Does that not conflate "warrior culture" with colonialist/expansionist culture? Or are you thinking in terms of technologies and tactics?

Terrific in podcast, too. Leonard Nimoy reading Raymond Carver's "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" is brilliant if you can find it in their archives.

And while I don't suffer the problem of having followers on X, isn't the exodus more about rejecting what it has become, even if there's a cost to rebuild a following elsewhere?

How much of that reach is the trade off for the invitation system here? I am hoping that we will slowly see more and more reach here with less the noise of the other platforms.

For me, at least, it's less an expectation that people will flock to the thing (where I am standing by to bask and sign books) and more like releasing the thing in a park at night and hoping someone finds it and gives it a good home, but I can't watch the process.

True; part of that mindset shift is expanding the definition from crassly chasing dollars to connecting with readers. I would say that I don't quite follow to the point of saying that avoiding self-promo is more self-serving, though. (Cont.)

One thing I really liked about Chen Chen's post is the idea that you can also uplift others or provide info--whatever feels comfortable for you.

I haven't changed my mindset but realize that I may need to when the manuscripts I'm trying to finish become things seeking readers. And I will very likely feel the need to warn everyone that my posts are going to sound single-minded for a while.

I wrote about my mindset change when it comes to self-promotion. I was inspired by Chen Chen’s IG post last January about self-promotion, privilege, and finding your readers.

sendmylovetoanyone.substack.com/p/on-self-pr...

...in a good way, or...

I paid for my undergraduate degree working in a comic store and have a lot of nostalgia for that time and regret that I let my love of comics go.

Too much has changed including the tolerance for any kind of insightful editorial curation. I find the same is true for reading series - the audiences have gone elsewhere.

It'll be fine as long as no one pokes anything with a stick.

This is exactly how I expected to learn this. Pink banana and all.