Today I took the time to write an introduction post of sorts for my new Substack blog. I don’t know if that’s customary on that side of the pool, but it felt right—not just to start posting political takes without some kind of foundation. At any rate, I think I’m going to enjoy the experience over there. More importantly, I think I’m going to succeed in getting a few more eyes on Hive.
It seems to me that the normal distribution of success is at play on Substack as well. Meaning: most people don’t make a single penny. They interact, they upvote, they argue, they share pictures—but ultimately, they’re doing all that for free. This is where we have a massive advantage, because people can literally start earning tokens the very same day they join. (Some conditions apply, of course.)
That said—I’m blown away by content discovery. I’m finding tons of accounts to follow. The neo-deity, the algorithm, is doing a fantastic job figuring out what to show me. This is the magic black box I’d love to get my hands on. A front end that removes almost all friction? Yes please. Take my money.
But I’m also not blind to the fact that Substack, like every other platform, has its little tumors roaming about. Rage bait, engagement bots, you name it. There’s always going to be a place for bovine excrement… because bovines excrete. The myth of the perfect platform, for now, remains a myth.
I know Hive isn’t exactly overflowing with users these days. And I know most of my readers—most of my friends—are very Hive-exclusive. But if you happen to be over there, come say hi. Let's make some noise together.
MenO