20 Comments
User's avatar
J just J's avatar

I like your writing. When I think of “content” I think of something meant to be consumed like candy or potato chips. But writing or other forms of art are designed to make me pause, whether just for a laugh or to think about something about myself or the world. When I am scrolling mindlessly on Instagram reels that’s content. Reading essays on Substack is writing.

tab's avatar

My toilet was filled with content this morning. It was good.

Only once had a bot that did something helpful. After one question, it sent me to a human.

The people who want to be content creators are going to make what was in my toilet this morning.

J. W. (Jeff) Kingsley's avatar

1. Your content is great, like, it leaves me feeling you know, contentment – except for the lack of squirrels dressed as ninjas. Seriously, until today, I didn’t know that was a thing, and now I’m craving more. You evil bastard, I’m gonna be doom-scrolling ninja squirrels till well after midnight …

2. Me? Human … mostly … I think

3. What language is it where orgasms are described as ‘little deaths’? Yeah, well, not like that at all, more like a little part of me dies and becomes dead-dead, you know, like necrosis

4. Plagiarizing bots covering up the Epstein files – way too gross to go deeper than that – just wait till you read some of the redacted stuff *shudder*

Michael Estrin's avatar

You're right, Jeff. I need to write more about ninja squirrels.

Raymond Edling's avatar

This is not a hierarchy thing. It's about meaning....YES! Crucial (and illuminating) distinction.

Michael Estrin's avatar

Thank you, Raymond.

Russellino's avatar

That reminds me I need to purchase your Not Safe For Work content.

Michael Estrin's avatar

Hell yes, you do. Enjoy!

Russellino's avatar

That reminds me I need to purchase your Not Safe For Work content.

Bowen Dwelle's avatar

Of course, “content” is part of the conspiracy to dilute human art and creativity into mere fuel for the machine. I hear ya.

Wrote about it myself some time ago:

https://bowendwelle.substack.com/p/the-love-of-strangers-1000

Jeff S's avatar

Content Under Pressure.

MonalisaSmile's avatar

"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about." — Benjamin Franklin

And, you, Michael Estrin, always write something worth reading. Love your “content” even though I hate the word, too.

I write because I have stories. It’s not just soulless “content.”

Jessica Sitton's avatar

“Content creator” is the lazy lumping of a group of beings into a mass that can be addressed collectively. As a physician I HATED being called a “health care provider,” but I realize the administrators and insurers came up with that term so as to address all MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, RNs, LVNs, MAs, etc. as one money-generating blob.

Michael Estrin's avatar

As soon as we achieve universal content, the content creators will become content providers.

John Ohmer's avatar

2) human, and thanks for this story, not only for the content — no no no the substance of the writing — itself, but for the link back to your ballsy story. I’d meant to read that when it first hit my inbox, but I’d gotten distracted by so much other con— songs! stories! films! — that I’d forgotten. Really appreciate it.

Michael Estrin's avatar

Well said, John. Glad you got to read the one about checking your balls.

Joseph L. Wiess's avatar

I don't create content, I am a storyteller, a writer.