On the necessity of blocking

Some conversations are not worth having

I am a writer. Writing is how I make my living, and although I am not getting rich, I am fortunate to have a lovely group of readers who express appreciation for what I do.

I think of this Substack site as my magazine. I am both the editor and the writer. But it is more than that: it’s my home; a community of people who come here mostly for one reason: to step away from the mad world and find some peace; some solace; maybe something to feel grateful for; maybe something to laugh about. And this means as much to me as many of you say it means to you. As you all know, I do not require payment. Anyone can read what I write here for free. But both for my own well-being and for those of you who come here for a momentary rest, I rigorously police the comment section here.

There are some commenters who show up out of nowhere and you can tell from the first they are either brittle, arrogant, or cruising for an argument. Sometimes all of the above. But I don’t block people unless they write something that turns this quiet enclave into a place of strife.

As I’ve made clear, all are welcome here without a subscription; but the real price for being here is simple civility. There are plenty of places with rancour in the world, and I’ll be damned if this becomes one of them. I’m not going to blandly turn away when someone storms into my house and insults me, my motives, or any of you.

I trust that those of you who have been around here long enough know what our motives really are. And I am truly grateful for that.

Thank you for being here, and you know what? I do hope you will subscribe.

I know the world is losing its collective mind

and it’s difficult to look out and see the chaos around us. But we are not the only human beings in history who have lived through trying times, and although we are required to do what is right, adversity does not require us to live in abject misery. It’s essential to remind ourselves of the good things in the world, so I hope these posts provide a place of refuge for my readers. Only about 9 percent of you are paid subscribers. That’s okay, because times are hard, and there are many things to spend your money on. These posts will always be free. But if you find what I do is worth something to you, I hope you will consider a subscription. It’s about 27 cents a day for a little something to help lighten the mood. Less, if you subscribe annually. Come and hang out with me, the dogs, and this stalwart little community of good people. And remember: We do not have to live on bended knee.

Also: dog photos.

No matter what you decide, I’m glad you’re here.

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And now for your gratuitous dog photo:

Auggie let us know that the fox was nearby. Dave appears to be listening, too.