Bluesky seems to be taking the parts of Twitter who wouldn't land at Mastodon for $REASONS. I do wish you'd feed the Fediverse/Mastodon/whatever (pedantry about that is why some folks run screaming from Mastodon... fucking pedants), but I'm beginning to accept the bifurcation of Mastodon (tech, mostly) and Bluesky.
I'm not even tech-just wanted to avoid another Dorsey/Zuckerburg situation. I hear Mastodon can get scoldy, but I haven't experienced it (just lots of people complaining about it- I'm starting to think it's akin to the epidemic of shoplifting- lots of handwringing, not a lot of gifted lip balm).
Unfortunately I've seen the scold in action. I think the newer-to-Mastodon tech-celebs (e.g. Matt Blaze) get the worst of it because old-timey Mastodonians get to scold on culture to Important People. I also see the unpleasant side-effect of exposing how bubbled some techies when you see old-timey Mastodonians interact with PoC Twitter refugees especially. (And the negative intersectionalities I've seen in some VERY small corner cases are just... wow!)
I think you are interacting at a much higher level of expertise than I am. I'm a little bit of eat the rich/here are some mushrooms I found in the woods/I have pets, and y'all seem to like pets. I WISH all the history Kevins would head over to Mastodon, but no luck so far. I subsist on Teri Kanefield and Bellows, and hope for more.
As more of the people I follow decamp, there's not much worth reading there. Sucks that a useful - if sometimes flawed - tool was intentionally sabotaged. Looking forward to seeing what you have to say
I certainly understand your decision! I miss the "old Twitter" where I had access to the opinions & information provided by you and several other historians & journalists. I miss my daily scroll through (and some of animal pictures, especially Kevin Gannon's Yoshi & Lulu). Fortunately, I was exposed to historians that I would not have discovered otherwise. I have even purchased a few books - including a couple of yours!
Thank you for your work on the previously iteration of Twitter but it sounds like your penance is done! And thanks for the Substack - I joined right away.
Sorry about what happened to Twitter. I noticed how many people commented that it used to be when something like Hamas attacking Israel happened, you could go there to get information. Now you get Elon.
Sorry to see you go, Kevin. You were one of the last reasons I kept lurking on Twitter; guess it's time for me to finally pull the plug on my Twitter account.
At least, Threads is open and available. Bluesky is not. I'm not sure what criteria they're using for admission to their special universe, but everytime I try to open an account, a waiting list becakons.
So, Professor, while I'll read you here and there, I'm afraid this is good-bye for now, as I've found Threads cumbersome at best. I wish you the best. You've been important to me, but it's getting too difficult to follow all the folks I used to follow.
Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023Liked by Kevin M. Kruse
Thanks for writing this! I'll miss you Over There, but it's only a matter of time for all of us anyway. Unless you're burnt out on trying social media sites, maybe take a look at Spoutible; they seem to be heading in a good direction.
Edited to add: I'm really thankful we still have a place to go for pupdates!🥰🥰
Sorry to see you leave X, but seeing the decline has been evident, even to us lurkers. As soon as I get a valid Bluesky code, I hope to move over there.
One of many reasons I left Twitter was the unreliability of breaking news. I first learned of Jan.6 there, from Dr. Joanne Freeman (how I wish she’d come to Substack!), and followed thru that horrifying day, even as I watched and wept. Welcome to all who have followed you here, Dr. Kruse - here’s a blurb about your Work In Progress https://history.columbian.gwu.edu/division-john-doar-justice-department-and-civil-rights-movement
Just sittin' here at the Mastodon table, playing with my retainer and eating my stupid carrot sticks.
Embrace it!
Bluesky seems to be taking the parts of Twitter who wouldn't land at Mastodon for $REASONS. I do wish you'd feed the Fediverse/Mastodon/whatever (pedantry about that is why some folks run screaming from Mastodon... fucking pedants), but I'm beginning to accept the bifurcation of Mastodon (tech, mostly) and Bluesky.
As for you leaving Twitter, Kevin:
https://media.tenor.com/1SMWlg7r70kAAAAC/about-time-already-time.gif
I'm not even tech-just wanted to avoid another Dorsey/Zuckerburg situation. I hear Mastodon can get scoldy, but I haven't experienced it (just lots of people complaining about it- I'm starting to think it's akin to the epidemic of shoplifting- lots of handwringing, not a lot of gifted lip balm).
