I receive plenty of articles on interesting topics - I'm not short of reading material. The monthly fee you charge is modest and I won't feel shortchanged if I hear from you only , say, six times a year.
My point is this: Please write only when you have something interesting and new to say. You won't and can't summon up interesting material to a schedule. Leave that to regular columnists.
If you have a fallow period, just go with it and I'll still follow you even if I don't hear from you for months on end. I'd far rather get something rarely and irregularly and hardly contain myself to start reading it, than get a regular flow of meh-material produced to meet a schedule, material that I make myself open, until suddenly, I don't.
If you do write a post about burning man, in addition to giving a flavor of the event, I'd like to learn why it's (considered) so important and whether or not anything of substance comes of it, other than being a big party.
Congrats on your success! The growth is quite impressive, and if you'd like to spill some beans on how you did it, I'm certain many substackers would be interested. I certainly would.
If you're up for reader feedback, here's a question I'd enjoy reading your take on some day.
QUESTION: Do you believe that human beings can successfully manage the acquisition of ever more, ever larger powers, at an ever accelerating pace, without limit?
If you answer yes, then it seems you would basically be proposing that we are gods, which could be pretty interesting.
If you answer no, then it seems you'd be challenging the dominant group consensus assumption of our culture, believed by the public, almost all intellectual elites, the science community etc.
For most of 2022 I lived for many months in a country that did not enjoy robust free speech protection and noticed the following:
A free speech environment tends to lend itself to excess dogmatism (i.e righteous pontificating). A suppressed speech environment tends to lend itself to excess skepticism (I.e conspiracy theories).
This is obviously a very subjective observation.
Anyway, I thought that idea could be a Substack someday. I’m not trying to equivocate free speech vs lack of it by any means, but I’ve been holding this in my head and so Substack *comment* here we are.
I now feel compelled to search out every article David Foster Wallace wrote and work to be a better noticing machine. Thanks for this write-up, Erik. Love the resolutions!
Good stuff Eric, you’re embodying much of what you say here and elsewhere (like in the chat with Anna, Christin, and Visa).
Also, would love to listen to a pod of you and your mom. I’ve had similar a thought of interviewing my dad (who ran a bookstore and read and wrote fables when I was a toddler).
1) You’re a great writers who offers unique insights and a refreshing viewpoint
2) Make the metrics go up goals are a trap. I say this because I feel eternal gratitude towards the person who pointed this out to me when I was lost in growing a twitter account back in the day.
Whether this falls on deaf ears or not I look forward to reading your work in 2023 and beyond, Erik.
First, don't let growth be the death of you. If Enron grew at the rate it projected to through today, it would probably have more USD than atoms in the universe (I assume. One can't be bothered to do the exact math in a hyperbole). Costco is perhaps the opposite of glamorous, but it has a sustainable business model at least. One feels they can rely on it sticking around for a few decades yet. Perhaps more than one can say for Twitter. Sustainability is not always sexy.
Does ITP need a team? Sure, If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Yes, this is all well and good. That being said, Elton John never got famous on his ensemble performances. He sat at a piano in a very flamboyant costume and sang his heart out. Is ITP a collection of think pieces? Or is it *your* think pieces?
Since the beginning of time, students have struggled with how to start their essays. They introduce an idea that's too large, then they pick three items from that too-grand vision upon which to base their essay. In this comment, I will show how the pursuit of infinite growth, a diversity of scope that is too wide, and a dilution of core principles contributes to a confusion of a core idea. Come on man, don't over think it! On your own merits you've had some incredible growth. I'm sure hot takes from a team of quick-witted writers could help. I'm sure deep-think pieces that reference an offhand comment from an industry leading scientist at a Gordon Research Conference 3 years ago could lead to endless, but ultimately fruitless, conversation. But beyond all that, don't forget about the "hmm" factor. That little voice that says "You know, I hadn't considered that...".
It may not feel as deep as the other possibilities, but a healthy dose of "Consider the following" a la Bill Nye goes a long way you know?
I receive plenty of articles on interesting topics - I'm not short of reading material. The monthly fee you charge is modest and I won't feel shortchanged if I hear from you only , say, six times a year.
My point is this: Please write only when you have something interesting and new to say. You won't and can't summon up interesting material to a schedule. Leave that to regular columnists.
