My Right to Offend?

Since I started writing here my free subs have gone up and up. Paid subs have remained fairly stable. Opens have also remained fairly stable and on an upward trajectory. However in the last month, subs are down 1.1% and opens too. The question to ask is why? I have no idea. In fact, I have no real idea why anyone reads this at all…. its just me - a nobody sitting in Brno - writing his thoughts down and allowing others to read it.

I was talking to an old business friend yesterday and we both agreed that today it is all about marketing. We were talking about our respective businesses of course - not substack - or youtube etc. When we rang off, it struck me that even this is about marketing and frankly, other than an occasional Facebook post, I really don’t bother. My view has been it will find who will benefit from it whatever I do. And, while I am very grateful for the paid subscriptions - I’d need a thousand more to think about giving up my day job. Any money my subscribers pay goes straight back into the gear needed (cameras, editing software and so on) and into helping fund trips to make videos and engage with the land. Many many thanks.

These days its all about popularity. A little bit of fame - and often at whatever cost. While I will admit it is always nice to be popular and successful, I never set out to do the things I do for that reason. My reasoning is I can do these things, I enjoy doing these things and I want to share that with others. I will also admit that the odd rant helps me feel better about things too….

However, it may be that some aspects of my topic choice are unappealing so… would be so kind as to provide any feedback - what do you like me writing about - what dont you like?

Back in the dim and distant days of being a marketeer - it was all about brand, brand attributes and differentiation. I have never really thought about this substack in that way but maybe I ought to - it helps hone the message a bit.

But you know, I am also well aware that these days people are more fickle and easily upset. One minute, you can be the best thing since sliced bread and then you mention in passing one thing that they find offensive and poof - they are gone.

In order for me to speak and think I run the risk of being offensive to someone. Rather than me stop speaking might I suggest people grow a thicker skin? Isn’t this why free speech is under threat today? Because people like to get offended rather than listen to an alternative point of view?

What do you think?