So appreciate this column Jack. It is said that Face Book is now used primarily by dinosaurs like me. Instagram which used to pictures and relatively little text has been taken over by political pundits, wellness gurus and cooking recipes. (I still post my nature pics there) Substack is touted as the new news commenters and I enjoy following some folks there. The younger generation appears to like Tic Tok and other platforms I have never heard of. I won’t go near X for the same reason as you. I use FB primarily to keep up with friends and family. But I also use the Block, Mute and Delete button with great zeal when necessary.
I am very conflicted by everything WRT Substack, Bluesky and Facebook. On Facebook, I have >3,000 "Friends," and I can post my thoughts there and get hundreds and occasionally thousands of views and interactions. I post things here or on Bluesky, and get dozens, if I am lucky. Given that I am trying to provoke thought, Substack seems distinctly lacking. Unlike Facebook, though, it does not use content I am creating to generate clicks and thereby revenue for an obscenely rich man for whom I have no respect or affection whatsoever.
As for Buckley, he was as arrogant and condescending as he was intelligent. Perhaps more so. One of the first working definitions of "backpfeifengesicht" I ever identified.
FWIW, the "professional" social media site LinkedIn was someplace I frequented when my employment prospects were actually still relevant. It persistently suggested attractive woman after attractive woman (that I did not know and with whom I had little in common) as people I should "connect with." So frequently that I began referring to it as "LinkedUp."
Buckley was mondo arrogant,Schramm,but he evolved from supporting Jim Crow to saying (in 1968,two generations before Barack H. Obama II's first election) that America needed a black President.
Sir, I just stumbled across your column, enjoyed it, shared the sentiment, followed you, and wanted to wish you well! Good writing and good thoughts. Keep going! 👍
This column is about perfect ... meaning I could have written it. (And you know I work hard to find some little thing to complain about.)
Yes, as problematic as Facebook is and can be, it's opened up the world to me in the way of many dozens of thoughtful, caring and witty friends (Yes, mostly all old farts, alas.)
As a belated retirement trip, a year ago I went on a 4 week cross country trip via Amtrak, meeting up with about 20 friends along the way. Some were personal friends but the majority of them were treasured FB friends who proved themselves to be every bit as delightful and generous as they show themselves to be on FB.
So appreciate this column Jack. It is said that Face Book is now used primarily by dinosaurs like me. Instagram which used to pictures and relatively little text has been taken over by political pundits, wellness gurus and cooking recipes. (I still post my nature pics there) Substack is touted as the new news commenters and I enjoy following some folks there. The younger generation appears to like Tic Tok and other platforms I have never heard of. I won’t go near X for the same reason as you. I use FB primarily to keep up with friends and family. But I also use the Block, Mute and Delete button with great zeal when necessary.
On this, our hearts beat as one!
I am very conflicted by everything WRT Substack, Bluesky and Facebook. On Facebook, I have >3,000 "Friends," and I can post my thoughts there and get hundreds and occasionally thousands of views and interactions. I post things here or on Bluesky, and get dozens, if I am lucky. Given that I am trying to provoke thought, Substack seems distinctly lacking. Unlike Facebook, though, it does not use content I am creating to generate clicks and thereby revenue for an obscenely rich man for whom I have no respect or affection whatsoever.
As for Buckley, he was as arrogant and condescending as he was intelligent. Perhaps more so. One of the first working definitions of "backpfeifengesicht" I ever identified.
FWIW, the "professional" social media site LinkedIn was someplace I frequented when my employment prospects were actually still relevant. It persistently suggested attractive woman after attractive woman (that I did not know and with whom I had little in common) as people I should "connect with." So frequently that I began referring to it as "LinkedUp."
I basically agree, but do get some thoughtful stuff on Substack. It's pretty new, too. But it does have HCR
Who's HCR ?
Heather Cox Richardson. You should read her .
Thanks,Professor.
Buckley was mondo arrogant,Schramm,but he evolved from supporting Jim Crow to saying (in 1968,two generations before Barack H. Obama II's first election) that America needed a black President.
That he was, and that is true.
Thank you for "backpfeifengesicht" - esp. as used here!
Sir, I just stumbled across your column, enjoyed it, shared the sentiment, followed you, and wanted to wish you well! Good writing and good thoughts. Keep going! 👍
Why, thank you very much! I've been doing this for many years and hope you keep reading me.
This column is about perfect ... meaning I could have written it. (And you know I work hard to find some little thing to complain about.)
Yes, as problematic as Facebook is and can be, it's opened up the world to me in the way of many dozens of thoughtful, caring and witty friends (Yes, mostly all old farts, alas.)
As a belated retirement trip, a year ago I went on a 4 week cross country trip via Amtrak, meeting up with about 20 friends along the way. Some were personal friends but the majority of them were treasured FB friends who proved themselves to be every bit as delightful and generous as they show themselves to be on FB.
I admire and envy you - thank you!
Professor,you can become one of the few influencers sensible folk would engage.