Wonderful piece! I have three major thoughts on this.
I completely agree with three of the most important points you make. First, that we are all just isolated and lonely. Second, that sharing your pain and vulnerability helps you reach people. Third, I also disagree with your friend about 'That world is dead'.
We're more lonely than ever because we're stuffed with psychic sugar - parasocial relationships, chasing the algorithm, bite-sized content, and so on. It wasn't until I forced myself off the couch and into the world, did the hard work to find meaningful relationships and the harder work to keep maintaining them that I began to heal.
Humans are not meant to be alone, and the good intentions behind 'move fast and break things' have paved the way to the Hell of Loneliness we now collectively inhabit.
Second, you're so on the nose about sharing pain. Anger does not persuade people. Rage does not persuade people. At 'best', it intimidates them into compliance - but they're not true allies, they're conscripts.
Connection persuades people. When you let down your walls and become vulnerable and share your pain - or even better, let them share their pain and demonstrate that you care about their pain, that you are working to understand it and help them travel to a better place - that is when you persuade people.
People may fight for their ideals. People may fight for anger. People may fight for hate.
But people also fight for their friends, their family, their comrades. And there's a difference there. There, they fight until they hit their limit, and then they find a way to break that limit, because we are at our most powerful when we are fueled by love.
And love is weak. Love is vulnerable. Love is so very, very easily hurt. Love is fear, and pain, and suffering.
But Love is also Power - and a movement whose fuel is that of love, of compassion, of a drive to see everyone elevated no matter who they are, no matter their creed, or color, or class - that is the movement that is unstoppable.
Anger and hate always need new fuel to feed them or eventually they burn out. Love can shine eternally.
Lastly... I don't know if your friend saying that old world is gone was fully right - but I fear they were not fully wrong, either. They did not say why - but I can venture a guess.
I believe what they meant was "The old way is gone because people have changed, attention spans are shorter, and only shortform content survives because it's what the algo favors."
That is true to a degree - but I dispute that's the real meat.
I suspect it's far more "The old way is gone because the people who used to support the old way financially now have to spend it on rent & groceries."
If you're an NPR listener, an MSNBC sort, a true geek about knowledge - and you radiate that wonderful passion in your work - well, you're the sort of person likely to chase a job that offers meaning and fulfillment. A job involving service to the world in some way, as opposed to simply chasing the largest paycheck.
It's harder to survive because people just have less they can give.
I believe, strongly, in you and in the good and thorough reporting and discussions you hold so much so that I am a paid subscriber from the first I heard of you making this program. I do wish you every success and do whatever I can to support your good efforts. Crystal provides a little bit of good advice, thank you Crystal, on possibly how to get more attention in my shares but I do fear that salacious goes over best in a world that seems to exist for hate, fear, half truths and outright lies.
I had a moment a few years ago, over Benghazi, The ambassador was told not to go to Benghazi. Rather stay where he was or go on to Tripoli as they could not get protection there in time for his arrival. He ignored that advice, saying he needed to be in Benghazi in the hopes that he could help. He was that dedicated to doing what he felt was best he willingly risked his life. He died for that dedication. I could not get this off my mind for days, why would anyone have done that? Most of us do not have to face possible death to do what we are dedicated to but surely we can follow his belief in what he might possibly have changed by following his heart and mind. Much success, luck and love to you, Joshua, in your venture. We are rooting for you.
Meantime, get out, get lots of the sunshine that surrounds us, if nothing else its good for the soul.
I’m still a fan of long form, but understand that much of the rest of society now has an 140 character attention span.
Maybe the real finesse of the modern age is writing those two liners (the steak tidbit) that are good enough to go semi-viral on social media, and draw enough people in to give the longer work some interest and attention.
I try to make a habit when I restack/share the original content of others to offer the tasty morsels. There’s too much of everything online, much of it not good… it’s critical to say “here’s a taste of something worthy of your attention.”
I thought your response to the NPR kerfuffle was a perfect piece for that. I shared it across all my platforms and thought it would get way more engagement.
Hi Joshua: I am older than your target audience and only for you would I join something called Substack which I barely understand. I think who you are and how you approach the news is so worthy and insightful. But I think what makes The Night Light unique is you are building community through meaningful dialogue and an exchange of ideas. I think you are a great interviewer as well.
This will date me, but I wish you had a website where I always knew where to find you and when the streams are and on what platforms and at what times. I also could go there to find the merchandise.
This is really going to date me but I think you should put a collection of essays together, call it The Book of Joshua and print it. I'd like to give it to my friends and say "read this". I love your pieces about how you grew up, your relatives, etc.
I understand maybe these ideas are too much money but maybe think of a Patreon account among the Founding Members for a specific purpose to help you get a foothold in a very treacherous climate.
I can't make the live stream on the 8th but I will look for when the next one happens.
But wait, Joshua, in your speech, did you connect your Spielberg and Caine anecdotes with Caine’s role in the (non-Spielberg) Jaws 4: THE REVENGE?!?! Now, Caine had to use the difficulty to deliver any kind of performance with that script.
Wonderful piece! I have three major thoughts on this.
I completely agree with three of the most important points you make. First, that we are all just isolated and lonely. Second, that sharing your pain and vulnerability helps you reach people. Third, I also disagree with your friend about 'That world is dead'.
