23 Comments
User's avatar
Nefahotep's avatar

Substack has been making things more complicated by adding all this "new" stuff. It may be a component of something else they plan to add later. Perhaps with "Chat," they may try to connect "Following" so there is a continuous feed. I haven't really used it since it was introduced.

Simple is better, Less stuff is more quality, usually.

Expand full comment
Tony Ryan's avatar

I am even more disadvantaged. I am familiar with no computer language and, in fact, it is a miracle I managed to put together a substack in the first place, after a year of trying. There is nothing more spirit-crushing than being provided with "simple instructons" that you comprehend none of. The seldom-heard phrase "Jesus of hell" is a euphemism for the phrase "user-friendly"... both insanely non-sensical. I am conforted in the knowledge that no platform designer will ever get to heaven. God has a diabolical punishment lined up. I just know it. Nevertheless, it's a sad state of affairs when an atheist is reduced to threatening with the wrath of God. Fortunately, I was a Catholic as a child and at least understand that language.

Expand full comment
Nefahotep's avatar

Very well said. Yes the biggest pain in doing things with internet is working with a product that comes from code.

Or have a dozen accounts with different sites and being required to keep passwords for them. Sometimes on some, you are being asked to reset them.

I'm old school, if something is really important I download, then print it out.

Expand full comment
Tony Ryan's avatar

I'm afraid we are outnumbered here. We just have to grit our teeth and struggle on LOL

Expand full comment
Ray Horvath, "The Source" :)'s avatar

While I am opting out of training AI with my articles (which might or might not work), I cannot do it with comments or chat. As a matter of fact, I couldn't do chat, anyway, and letting it loose without my supervision can, and eventually will, cause trouble. Of course, they link everything together and train the AI, for which Substack is likely to be reimbursed more than its actual revenue.

Expand full comment
Nefahotep's avatar

That's an interesting possibility. I'm not sure what benefit AI will ever have for those who use SS. I have found it rather good at reciting a post in Text to Speech, as long as there are no links which it proceeds to read off exactly. It also recites a word in "Quotation," pronouncing "quote in quote" before and after the word. So AI has a long way to go before it will be really useful, more of a gimmick, sometimes fun.

Expand full comment
Ray Horvath, "The Source" :)'s avatar

They are NOT using an AI that is accessible for the general public. Theirs is a LOT more sophisticated.

Expand full comment
Toxicanadian's avatar

I thought *following* was Notes. Like X. You follow someone.

Expand full comment
Ray Horvath, "The Source" :)'s avatar

I usually click on Notes, when I comment somewhere else, but readers must check my notes, if they are interested.

Expand full comment
Fran's avatar

Thanks for the update, Ray!

Expand full comment
Ray Horvath, "The Source" :)'s avatar

Despite wondering ever since "following" was introduced, this was the first time I noticed a clear distinction between the two.

Expand full comment
Tsipora Pereira's avatar

Why can't we comment on PROOF OF MY POINT IN MY PREVIOUS ARTICLE?

Expand full comment
Ray Horvath, "The Source" :)'s avatar

Ouch, I must have pressed the wrong button; I'll change it right away...

No, it looks like anyone can comment; I never lock out free subscribers. However, I'm not sure if "followers" can comment or not, because I can't see any such problem on my end.

Expand full comment
Tsipora Pereira's avatar

Not meaning to complain but still can't comment though. What am I doing wrong?

Expand full comment
Ray Horvath, "The Source" :)'s avatar

That's as weird as it gets. Are you logged in? Are you using the app or a computer? A computer should always work.

Expand full comment
Tsipora Pereira's avatar

Sorry I didn't reply sooner.

I had been logged in and I did use a computer (I always do).

But then I do not begin to understand how anything could have been changed in an "old" mail. I figured you would have to send out a new round,

Expand full comment
Tsipora Pereira's avatar

Thanks.

Expand full comment
Amaterasu Solar's avatar

I rarely just follow. If I am interested at all, I sub. Thanks for pointing out the difference!

Expand full comment
Markker's avatar

Some people follow me who hasn't written anything, just restacks articles by others, which I find weird.

Expand full comment
Ray Horvath, "The Source" :)'s avatar

Yes, it has been quite confusing. Basically, none of the followers is listed as subscribers.

Expand full comment
Markker's avatar

I wonder, does following someone mean that every comment made by the person is notified, or is it because restacks, I think, appear in Notes and it's these only which are notified to followers? As I'm just a reader, I've not looked into how Substack works.

Expand full comment
Ray Horvath, "The Source" :)'s avatar

I'm also wondering. It looks like I am not notified about every publication by my selected (not necessarily respected) authors.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment removed
May 2, 2024Edited
Comment removed
Expand full comment
Ray Horvath, "The Source" :)'s avatar

It does look like AI training, but it’s well beyond pattern recognition. It’s more about processing live data and constructing deepfakes.

https://rayhorvaththesource.substack.com/p/who-are-you-427

Expand full comment