Substack Has A My Little Pony Problem
It might be time to find a new platform unless I am catered to!
You may have heard that Substack has a Nazi Problem. It doesn’t. But what happens if you take that incessantly masturbatory article by Jonathan M. Katz (whose career, from what I can tell, hinges on three things Being white, living in Haiti during an earthquake, and having a smartphone. I digress) and run it through ChatGPT but have it replace any mention of Nazi with that of another fringe group of people- My Little Pony fans.
(continued after the article. You can just skim it if you want but I thought it was pretty funny)
The My Little Pony fandom's presence on Substack has become a focal point of controversy, with critics highlighting instances of newsletters featuring explicit content, conspiracy theories, and questionable ideologies related to the beloved animated series. This has prompted discussions about Substack's responsibility in curating and promoting content that may run afoul of its own policies.
One significant concern raised by critics is the platform's promotion of My Little Pony fan writers with controversial histories. Instances where Substack actively recommended or praised authors who have expressed extreme views within the My Little Pony community have fueled skepticism about the platform's commitment to responsible curation.
While Substack maintains that it upholds freedom of expression, the platform's handling of My Little Pony fan content has led to calls for more nuanced content moderation. Some argue that the platform should not only consider removing explicit or harmful content but also carefully choose which voices to amplify and endorse.
The platform's move to compete with microblogging services like Twitter through Substack Notes has also drawn attention. Questions have been raised about Substack's stance on posts that may include discriminatory remarks or perpetuate harmful stereotypes. The refusal to directly address hypothetical scenarios, such as those involving discriminatory language, has fueled the debate on the platform's commitment to content moderation.
As Substack continues to position itself as a significant player in the 2024 U.S. elections, the scrutiny on its content policies and moderation practices intensifies. The tension between supporting a wide spectrum of voices and preventing the spread of harmful ideologies within the My Little Pony fandom remains a delicate balance that Substack must navigate.
The overarching question revolves around the kind of community Substack aims to foster and whether it can strike a balance between maintaining a platform for diverse perspectives while addressing concerns about the promotion of potentially harmful content. The scrutiny from both creators and the wider public may prompt Substack to reevaluate its content moderation strategies and take a more proactive approach to ensuring a responsible and inclusive environment for all users.
Despite the controversies surrounding the My Little Pony content on Substack, the platform's co-founders, including Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie, remain firm in their commitment to freedom of expression. In a statement responding to the criticism, they emphasize Substack's role as a platform for writers to publish what they want without subjective censorship, as long as it adheres to the platform's content moderation policy.
However, critics argue that the platform's approach raises questions about whether Substack is inadvertently providing a platform for harmful ideologies within the My Little Pony community. The debate extends beyond merely removing explicit or hateful content but delves into the responsibility of the platform to curate and endorse certain voices.
The promotion of authors with controversial histories, both within and outside the My Little Pony fandom, has sparked concerns about Substack's editorial choices. Critics argue that the platform's decision to amplify and recommend writers with a track record of expressing extreme views contradicts its commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive space for users.
The tension between allowing a broad range of perspectives and preventing the spread of harmful ideologies underscores the challenges faced by Substack. As the platform actively positions itself to play a significant role in the upcoming U.S. elections, the scrutiny on its content moderation practices intensifies.
Substack's co-founder, Hamish McKenzie, has previously indicated that the platform relies on giving communities the tools to establish their own norms rather than imposing restrictions centrally. However, the ongoing controversies surrounding My Little Pony content on Substack may prompt the company to reevaluate its strategies and engage in a more proactive approach to address concerns raised by both creators and the wider public.
The evolving landscape of content moderation, especially within niche fandoms like My Little Pony, requires platforms like Substack to navigate complex discussions around freedom of expression, responsible curation, and the promotion of diverse voices while safeguarding against the spread of harmful ideologies. How Substack responds to these challenges will likely shape its role and reputation in the broader digital content ecosystem.
In my own humble opinion, this actually reads a lot better and is something I can get directly behind!
Listen. Substack has the same Nazi problem that your local dive bar does. It has the same Nazi problem that Reddit does, and it has the same Nazi problem that your local homeless shelter does. That is to say a couple of fringe idiots willing to talk the ear off of anyone who’ll listen but that no one takes seriously.
The Problem is that people like Katz haven’t really lived outside of a bubble. I know that sounds strange considering he “lived abroad.” I know people who “live abroad.” Let me tell you what that means. It means finding a cohort of ex-pats that you tend to hang out with over the locals and then bitch about how colonial and racist the country you left is and how you’re just out here “seeing the world.” It’s bullshit posturing. Same shit that European aristocrats did when they want on their Grand Tour I don’t think Katz is comfortable being around people that aren’t like him. He seems to rankle at disagreement personally. I’m not at all surprised at what he wrote.
I come from a religious family. We have all kinds. Catholics, lapsed Catholic, republicans, liberals, that crazy uncle who thinks the CIA is watching him, the other uncle who thinks “you know Hitler was bad..but…”, A racist grandmother that had more black friends than Tyler Perry.
My parents ran a restaurant in a small town. It was meager but made enough. The patrons. Oh man, the patrons. You had veterans, fake veterans, crazy conspiracy nutbags, weird hunters, gun enthusiasts, hippies, progressive advocates, teachers, cops, known drug dealers. It was a pretty eclectic group. Everyone was allowed to show up and eat and drink and chat. That’s called a community. You don’t ban Karl because Karl has a little too much WW2 paraphernalia. You know Karl, you know how much his wife’s chemo tore him up. Now the progressive teacher who comes in for coffee every morning checks on him to make sure he’s getting out enough. It’s Karl, yeah he’s nuts, but he’s a person and shunning him doesn’t do anybody any favors.
That’s not true actually. It does the shunners a favor. Katz is a shunner. You see some people derive their worth not from what they do, but from how they look. This is the issue with this type of person. It’s a performance. Notice Katz didn’t just leave. He didn’t see the Nazis and say, no. He made a fucking production of it! Because that’s the important part. The show. It had to be KNOWN. His tiktok (for all I could stomach) is just him lecturing other people on how immoral they are compared to him. I know the type. They went to my church.
Does Substack have a Nazi problem? Sure it also has a capitalist, socialist, Catholic, astrology, psychic, new age, environmentalist, Islam, Jewish, Zionist, Cowboys fans, and Vegan problem.
I personally want a platform that is what society is. Broad, weird, and with the fringes still attached. I’d say substack should actually be broader. I’d love to argue with radical Islam nitwits about the existence of god and how they’re basically just an older version of Mormons.
So if you’re worried about the people preening about “I’m leaving substack.” Remember that they’re preening. The point is to be noticed. That should tell you all you need to know. If they want to go live on an island and hang out with other ex-pats who look and act just like them? Let ‘em.
Azzhole with douche canoe tendencies is a terrible optic.