ) claimed they are in some exclusive contract with stripe.. perhaps they need to get out of that contract?
Why would any aware person that creates a platform for people to publish articles without censorship enter in to a contract with an entity such as Stripe? It defeats the purpose IMO.
Stripe becomes involved ONLY if the writer wishes to accept pledges or go 100% paid subscription. The chart showing the # of paid subscriptions is very revealing of the sums involved here of which substack gets 10%, but how much Strip gets is unknown to me. Whatever it gets must come from substack, otherwise my agreement with Stripe would need to say it gets a portion of my earnings.
I believe Stripe gets 3%. I read that early on, so the current rate may be different.
3% from substack leaving it 7%? I didn't read any such within the fine print of either.
See here:
https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/18687769631252-How-can-readers-pay-for-a-subscription-on-my-Substack-publication
"Substack won't charge the reader any additional fees. For the writer, we take 10% of each paid transaction. Stripe charges a credit card fee (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction fee) and a Billing fee for recurring subscriptions (0.5% for recurring payments). If you enable local currencies, Stripe may apply a 1% to 2% fee if currency conversion is required."
No, Substack gets 10%, Stripe gets an ADDITIONAL 3%. The total loss is 13%.
maybe they didn't know what they were getting themselves into? ignorance? i gather it was an exclusive contract, as opposed to an open one..
Exclusive contracts are never smart, unless you're the one getting the benefit.
As Robert Ringer used to say, this is the problem with lawyers: Their sole function is to sink deals by telling you all the bad ways the deal could end up. This puts them in charge unless the client has a decent command of himself - or gives the lawyer a cut of the deal.
The problem with ANY money platform is it immediately puts them in charge. And the number one rule of dealing with humans: Never put anyone but you in charge. Never give anyone any power over you, to the degree possible. All human relationships are a matter of power. All of them.
i agree fully... lawyers have managed to put themselves in the middle and operate as successful middlemen... that is a byproduct of a legalistic society where other considerations are considered 'secondary'.. it wasn't always this way..
Also when the lawyers nix a deal they get their fees; they'd rather drag it out...
LEGALESE is the poison that THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN/LIES/MONEY/LAWYERS.... has put into GOD ALMIGHTY'S CREATION to get hold of as many souls possible!
Never let SATAN get hold of your soul ... once you realise you have gotten into bed with him LEAVE ASAP!
Karl, it says that I am a subscriber but if you are not getting any money I'd like to send you the pledged amount by other means.
Thanks. I'm still hassling with Stripe. I see you sent me an email. I'll answer later. Thanks!
I dislike paypal and would have serious reservations to use any of their ilk.
As I suggested in a comment earlier to Simplicius, are there downsides to old fashioned checks or money orders?
This was a problem with Patreon, all donations needed to be electronic, no old-fashioned items. By the terms of our agreement as writers using substack, we're not allowed to take payments from readers outside the approved system. However, proving any such occurrence would be very difficult, although it's clear such arrangements shouldn't be made at substack.
i read his article earlier, but i was aware of this from a few months ago.. the atlantic article is depressing for the stupidity it embraces, not to mention those who signed onto this stupid stuff... good riddance to those who left substack because of this.... the system of payment is always susceptible to this... i hope that another alternative is found soon to not let companies like stripe dictate their insanity onto those who are writing for substack...
I subscribe to him and read his stack right after he posted it. I know he mentioned in his previous post he made it a paid subscription read only because of issues he was having but I never expected that to be the problem. This whole thing to me is just a pissing contest. It’s not that hard to avoid content or people on Substack. I myself would never pay to subscribe to anyone who whined about other writers content.
It's the bigger issue of trying to discredit the platform as he noted, something I wasn't aware of.
Those that left are cowards.
i read him and i don't pay, so you aren't completely right on that point.. the bigger issue is controlling the platform itself and if you can control how the money does or doesn't flow - you control the platform.. it is very much like the sweet sounding ''financial sanctions'' the west under usa leadership have implimented towards russia, venezuala, iran and etc - that we also see in operation.. people need to find alternatives..
"the situation isn't "Civil War" it's revolt/revolution.". My thoughts exactly. As Trotsky once said, I think we've reached the point where the weapon of criticism has to give way to criticism with weapons.
They're just spitting in the face of the toiling mass now. Having a go at us. Until an organized movement teaches them to fear the wage slaves they'll just keep on with impunity. Class consciousness must be rebuilt. These hundreds of millions must become a material force on the stage of history again.
