So I've Decided To Have A Discussion Thread

I'm already married but it's time to build some engagement

Everyone has a discussion thread but me; it’s the thing to do and I feel left out.

I’m actually not entirely sure why I’m supposed to want a discussion thread, but the biggest advantage I can think of is that right now anyone who wants to discuss anything probably feels limited to whatever thing I’m talking about in my most recent article. To the extent there are or might eventually be readers who want to build a community I can see that making things hard.

The rules are pretty limited:

1. Internet atheists, don’t be too Reddit-y. I know this is a subjective measure. I want to keep your on your unbelieving toes.

2. Fellow internet Christians, don’t be… annoying, I guess? You’ve been a Christian a lot and you know our failure modes; don’t do them.

3. Same as 1-2, but for conservatives/democrats.

4. 1-3 inclusive don’t mean you can’t talk about who you are or argue, just be vaguely reasonable about it.

5. Mostly I just don’t want to have to moderate very much. I’m not good at it. I also don’t want you to get stressed out, and you know full well when you arguments get out of hand you get that feeling like someone clenched a fist inside your lungs. It’s not a good feeling.

I’m planning on doing one of these a week, probably on Monday nights; the timing is entirely related to this being my only consistently free time.

I’m also going to plug stuff every week. If you have something you want plugged, let me know - I can’t absolutely promise I’ll put it up, but it’s completely free advertising if I do.

Plugs

We have a discord now! It’s going pretty well so far! Join!

Surf is an app that doesn’t appear to entirely exist yet, but intends to be a pretty lightweight and wholesome friend-and-activity finder. I’m a big proponent of people finding ways to be less lonely and I’d love to see something like this work.

It’s been a while since I plugged The Sample, which is my favorite of the algorithm-driven “here is a random newsletter to read” blog-finder apps. Jacob, the guy who runs it, is not literally the worst person I know. (Full disclosure and note for other bloggers: If you use the link I provided and subscribe, TS does it’s best to pay a similar amount of new subscribers back. It’s not foolproof, but sharing that link worked out great for me in terms of growth over the last year or so and I recommend it to anyone who is at the early part of audience-building.)

There’s a ACX/Rationalist meetup in Phoenix, AZ on 8/6 at 1pm. I will be there unless my wife forgets to remind me, so this is a good chance to disabuse yourself of any positive preconceptions you might have about my physical appearance. Email me for details at residentcontrarian@substack.com. Do not email my wife, who is an introvert and would hate every part of that.

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