An August AMA!

Hi,

Welcome to the very first Webworm that isn't being powered by Substack. The migration went great, and here we are.

The permanent home of Webworm is in your inbox, and at webworm.co. On that website you'll also find the entire archive of about 1000 Webworm pieces, including any audio I've released like "Spaceman Barry" and "The Secret In The Safe".

No more Substack... which as of three hours ago was happy to host this:

I've included a FAQ down below, but just quickly, some key points:

If you were already a paying Webworm member, you don't have to do a darn thing. All of your subscription details have travelled with you, and please feel some warm fuzzy feelings that Substack is no longer clipping the ticket. That 10% they took now goes directly into Webworm. Can't wait to see you in the comments section. Make yourself at home.

Today, I figured we'd do an AMA – about the move, and about anything else you wanted to ask. So, once you're logged in, ask away in the comments below.

If you're completely new here, or a free member who now wants to support this place, you can:

(My next newsletter to paying members will be a feature about Alcor, a "cryonics" company that's storing 250 human bodies and human heads in liquid nitrogen, hoping that future science will one day revive them. This year I've been spending time with Alcor's CEO, who's been trying to convince me it's not pseudo-science. The story is kind of wild.)

In other news, after a few of your asked, Webworm now has a "Tip Jar" which primarily goes towards any legal battles this newsletter becomes embroiled in. I'd prefer Webworm doesn't get sued into the ground like when Hulk Hogan took down Gawker. Who is my ginger haired Hulk? John Cameron? Nick Mowbray?

PSA: Let's Be Kind

As a sidebar, I find myself thinking of the good writers still doing good shit over on Substack, currently freaking out about what to do. I think it's really important we're a little gentle to journalists and writers who still publish good work there. Part of what I hope people took from my last piece is the multitude of reasons writers find it hard to leave Substack. It's not quite as simple as swapping X for Bluesky.

And I flinch a little bit when a writer proudly shares a good work on social media, and I see comments going, "You're on a nazi platform, you unethical heathen!" I just don't think that helps. If you care, gently slide them an email or a DM. Because a side-dish of shame can mean a risk they just throw it all in and stop writing entirely, or get paralysis at the idea of change. Moving takes time and resources. Let's be kind.

Thanks for being here. Honestly, having Webworm grow into a viable source of income over the last five years keeps this place alive – but it also directly feeds into my other work. Having stability here lets me explore other things that definitely don't pay, like researching fresh documentary ideas. Plus stuff on Webworm sometimes develops into other stuff that you see or hear elsewhere, like on Flightless Bird.

So thank you. You literally let me do this work.

New Webworm Merch Alert!

To celebrate this transition off of Substack all going smoothly, there's a bunch of fresh stuff over in the Webworm store, including a relaunch of the "Sliced Worm" t-shirt my brother designed as an ode to Bryan Fuller's excellent Hannibal TV series. Which also comes in mug form.

There's also a bunch of very fun t-shirts, caps, and stickers from Kiwi artist Jess Johnson.

A Webworm FAQ

I spent the weekend compiling a Webworm FAQ, based on a bunch of questions from readers about the move. I boiled them down to 13 key questions - some of which include criticisms - which I think are good to address, just for clarity on my thinking.

1. What has changed for me, the reader?

Basically, very little. I think I'll occasionally post website-only stuff on webworm.co (like this piece I just put online about Michael Organ's political manifesto). Um, you can't read Webworm on the Substack app anymore, so there's no risk you'll get recommended any by Nazi shit, medical misinformation, or anti-trans BS.

2. Other than paid subs, how else can we pad that legal war chest? I hate that our lives are, unfortunately, so entangled with the power that be The Algorithm. How can we help mitigate the loss of that for Webworm?

As I mentioned up top, you can always give a one-off tip to Webworm. For me, an ongoing subscription is always best, purely because it lets me map out my year a little and have more stability. But who says no to a tip? Thank you.

3. I really want to be a full member to take part in the community here, and to support Webworm, but I just can't afford it.

Never, ever pay for full Webworm if things are tight. That is my nightmare. Email me and I will sort you out: davidfarrier@protonmail.com

4. I like the comment section, what happened to that?

It's still here - nothing has changed. If you're a paid up member, you get to comment under any Webworm piece as per usual - including in today's AMA. Just make sure you're logged in, and you're off to the races!

5. When I comment here I don't have my cute little profile photo, how do I get one?

You can create a free account at Gravatar.com, using whatever email you use for Webworm. Gravatar ("Globally Recognized Avatar") links your email to an image, so when you interact with a website that supports Gravatar, your avatar automatically appears next to your comments. I did it, and it seems to work great.

6. Apologies if this is dumb or should be obvious… is Ghost an app we should download? Or will it just be interactive (comments, etc.) via the email? Assuming I can just go ahead and delete the Substack app?

Great question! As far as Webworm is concerned, you can go ahead and delete the Substack app. There is no "App" for Ghost - Webworm is best read:
1) In your email inbox
2) On the website: www.webworm.co
You can comment, as per usual, from both those places.

