Join writer and historian John Ganz, known for his Unpopular Front newsletter, as he delves into the internet's evolving landscape. He and the host tackle the contrasting views on digital impact from notable essays. Their conversation spans topics like the eerie dynamics of modern communication and the nostalgic yearning for tangible work. From the absurdities of online culture to the chilling rise of personality-driven tech, Ganz’s insights illuminate the complexities of our digital age and how it shapes societal values.
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insights INSIGHT
Contrasting Internet Crisis Views
Ross Douthat frames the internet crisis as a spiritual and cultural bottleneck threatening extinction of traditional culture.
Jacob Silverman offers a more grounded take, focusing on the impact of business models causing internet hostility.
insights INSIGHT
Internet Hostility by Design
Jacob Silverman argues that internet hostility is not natural but a result of design and choices over 10-20 years.
Max Read finds Silverman's approach more persuasive for explaining the internet's real mechanics and capitalism's role.
insights INSIGHT
Political Roots of Internet Culture
Reactionary online culture feeds on nationalist and delusional fantasies, not rooted in actual life.
Liberals tend to be more connected to real institutions and culture, contrary to conservative stereotypes.
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The Education of Henry Adams is an extended meditation on the rapid changes in society, technology, politics, and intellect during Adams's lifetime. The book critiques traditional education for its failure to prepare him for the scientific and technological advancements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Adams reflects on his experiences, friendships, and self-education, highlighting his bewilderment and concern over the rapid progress of science and technology. The autobiography is narrated in the third person and includes humorous and sarcastic self-criticism, as well as insights into notable events and figures of the time.
Greetings from Read Max HQ! On Tuesday afternoon John Ganz of Unpopular Front joined me for an experimental “Substack Live” with only two brief interruptions (one when I fat-fingered an end to the stream and two when John’s internet cut out). Our chat started with a discussion of two expansive essays on the modern internet coincidentally published this weekend: Ross Douthat’s “An Age of Extinction Is Coming. Here’s How to Survive,” in The New York Times, and Jacob Silverman’s “Welcome to slop world: how the hostile internet is driving us crazy,” in the Financial Times. But, as is often the case, we also ended up talking about many other things, among them the imaginary of the tariffs, Parental Advisory stickers, a Canadian guy on Instagram who claims to have re-grown his foreskin, and much more. Check out the full video (stitched together) above, or listen to the audio on the podcast platform of your choice.
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