Posting more about Substack, as I strive for clarity within the bounds of privacy. Below is based on an email I sent this morning to someone I respect, with portions removed and added.
Just to clarify, my feelings about Substack are not mixed. I oppose the platform and could no longer use it or engage on it as a result of my experiences, relationships, and observations — which is why I left and pulled all of my content off of it.
I do have mixed feelings about having this account, but I needed to make sure I am credited on articles I co-authored on other Substacks. I have locked myself out of the account by deleting the associated email address.
I have not said why I left X (and no one has asked). [UPDATE: 21 Jan 2026: This essay states one reason: https://woodhouse76.com/2026/01/20/stranger-things-the-donald-trump-quote-tweet-and-elon-musk-reply/]
I removed the two accounts in November and retained the archives for personal use. I may add those to the new site later this year. [UPDATE: After spending time and money on the development of a standalone site, I decided against it for reasons having to do with focus and purpose. I may change my mind in the future.]
As a high-volume user of both X and Substack, and one that is (still) seeking and trying to tell the truth about things that are out of bounds, I have a certain perspective about both platforms, based on my interactions with the algorithms, human monitors, and other users.
The Internet is an ecosystem with different habitats. I had to depart two habitats and people in those habitats that I found were detrimental to my mental health, well-being, and productivity.
Another clarification: I may or may not keep the WordPress.com site up as a bibliography, but when I move to the new site (which someone else is helping with), it will be standalone. No “like” options on posts and comments open with moderation, if I choose, depending on article. [See update above. I’ve been unsuccessful in figuring out how remove the like button on WordPress.com or I would do so.]
Email is a clunky way to notify readers, but it’s what I’ll have to rely on. It would be nice if someone would create an app that acts as a cross-platform/site aggregator, for the benefit of readers who don’t want to be “faithful” to a platform and want to curate across sites and writers.
Ideally, serious analysts in the COVID space could rely on one another sharing whatever work they’re doing that the others find valuable and worth sharing. Nothing prevents people from passing on or posting the articles, be it on other social media, in Telegram, etc.
I have zero expectation that will occur when it comes to what I’m focused on and am going about my work because I enjoy the research and plan to put things in bound compendiums for my kids. That’s all I can do at this point.
In the future, I may write further about some of the disturbing things I noticed on and about Substack that I kept track of in a notebook. The effects it had on me may be just that: effects applicable only to me and relevant to no one else.
Time and distance might help me better discern what was a function of the platform, a function of gamesmanship in the dissident space, and a function of perception.
Clarification: Nothing I’ve said above should be taken to mean that I regret my time on Substack or any writing I did on/with the platform, be it alone or in collaboration. Nor should anyone infer that I think less or badly of those who are using it and/or who continue to think well of it and optimize it for their work.