Many agree with my formulation, but it needs amplification. The several pieces of the 99% need to stop jawing at each other and turn their angst at the Establishment where it belongs. Getting those factions to understand that it the #1 job and of course it's the hardest.
Concur with your points and those of RSH below. Your forum is a “gymnasium” and not a “whisky bar” like MOA where the host has to be a “ bouncer” from time to time. I generally try to follow the comment threads as long as the signal-to-noise ratio doesn’t fall below a certain threshold and after 50 years playing music in bars and such I’m comfortable with being a “good barfly” (mind your manners and tip every drink). That said, I’m excited by the idea of a gymnasium for the exchange of ideas and valuable discourse - putting my thoughts to print has always been a “tooth pulling “ process and I find myself encouraged by your example and scholarship. Even when it strains the available hours in a given day!
I’m dismayed but not surprised at the tactics of the “ thought police/ usual suspects” aimed at higher-profile and quality essayists like Simplicius. Grifters gotta grift, power never yields without a fight and in the prophetic words of Gil Scott-Heron “the Revolution will not be televised!” Henceforth, I’m “ long” on pitchfork futures. Power to the People! Keep up the good fight and “illigitimi non carborundum”! (don’t let the bastards grind ya down)
That Substack would be attacked for not censoring speech was expected. I had subscribed to several "journalists" on Substack that are now leaving Substack due to its refusal to censor "Nazi" speech. The fact that these "journalists" (a) are in favor of censorship and (b) do not recognize that they live in a fascist country (minus swastikas) was amusing to me. Live, learn and be amused.
Substack's problems of payment to content creators (especially in non-West-aligned countries) was news to me. I had assumed that Substack, being a progressive, free speech platform had solved the payment issue. Shame on Substack for lagging in this area. Some authors on Substack use third-party payment channels (e.g, buymeacoffe.com, Ko-fi, Bitcoin). I had used Bitcoin to support WikiLeaks way back when Julian Assange was still a free man, but the Outlaw Empire had cut off all legal means of financial support. Consider using Bitcoin as there is no middle man.
According to Simplicius. buymecoffee is also owned/controlled by Stripe.
Damn! But Bitcoin is not, smile. Thanks, will check it out.
Simplicius is correct: BuyMeACoffee uses Stripe. Crap. The issue of payment is of crucial importance. Far as I can see, only decentralized crypto currencies are a solution at this time.
But Bitcoin won't let you know who has payed for the content.
See? 'The American War to Regain Independence' is pending..'.
Doesn't matter where you go in the American world the cry is always for war and violence.
I have yet to see all through the last four years of following global 'politics comment' ever since Covid anyone in alt-media, MSM or anywhere else ( if there is anywhere else) call for proper implementation of democracy. Nope. It's always revolution and violence. The American answer for everything. And the MIC smiles and smiles....
Well, I hope you can see that I'm trying to argue for a path out of the mess you described. If you read Hudson's latest, he lays it out very well.
I must post yet again on this subject as it demands some comparative analysis. Here is Pepe Escobar on "How the West was defeated" published by UNZ.
https://www.unz.com/pescobar/how-the-west-was-defeated/?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=daily
Now we are all aware that unz is continuously attacked as a anti-semitic platform (which I dispute, believing it to be unfriendly toward zionists and I appear to be in more company these days ;) However given the history and persistent accusations, HOW COME IT IS STILL a .com ? One would think it would have been deplatformed by now as were so many other leading journals. Note UNZ and its .com are a westie based journal. It does not add up well for substack.
Have they made any intelligent announcements/ reassurances yet?
Excellent points. No info sent to me, but then substack doesn't communicate directly via writer's pages and sends emails instead. For those of us who only sporadically check email, it makes for very poor communication. Even the questions I posed on substack's Writer's Forum were never answered. I read Escobar's review at Sputnik, which I learned about because I frequent his VK and Telegram sites.
What happens if you were to post a link to an alternative donation service outside of substack? Does this violate the terms of service or would the link be censored on substack?
I've yet to reread the terms of service, but as I recall trying to circumvent the protocol is grounds for termination. I thought of doing a PBS Pledge Break type of thing, but I need to review the terms first.
"My policy is to allow all comments as trolls will out themselves and usually get chased off by other commentators."
I generally follow that policy except where the trolls both contribute nothing and are repetitive in doing so. This idiot grr who has responded to me in your comments section is one such. I usually simply mute the thread so I don't read any more comments.