Substack 12+

Once again, I agree and can totally relate to your 3/23 Substack words. I appreciate you showing the support from respected authors (King, Patterson) and yourself regarding book banning politicians. Also, I love the phrase “fundamentalist Borg” as a way to show how these politicians push their agendas. It’s no wonder America is devolving. I also appreciate you shedding light on the rise of hate related crimes in America. Thank you for your video break (as always) regarding good healthy positive feelings on camera for that little girl being adopted. It was terrific to see you highlight Beth Hart’s video (L.A. Song). I have been a fan of hers for many years and been lucky enough to have seen her live performances many times. She always puts 100% into her live performances. I recommend people try to see her play live or via the video Paradiso, or doing Led Zeppelin covers or Blues standards from Etta James, with Joe Bonamassa or Warren Haynes. You’ll be glad you did.

Substack is fine. Some content is engaging, some isn’t. It’s a standard newsletter platform.

I was delighted to have an app, as my life is busy and the constant flood of content into my inbox often feels overwhelming. Sometimes I like an idea or a writer so much that I want to support them by subscribing EVEN IF I’M NOT INTERESTED IN READING EVERY SINGLE POST. Substack doesn’t understand this. If they decide you’re not opening the app often enough, they will automatically switch on email newsletters for everything. You can not opt out, only delay the onslaught a bit by signing in and confirming, again, that you do not want all those emails. But if life gets busy and you’re not on the app enough for Substack’s liking — prepare for the emails to return.

I’ve unsubscribed from every list and won’t subscribe to any more, though I’ve got a couple of annual subscriptions to see through. Writers: this platform is likely to annoy your readers right off your lists, and actively discourages people signing up for paid subscriptions just to show support. Readers: you’ll never get these people out of your inbox. They override your notification settings on your behalf about once a month. (And send another email to let you know they’ve done so!)

Thank you for this article and the courage to write and publish it. I have a trans son. I refused to give my then daughter hormones when she was an adolescent. I told her that is a decision she alone must make. I cannot be responsible. As for surgery, he claims he wants it, he cannot make the call to the hospital alone. And when I call and give them his phone to contact, when they contact him, he does not call back. He is nearly 24 now.

Just a note to say that the internet is a huge part of the increase seen in transgender adolescents. Look at the numbers and see what happened in those 15 years you noted there was an enormous increase. The iPad. Apple came out with the iPad in 2011 (I think or 2010). Many children, including mine, received as a gift from parents or grandparents. We were ignorant of what internet access could do back then, but access to it open wide the Idea of transgender.