Unfortunately I've seen the scold in action. I think the newer-to-Mastodon tech-celebs (e.g. Matt Blaze) get the worst of it because old-timey Mastodonians get to scold on culture to Important People. I also see the unpleasant side-effect of exposing how bubbled some techies when you see old-timey Mastodonians interact with PoC Twitter refugees especially. (And the negative intersectionalities I've seen in some VERY small corner cases are just... wow!)
I think you are interacting at a much higher level of expertise than I am. I'm a little bit of eat the rich/here are some mushrooms I found in the woods/I have pets, and y'all seem to like pets. I WISH all the history Kevins would head over to Mastodon, but no luck so far. I subsist on Teri Kanefield and Bellows, and hope for more.
Thomas Zimmer is a good history follow on Masto/Fedi:
https://mastodon.social/@tzimmer_history
He's also here on substack:
https://thomaszimmer.substack.com/
As more of the people I follow decamp, there's not much worth reading there. Sucks that a useful - if sometimes flawed - tool was intentionally sabotaged. Looking forward to seeing what you have to say
and what books you recommend on Threads and here.
I certainly understand your decision! I miss the "old Twitter" where I had access to the opinions & information provided by you and several other historians & journalists. I miss my daily scroll through (and some of animal pictures, especially Kevin Gannon's Yoshi & Lulu). Fortunately, I was exposed to historians that I would not have discovered otherwise. I have even purchased a few books - including a couple of yours!
Thank you for your work on the previously iteration of Twitter but it sounds like your penance is done! And thanks for the Substack - I joined right away.
Sorry about what happened to Twitter. I noticed how many people commented that it used to be when something like Hamas attacking Israel happened, you could go there to get information. Now you get Elon.
If you’re out I’m out. Thank you for your scholarship, sense of humor, and excellent taste in music. I shall follow you to another platform.
Sorry to see you go, Kevin. You were one of the last reasons I kept lurking on Twitter; guess it's time for me to finally pull the plug on my Twitter account.
Welp, I guess this means I need to activate my Bluesky account, eh? See you on the flip side and thanks for the explanation.
I do hope your Twitter archive stays active, particularly the extended lessons on 20th century political history Dinesh D’Souza et al. prompted.
Also, can you dole out some of those sweet, sweet Bluesky invite codes to your Substack subscribers?!
Sure!
Act fast because I also sent these to a friend who distributes:
bsky-social-5aigr-4z6qk
bsky-social-vrea2-7revx
I owe you one, sir, as does newly christened Bluesky participant “Uncle Slayton.”
“Tell Jesus I’m out of dimes.”
And where is Uncle Slayton gonna find the time for the socials between the chipping mill and the club 69?
Just wait until after sundown. We’ll have us a time.
Please please please come to spoutible. It's a breath of fresh air compared to the other platforms you're using.
At least, Threads is open and available. Bluesky is not. I'm not sure what criteria they're using for admission to their special universe, but everytime I try to open an account, a waiting list becakons.
So, Professor, while I'll read you here and there, I'm afraid this is good-bye for now, as I've found Threads cumbersome at best. I wish you the best. You've been important to me, but it's getting too difficult to follow all the folks I used to follow.
Thank you for everything you did on the hellsite formerly known as twitter. I look forward to seeing you here and on Bluesky.
Thanks for writing this! I'll miss you Over There, but it's only a matter of time for all of us anyway. Unless you're burnt out on trying social media sites, maybe take a look at Spoutible; they seem to be heading in a good direction.
Edited to add: I'm really thankful we still have a place to go for pupdates!🥰🥰
What Musk did can be best described as a “Sabotage”. I’m so glad we had this time together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6xsKsJqVyg
So you are going to make me move to threads :) (no bluesky invites for me).
Sorry to see you leave X, but seeing the decline has been evident, even to us lurkers. As soon as I get a valid Bluesky code, I hope to move over there.
Try one of these:
bsky-social-5aigr-4z6qk
bsky-social-vrea2-7revx
Got it - I'm in. See you in the Bluesky!
One of many reasons I left Twitter was the unreliability of breaking news. I first learned of Jan.6 there, from Dr. Joanne Freeman (how I wish she’d come to Substack!), and followed thru that horrifying day, even as I watched and wept. Welcome to all who have followed you here, Dr. Kruse - here’s a blurb about your Work In Progress https://history.columbian.gwu.edu/division-john-doar-justice-department-and-civil-rights-movement
Thanks so much!
I shared this post with Kevin Gannon, The Tattooed Professor, by email in hopes he will start posting his blog here as well.