The claim that they are somehow really committed to "free speech". I don't believe this. Heard these sort of polemics a lot when I lived there (both on an institutional level and from individuals).

Me not trusting their alleged commitment to "free speech" doesn't necessarily mean I think Substuck is particularly bad or that one shouldn't use it or read it.

It's not circuitous nonsense to highlight that statements made by Americans companies (and many individuals for that matter) about "free speech" are often shallow, performative and unconvincing. From my perspective, this is a factual statement.

This has nothing to do with the % split between leftist or rightist bloggers.

I don't deny VC money may be necessary evil. A16Z is not the only VC company there is.

I am just pointing out that not trusting Substack's claims about their alleged passion for free speech and seeing more nuance than "A16Z investment is a necessary, end of story! No discussion allowed!" does not make one a purity obsessed leftist that thinks substack is full of Nazis.

The piece about Substack making nazi blogs to stir up drama was not meant to be taken seriously; I was making fun of American startup culture (and many startups do engage is super sketchy behaviour, perhaps not substack though) and the bombast with which free speech polemics are often marketed.

[–] PhilipTheBucket@quokk.au 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

seeing more nuance than "A16Z investment is a necessary, end of story! No discussion allowed!" does not make one a purity obsessed leftists

Aw, jeez, you're right. I hate discussion and I hate nuance. You got me. That's exactly a really good summary of what I was saying.

The piece about Substack making nazi blogs to stir up drama was not meant to be taken seriously

Ah, yes, Schroedinger's leftist. "I was just joking! Unless...? Also, BTW, Substack's got a Nazi problem."

[–] Skiluros@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

But you do take any scepticism of A16Z as an immediate sign that one is a "purity obsessed leftist". This is not reasonable.

OK, so you are saying that I started lying in this thread, I actually believe substack is full of Nazis, but I decided to temporarily back down from this view in order to try and "win" this discussion.

You can agree that substack is not full of Nazis and it's a viable platform, while also recognising that they are an American tech company that received money from a VC firm that is commited to authoritarianism, corruption and criminal schemes.

What's your logic here? I am genuinely curious.

You are ranting against "left orthodoxy on purity", yet you yourself are demanding acceptance of A16Z specifically.