7. I want to find and read one of your old pieces! What happens to the old Webworms? Are they gone?!

They are not gone. They all live happily at www.webworm.co. There is a search option so you can look up keywords to find old pieces.

8. I'm not getting Webworm emails in my inbox. How do I fix it?

Two things to try. First, check that you Webworm settings are set to receive emails:

-Head to www.webworm.co
-If you're not signed in already - click "sign in" in the top right
-Click "account" in the top right
-Next to "emails" click "manage", and check you're set to receive emails

If that doesn't work, then check your Spam folders. There's all sorts of weird stuff in there, possibly including emails from me that got relegated to spam (sad).

If they're not in there either, your internet service provider may be blocking them, which is entirely out of my control (double sad!) and you're best bet is getting each fresh Webworm by visiting the site: webworm.co

9. Can I change the e-mail address that Webworm gets delivered to?

Definitely.

-Head to www.webworm.co
-If you're not signed in already, click "sign in" in the top right, then sign in (using the email address you're currently using to subscribe)
-Click "account" in the top right
-Next to your email address click "edit"

10. What if I get bombarded with email notifications whenever anyone replies to a comment I leave here? I hate notifications.

Easy – just go to the Webworm website, click into your account options, and click "manage" next to "emails" – where you can turn things on and off.

11. It's your newsletter, it's your decision, and you've obviously put a lot of thought and effort into the switch. I'm disappointed from a philosophical and moral point of view. I'm more concerned that Webworm is going to lose out on exposure to people outside of its choir, so to speak, and will experience a sharp decline in reach and growth. I don't want to be overly negative and I know my thoughts are in the minority here. But my concern about reach and growth is coming from ~15 years of professional experience in digital marketing and a clear understanding of the differences (as in, they're not comparable as a discovery platform vs a CMS) between Substack and Ghost.

I totally get it's nuanced, and I certainly don't want to act like some moral authority especially with other Substack writers.

As I outlined, I realise that I will lose out on exposure through Substack's algorithm. But, again, that is the same algorithm that pushes Nazis. And that is something I decided I wasn't comfortable with.

Part of the reason I started Webworm was to push back against conspiracy theories and bad actors (the bestsellers lists at Substack concerns me a lot) – and I can't risk being in a place where I am also enabling them. And giving that place (Substack) 10% of my income.

I also have confidence in escaping the lock-in of Substack that I talked about, and genuinely believe long term it's not just the right ethical and moral move, but just the smartest for Webworm's longevity (and my own sanity).

12. Conspiracy theories and bad actors have always been part of human society, for as long as we have recorded history; we're not experiencing some uniquely modern boom. The tools are different, and the tools do matter but only to an extent. In Webworm's case, voice clearly seems to be the most powerful antidote as opposed to exit: staying visible in the “public square" of Substack so that people looking for good information can find it alongside the bad. Webworm meets the criteria that tilt it heavily to voice as the most effective strategy to influence change.

I think part of why I stayed for a year was this idea of "holding my ground." Stick it out in the Nazi bar, and push back against those Nazi ideas in front all those poor punters just trying to have a quiet drink.

I guess it's the same reason I justify being on Instagram and LinkedIn (and until recently, on Facebook and X).

But the difference is - a few things.

First up, Substack doesn't just host Nazis, it promotes them.

Secondly, I was giving 10% of my income to Substack. And that 10% was, technically, going towards holding up a closed system that held up Nazis (and transphobes, and dangerous health misinformation). I wasn't comfortable with that, considering who and what they were enabling. I felt ethically compromised, and in a way I was passing that burden onto my readers who were having part of their ticket clipped.

So for me - it was another reason that I had to go.

And again, I am still pushing back against those bad ideas and using my voice. I am speaking loudly. And I am now doing it on my own terms.

13. David I disagree. You are focusing on the wrong subject matter and aspects of amazing journalism here at Substack. Each to their own, but I believe you’re wrong in your conclusion. It’s the best we have currently and I’m disappointed you’d feel that way. Giving up is not the way forward. It’s working with what we have and growing its phenomenal strengths. However, I wish you well. I’d advise taking a step back however and viewing the big picture clearly . My two cents for what it’s worth.

You are totally welcome to your views on this and of course it's really nuanced (although becoming much less nuanced from my perspective for very specific reasons).

First up - Substack is not the best we have. That's a myth. For what it's worth – I am very happy using Ghost to power Webworm, and spent a year looking at others using Ghost (like Platformer and 404Media) who are doing awesome stuff. And I do want to make it really clear that Webworm isn't stopping. I need to be really clear on that! I am not giving up - far from it. I am digging in.

Webworm isn't stopping, it's continuing – and in a way that future proofs it for myself, and for the reader, in a much better way.

I have been thinking about this move for a year. Over a year. It's not a knee-jerk reaction, and comes from talking to a lot of people I admire and noticing what's been going on. I've lived really online since forums in the 90s – and I think this stuff is important. So it hasn't been rushed.

Again, from your end, nothing should change: You still get my stuff in your inbox, you are still supporting my journalism, and I really appreciate that. A lot.

Okay, AMA time. See you in the comments. Again, I am deeply appreciative of you being here.

David.