If you have a fallow period, just go with it and I'll still follow you even if I don't hear from you for months on end. I'd far rather get something rarely and irregularly and hardly contain myself to start reading it, than get a regular flow of meh-material produced to meet a schedule, material that I make myself open, until suddenly, I don't.
Deeply skeptical about a Burning Man essay
Awesome. Love the bit about noticing more. I’ve always thought of DFW as an example of high-quality attention & mindfulness.
If you do write a post about burning man, in addition to giving a flavor of the event, I'd like to learn why it's (considered) so important and whether or not anything of substance comes of it, other than being a big party.
Noticing machine. Good one!
Congrats on your success! The growth is quite impressive, and if you'd like to spill some beans on how you did it, I'm certain many substackers would be interested. I certainly would.
If you're up for reader feedback, here's a question I'd enjoy reading your take on some day.
QUESTION: Do you believe that human beings can successfully manage the acquisition of ever more, ever larger powers, at an ever accelerating pace, without limit?
If you answer yes, then it seems you would basically be proposing that we are gods, which could be pretty interesting.
If you answer no, then it seems you'd be challenging the dominant group consensus assumption of our culture, believed by the public, almost all intellectual elites, the science community etc.
Either way, lots to think about and chew on.
For most of 2022 I lived for many months in a country that did not enjoy robust free speech protection and noticed the following:
A free speech environment tends to lend itself to excess dogmatism (i.e righteous pontificating). A suppressed speech environment tends to lend itself to excess skepticism (I.e conspiracy theories).
This is obviously a very subjective observation.
Anyway, I thought that idea could be a Substack someday. I’m not trying to equivocate free speech vs lack of it by any means, but I’ve been holding this in my head and so Substack *comment* here we are.
I now feel compelled to search out every article David Foster Wallace wrote and work to be a better noticing machine. Thanks for this write-up, Erik. Love the resolutions!
Good stuff Eric, you’re embodying much of what you say here and elsewhere (like in the chat with Anna, Christin, and Visa).
Also, would love to listen to a pod of you and your mom. I’ve had similar a thought of interviewing my dad (who ran a bookstore and read and wrote fables when I was a toddler).
Charles taylor is one of those serious and prestigious academics who still write in a charming personal way. Even funny.
Definitely would love to see more of that
Another fantastic post, Erik! Your substack and essays inspire me
Two things
1) You’re a great writers who offers unique insights and a refreshing viewpoint
2) Make the metrics go up goals are a trap. I say this because I feel eternal gratitude towards the person who pointed this out to me when I was lost in growing a twitter account back in the day.
Whether this falls on deaf ears or not I look forward to reading your work in 2023 and beyond, Erik.
With your permission (or even without it) I might just copy this personal resolution to notice more and make it my own, too. Great post.
First, don't let growth be the death of you. If Enron grew at the rate it projected to through today, it would probably have more USD than atoms in the universe (I assume. One can't be bothered to do the exact math in a hyperbole). Costco is perhaps the opposite of glamorous, but it has a sustainable business model at least. One feels they can rely on it sticking around for a few decades yet. Perhaps more than one can say for Twitter. Sustainability is not always sexy.
Does ITP need a team? Sure, If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Yes, this is all well and good. That being said, Elton John never got famous on his ensemble performances. He sat at a piano in a very flamboyant costume and sang his heart out. Is ITP a collection of think pieces? Or is it *your* think pieces?
Since the beginning of time, students have struggled with how to start their essays. They introduce an idea that's too large, then they pick three items from that too-grand vision upon which to base their essay. In this comment, I will show how the pursuit of infinite growth, a diversity of scope that is too wide, and a dilution of core principles contributes to a confusion of a core idea. Come on man, don't over think it! On your own merits you've had some incredible growth. I'm sure hot takes from a team of quick-witted writers could help. I'm sure deep-think pieces that reference an offhand comment from an industry leading scientist at a Gordon Research Conference 3 years ago could lead to endless, but ultimately fruitless, conversation. But beyond all that, don't forget about the "hmm" factor. That little voice that says "You know, I hadn't considered that...".
It may not feel as deep as the other possibilities, but a healthy dose of "Consider the following" a la Bill Nye goes a long way you know?
I'm really behind Resolution 4. Essay series are great.
I just loved this. You’re an inspiration!