Just saw someone say "The problem is 50 great writers each want $3-$25/mth. Most of us can’t subscribe to more than one or two", and I cannot stress enough that this is fine. Nobody is asking or expecting you to pay for everyone, just like nobody would have expected you to buy every mag on a shelf. - ThreadSky

lukeplunkett.com • 7 days ago

Just saw someone say "The problem is 50 great writers each want $3-$25/mth. Most of us can’t subscribe to more than one or two", and I cannot stress enough that this is fine. Nobody is asking or expecting you to pay for everyone, just like nobody would have expected you to buy every mag on a shelf.

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bradfordsweater.bsky.social•7 days ago

Sharing a piece, liking a video or being an active, positive community member are free ways to show support that can make a real difference

doogie2k.bsky.social•7 days ago

I genuinely need to be reminded of this some time. That folks should just pay for the outlet(s) they will actually use regularly.

lukeplunkett.com•7 days ago

the old approach to a free internet doesn't apply with subs. You pay for your favourites, you occasionally dip into others, and most you simply leave on the shelf. That's OK!

We had 20 million readers at kotaku. 10k paying subs would change our lives. the numbers dont need to match.

colinmunch.bsky.social•6 days ago

There's a strange saviour complex with some readers, they make themselves responsible for the well-being of people they admire, then get overwhelmed by the responsibility. And it's like, I can take care of myself. Just pay for my work if you like it. Used to see this in theatre all the time.

easywriter.bsky.social•6 days ago

Strip out corporate content profiteering and indy games journalism becomes pretty do-able.

Earlier posts noted 5K-7.5K subs sets Aftermath up for sustainability. 10K and they thrive.

When you just need 10K subs *every sub* is a difference maker. Yes you!

This isn't abstract folks. Sub and we win.

fool.dev•6 days ago

The most important articles are exclusive to one paper and require subscription. It's the exact same FOMO model as TV streaming. If you could buy 1 article at a time it would help a lot (but tbh no one would do it, and it would lose subs). Gift links & paywall bypass are necessary.

esaulgd.bsky.social•6 days ago

I need a way to easily pay a tiny amount to see an article without having to commit to a subscription.

robertashley.bsky.social•6 days ago

But in the magazine era you could have two or three subs and read all your fav writers, and that would create a shared culture. That’s what I miss.

acheronxl.bsky.social•6 days ago

Magazines are like cable bundling but for writers instead of tv stations.

robertashley.bsky.social•6 days ago

I just signed up for an $80/month app so I could watch the NBA finals, so cable bundling sounds pretty good too.

lexroman.com•7 days ago

Was this person a writer?

Other writers seem the most mad about this

lukeplunkett.com•7 days ago

maybe! was replying to another site as a fan/reader, though

closet-beatnik.bsky.social•7 days ago

This is exactly why we have "low information voters." They can't pay for any subscriptions. They have basic-basic cable, which carries Fox for free but doesn't carry MSNBC or CNN. If they have internet, most big news orgs are behind pay walls. There's an informational class divide.

bindlestiff.bsky.social•6 days ago

wait we weren’t supposed to buy every mag — DAMMIT

ryanpemberton.bsky.social•7 days ago

I've budgeted for the couple of sites I read almost daily and if I wanted to pick another sub up I might have to swap one out. It's no different to how I think about paying for streaming services. I feel the friction, but it's only because we've grown accustomed to a cooked business model.

marksutterauthor.bsky.social•7 days ago

The idea that we should be able to own everything is definitely a development of the internet age. I admit I used to use Kazaa and ROM sites like crazy but I also spent the first fifteen years of my life in the age of physical objects limited by personal income.

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