We're more lonely than ever because we're stuffed with psychic sugar - parasocial relationships, chasing the algorithm, bite-sized content, and so on. It wasn't until I forced myself off the couch and into the world, did the hard work to find meaningful relationships and the harder work to keep maintaining them that I began to heal.
Humans are not meant to be alone, and the good intentions behind 'move fast and break things' have paved the way to the Hell of Loneliness we now collectively inhabit.
Second, you're so on the nose about sharing pain. Anger does not persuade people. Rage does not persuade people. At 'best', it intimidates them into compliance - but they're not true allies, they're conscripts.
Connection persuades people. When you let down your walls and become vulnerable and share your pain - or even better, let them share their pain and demonstrate that you care about their pain, that you are working to understand it and help them travel to a better place - that is when you persuade people.
People may fight for their ideals. People may fight for anger. People may fight for hate.
But people also fight for their friends, their family, their comrades. And there's a difference there. There, they fight until they hit their limit, and then they find a way to break that limit, because we are at our most powerful when we are fueled by love.
And love is weak. Love is vulnerable. Love is so very, very easily hurt. Love is fear, and pain, and suffering.
But Love is also Power - and a movement whose fuel is that of love, of compassion, of a drive to see everyone elevated no matter who they are, no matter their creed, or color, or class - that is the movement that is unstoppable.
Anger and hate always need new fuel to feed them or eventually they burn out. Love can shine eternally.
Lastly... I don't know if your friend saying that old world is gone was fully right - but I fear they were not fully wrong, either. They did not say why - but I can venture a guess.
I believe what they meant was "The old way is gone because people have changed, attention spans are shorter, and only shortform content survives because it's what the algo favors."
That is true to a degree - but I dispute that's the real meat.
I suspect it's far more "The old way is gone because the people who used to support the old way financially now have to spend it on rent & groceries."
If you're an NPR listener, an MSNBC sort, a true geek about knowledge - and you radiate that wonderful passion in your work - well, you're the sort of person likely to chase a job that offers meaning and fulfillment. A job involving service to the world in some way, as opposed to simply chasing the largest paycheck.
It's harder to survive because people just have less they can give.
I believe, strongly, in you and in the good and thorough reporting and discussions you hold so much so that I am a paid subscriber from the first I heard of you making this program. I do wish you every success and do whatever I can to support your good efforts. Crystal provides a little bit of good advice, thank you Crystal, on possibly how to get more attention in my shares but I do fear that salacious goes over best in a world that seems to exist for hate, fear, half truths and outright lies.
I had a moment a few years ago, over Benghazi, The ambassador was told not to go to Benghazi. Rather stay where he was or go on to Tripoli as they could not get protection there in time for his arrival. He ignored that advice, saying he needed to be in Benghazi in the hopes that he could help. He was that dedicated to doing what he felt was best he willingly risked his life. He died for that dedication. I could not get this off my mind for days, why would anyone have done that? Most of us do not have to face possible death to do what we are dedicated to but surely we can follow his belief in what he might possibly have changed by following his heart and mind. Much success, luck and love to you, Joshua, in your venture. We are rooting for you.
Meantime, get out, get lots of the sunshine that surrounds us, if nothing else its good for the soul.
I’m still a fan of long form, but understand that much of the rest of society now has an 140 character attention span.
Maybe the real finesse of the modern age is writing those two liners (the steak tidbit) that are good enough to go semi-viral on social media, and draw enough people in to give the longer work some interest and attention.
I try to make a habit when I restack/share the original content of others to offer the tasty morsels. There’s too much of everything online, much of it not good… it’s critical to say “here’s a taste of something worthy of your attention.”
I thought your response to the NPR kerfuffle was a perfect piece for that. I shared it across all my platforms and thought it would get way more engagement.
Whatever tools you decide work best for revealing the elephant in your marble, I’m here to help.
Hi Joshua: I am older than your target audience and only for you would I join something called Substack which I barely understand. I think who you are and how you approach the news is so worthy and insightful. But I think what makes The Night Light unique is you are building community through meaningful dialogue and an exchange of ideas. I think you are a great interviewer as well.
This will date me, but I wish you had a website where I always knew where to find you and when the streams are and on what platforms and at what times. I also could go there to find the merchandise.
This is really going to date me but I think you should put a collection of essays together, call it The Book of Joshua and print it. I'd like to give it to my friends and say "read this". I love your pieces about how you grew up, your relatives, etc.
I understand maybe these ideas are too much money but maybe think of a Patreon account among the Founding Members for a specific purpose to help you get a foothold in a very treacherous climate.
I can't make the live stream on the 8th but I will look for when the next one happens.
You are the best, keep up the good work!
Keep on Joshua. Whatever your decided approach, the world needs you - your heart, mind, and words.
But wait, Joshua, in your speech, did you connect your Spielberg and Caine anecdotes with Caine’s role in the (non-Spielberg) Jaws 4: THE REVENGE?!?! Now, Caine had to use the difficulty to deliver any kind of performance with that script.
Another way… perhaps: Dress it up sexy, put it on a pedestal or a runway with a sleek background . Get a few ‘influencers’ to “blow it up”