About the state of diversity on Substack - I feel that (in my experience) I feel more alienated in terms of class. I feel as though a lot of good quality writing is hampered down by the way in which people feel the need to perform good taste - and as a result wealth. Also, the need to look hot and remind the audience you’re hot in every newsletter gets to me. Quite a few people here describe the ways in which they’re messy or dirty with pride, while having pointed indicators of social status in the newsletter (& it feels very awkward!!!!!) I think one can only have this confidence if their cleanliness is assured by either race, wealth and other indicators of respectability. Maybe this is just MY feed, but it sometimes gets to me. At times I feel like the fact that I don’t have any social media besides Substack is what makes instagram behaviours feel more foreign. But I’m not a writer (yet!) so I have no clue about how difficult/easy it would be to find recognition.
TLDR;
The real brain rot the internet causes isn’t “skibidi toilet rizz” but “I need everyone to know that I’m hot and beautiful and sexy and (sometimes) thin. All the time, even when it doesn’t add anything. Look at what I own because it’s as close as you’ll get to understand what I am”
People suffer from this at varying degrees, and ugliness is always what’s considered to be the coloured and othered. Im feeling cynical today & I think it shows
I've very much thought this with all of the fashion discourse - even if your designer top is from the Real Real, it's still far more expensive without necessarily being of better quality than Old Navy.
And product roundups tend to seep into unrelated posts. Idm a roundup, as long as I know that’s what I’m getting - even though they tend to be ridiculously expensive
I think a lot of people imagine “good taste” to be exclusive and mysterious and so a brand’s reputation should only be known to insiders. The could be identical, but the tag and recognition by peers of a plain black shirt seems to be more important than fabric composition, cut, etc. Idk maybe I’m just hating
I feel this so HARD! this is why I don't share pics of myself or talk much about what I own. becasue then you fall into the trap of performance! I've asked myself, oh would readers feel more connected if I share more, but always land on I dont care enough.
omg this is so funny because I added it then took it off because it made my sentence read weird lol. you can get it in their stores and if you're a member of they're loyalty program they'll mail it to you. hope this helps1
Can’t wait till my toilet harasses me incessantly with notifications for being dehydrated. I wonder if we’re nearing a future where we will track our poops the same way people do 10k steps a day—we’re living in hellllllll
About the state of diversity on Substack - I feel that (in my experience) I feel more alienated in terms of class. I feel as though a lot of good quality writing is hampered down by the way in which people feel the need to perform good taste - and as a result wealth. Also, the need to look hot and remind the audience you’re hot in every newsletter gets to me. Quite a few people here describe the ways in which they’re messy or dirty with pride, while having pointed indicators of social status in the newsletter (& it feels very awkward!!!!!) I think one can only have this confidence if their cleanliness is assured by either race, wealth and other indicators of respectability. Maybe this is just MY feed, but it sometimes gets to me. At times I feel like the fact that I don’t have any social media besides Substack is what makes instagram behaviours feel more foreign. But I’m not a writer (yet!) so I have no clue about how difficult/easy it would be to find recognition.
TLDR;
The real brain rot the internet causes isn’t “skibidi toilet rizz” but “I need everyone to know that I’m hot and beautiful and sexy and (sometimes) thin. All the time, even when it doesn’t add anything. Look at what I own because it’s as close as you’ll get to understand what I am”
People suffer from this at varying degrees, and ugliness is always what’s considered to be the coloured and othered. Im feeling cynical today & I think it shows
I've very much thought this with all of the fashion discourse - even if your designer top is from the Real Real, it's still far more expensive without necessarily being of better quality than Old Navy.
a lot of the product roundups are very much inaccessible to most people which is sad.
And product roundups tend to seep into unrelated posts. Idm a roundup, as long as I know that’s what I’m getting - even though they tend to be ridiculously expensive
I think a lot of people imagine “good taste” to be exclusive and mysterious and so a brand’s reputation should only be known to insiders. The could be identical, but the tag and recognition by peers of a plain black shirt seems to be more important than fabric composition, cut, etc. Idk maybe I’m just hating
I feel this so HARD! this is why I don't share pics of myself or talk much about what I own. becasue then you fall into the trap of performance! I've asked myself, oh would readers feel more connected if I share more, but always land on I dont care enough.
I’m glad I’m not the only one!! It feels quite alienating and I’d rather here about what one does or knows than what they own.
Lots of people writing about the J. Crew catalog this morning, yet no one has shared how to obtain one!! Help pls, my mailbox is yearning
omg this is so funny because I added it then took it off because it made my sentence read weird lol. you can get it in their stores and if you're a member of they're loyalty program they'll mail it to you. hope this helps1
The tiktok comments note 😅
haha but its true!!!
Why is Blake’s new hair line’s packaging so weird?? I saw it the other day at target and was like wtf is this?
its really strange. idk why no one stopped her
She’s back 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Zara&YSL…. I’m actually interested 👀👀
goddamn the the title of this post made me snort, it's so true.
yeah and they don't get it. think they're being "part of the people" or whatever
Can’t wait till my toilet harasses me incessantly with notifications for being dehydrated. I wonder if we’re nearing a future where we will track our poops the same way people do 10k steps a day—we’re living in hellllllll
I wished you had asked the 32% of readers who said they'd get it WHYYYY??? I WANT TO KNOW!
nothing gets me excited like the notification for your newsletter ❤️
nothing gets me excited like you telling me that!
You are my favorite notification
and this is my favorite comment :)