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Personal newsletters as a calmer alternative to social networks

philipithomas.com

51–60 of 75 posts

Re: Personal newsletters as a calmer alternative to social networks

#51

Not sure if it's just age, or if it's truly a sign of times, but many of the friends I kept up with on social media -- and who are no longer active on social media (none of us are on Facebook) -- are nearly impossible to keep up with in real life either. It feels like digital communication has been completely abandoned by my social cohorts. And with no one wanting to talk on the phone... or message via texts, it's ha…

Sorry you’re disconnected right now, its been a challenge for a lot of demographics

Maybe go old fashioned with mailing people about this dilemma and interested in remedying it

Re: Personal newsletters as a calmer alternative to social networks

#52
In my area, a lot of people arent giving their phone numbers anymore but instead having you text their events list phone number

They may seem like event managers or socialites (because it works) but really individuals are just trying this approach and telling people theyre going to be at a certain place, bar, hike, swanky hotel lobby, party, mixer

And you know that you know at least one person there

Reply STOP to unsubscribe

Re: Personal newsletters as a calmer alternative to social networks

#53
post #6

This is what I liked about the open blogosphere of 2000 to 2008. Whereas something like Twitter is optimized for the fast-take and the brutal one-liner, blogs allowed actual conversations. You could write something serious, develop the idea, and maybe some other people would engage with it, also at a serious level. But then the walled-gardens began to gain ground (Facebook, Twitter, and then later Instagram) and the…

>> blogs allowed actual conversations

Very few did. And some of those that did in that era are still around, and they don't allow that now.

I don't think it had anything to do with walled gardens, it had to do with the fact that political polarization wasn't quite complete yet. It's getting there.

Re: Personal newsletters as a calmer alternative to social networks

#54
post #6

This is what I liked about the open blogosphere of 2000 to 2008. Whereas something like Twitter is optimized for the fast-take and the brutal one-liner, blogs allowed actual conversations. You could write something serious, develop the idea, and maybe some other people would engage with it, also at a serious level. But then the walled-gardens began to gain ground (Facebook, Twitter, and then later Instagram) and the…

To my mind, the blogosphere had a lot to do with political polarization. Once you added a comment widget to a blog it was easy to build a following of very devoted fans who would argue on the blogger's behalf, amplify them diligently etc. Certainly blogs could foster thoughtful discourse with a wide variety of inputs, but they were just as likely to foster combative tribalism. One interesting example of a blog that f…

Malcolm Galdwell discussed the trend away from “mainstreaming” and its social impacts on his Revisionist History podcast recently in the episode series beginning with “When Will Met Grace”

https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history/when-wil...

Re: Personal newsletters as a calmer alternative to social networks

#56

Does anyone else still receive round robin letters? Multi page letters from friends or family that were the same and sent to everyone at this time of year. I remember one person's in particular that was basically just a recap of this year's misery including their various health problems etc. It would be read aloud at the Christmas dinner table while the family would all giggle at their terrible experiences. My wife's…

I think that's a bulk letter, not round-robin.

If it were round-robin, you'd have to mail it to the next person on the list, just like a chain letter. ...minus the dramatic consequences if you failed, although perhaps familial disappointment is both stronger and more likely!

Re: Personal newsletters as a calmer alternative to social networks

#58

Not sure if it's just age, or if it's truly a sign of times, but many of the friends I kept up with on social media -- and who are no longer active on social media (none of us are on Facebook) -- are nearly impossible to keep up with in real life either. It feels like digital communication has been completely abandoned by my social cohorts. And with no one wanting to talk on the phone... or message via texts, it's ha…

[deleted]

Re: Personal newsletters as a calmer alternative to social networks

#59

Not sure if it's just age, or if it's truly a sign of times, but many of the friends I kept up with on social media -- and who are no longer active on social media (none of us are on Facebook) -- are nearly impossible to keep up with in real life either. It feels like digital communication has been completely abandoned by my social cohorts. And with no one wanting to talk on the phone... or message via texts, it's ha…

Sorry to be brutal, but this sounds like they weren't truly friends. I and many of my friends have given up on social media, and now have to make a conscious effort to ring each other and arrange dinners, activities, etc. If your "friends" aren't willing to do this... find better friends.

Re: Personal newsletters as a calmer alternative to social networks

#60

In my area, a lot of people arent giving their phone numbers anymore but instead having you text their events list phone number They may seem like event managers or socialites (because it works) but really individuals are just trying this approach and telling people theyre going to be at a certain place, bar, hike, swanky hotel lobby, party, mixer And you know that you know at least one person there Reply STOP to uns…

I've had a lot of people request SMS or messenger-type app support for Postcard. I realize the HN crowd generally is less in favor of SMS, but it seems that there's a big group of people that use SMS/messengers exclusively.
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