I firmly believe what's important is the words on the page/screen that makes us think, feel, ponder, consider, struggle to understand, and to impart knowledge. This is the intent, significance, the message of content - when everything is constantly "behind the scenes," then there is no magic left and meaning can be (and usually is) lost.
I'm very similar when it comes to having my face exposed and what I do is limited. The profile pic I have here will probably always stay the same - it's just a way for me to put a face to my name (but if you notice, I'm wearing oversized sunglasses, haha!). I've done a couple of podcasts where I was on camera, which was fine because the environment was very welcoming. However, with the podcast, I made sure to have a really cool, fake background and I do the same with Zoom meetings. I don't want people to see my quiet, safe place, nor the pile of laundry that may happen to be on the chair because that's not the purpose - it's what we're discussing, the ideas, the meaning, and the laughter which rolls forth. In the end, though, you have to do what feels right for YOU, not anyone else! :-)
"My quiet, safe place" is the exact phrase I did not know I was reaching for in that piece. That is the part people miss, that keeping the environment private is not hiding, it is protecting the thing that actually matters, the ideas and the laughter that rolls out of them. The oversized sunglasses are a perfect touch. What finally made the podcasts worth stepping on camera for?
My friends. They are a group of genuinely kind, funny people and we have quite a bit in common, so the conversation just flowed. I feel like I spent half the time laughing! It was a fantastic vibe I wanted to be part of and share.
That's amazing, Christa. Stepping out from behind the mic surrounded by people who already feel like home makes all the difference, no wonder it felt like laughing your way through it.
"I'm here for the words" might be the best sentence anyone building an anti-video corner of the internet could hand me, thank you.What pulled you toward words over video in the first place?
Honestly, the idea of being on camera, being "on" and aesthetic and creating content, just drains me thinking about it. I don't have it in me. But I still love following accounts, book recs especially, that do video in a way that feels real and not performed. So it's less an anti-video thing and more a "that takes energy I don't have" thing.
Yes! Social media never felt quite right to me, partly because I want to be a writer (not a photographer or video editor or onscreen personality). You have also helped me recognize that I've been bumping up against an unconscious boundary, a feeling that I should be able to connect with people in a genuine and meaningful way without having to reveal more about myself than I am comfortable sharing.
That distinction you made, wanting to be a writer and not a photographer or video editor or onscreen personality, is the whole thing. So many people get funneled into formats that have nothing to do with why they started writing in the first place. What does that boundary look like for you now that you've named it?
Good question! I’m a mom and I work from home, so I don’t have a lot of time or space that is just for me. By maintaining some anonymity here, I find it easier to separate from my other “selves” and find my voice as a writer.
This resonated with me so much! I want to create and share my work, but I do not want my face to become the content. I especially loved your point that this is a boundary, not an insecurity. Substack has made me feel that my ideas and writing can be enough, and that I can build something meaningful without constantly performing for the camera. Thank you for putting this feeling into words so beautifully. ❤️
Reading this made my morning, Michelle. That boundary versus insecurity line was the whole point I was reaching for, and hearing it landed the way I meant it means everything.
I’m so glad it came across the way you intended. That distinction really stayed with me, and your article made me feel much more confident about creating without making myself the content. ❤️
This is literally me. I have no interest in showing my face on the internet (despite being extroverted and social!). I just like some privacy and want it to be about my work!
The extroverted part makes this even better. Wanting privacy and wanting it to be about the work are not opposites, and you just proved it. Thank you for sharing!
You are so right, this community has been nothing but kind and supportive. It's not about trust, some of us just need that bit of privacy to feel safe putting our work out there. You're very welcome!
I have made a decision to limit personal exposure on Substack, but it is not a hard and fast rule. I’ll relax this decision on occasions when it seems the right thing to do. My decision is based primarily on how I utilize social media. For me each of the three platforms I utilize serves a different purpose. I rarely accept a friend request on Facebook unless I have met that person in real life. I also traveled for many years for work. So Facebook is convenient as a forum to keep in touch with people that I would otherwise have lost track of. That’s where you’ll see photos of me, my dog, my house, my friends, family, vacations, occasionally my politics, etc. Instagram is just the opposite. It is devoted exclusively to iPhone photography, and almost none of my connections there are with people I know. I mostly connect with other visual artists there. I joined Substack in mid-April because I started writing regularly as a New Year’s resolution. I want to improve that skill and in addition to the actual writing, I thought community would also help towards that end. I will be retired by the end of the calendar year and will have the time to keep a promise to myself to post every other week for a minimum of two years. I have 12 subscribers, 9 of whom I already knew. I’m fine with that. It will grow at its own rate. I’m not here for numbers or to monetize the account. I’m here to learn and have some engagement with others with similar interests. As you said, I don’t want to be the content here. Thanks for an interesting essay!
I firmly believe what's important is the words on the page/screen that makes us think, feel, ponder, consider, struggle to understand, and to impart knowledge. This is the intent, significance, the message of content - when everything is constantly "behind the scenes," then there is no magic left and meaning can be (and usually is) lost.
I'm very similar when it comes to having my face exposed and what I do is limited. The profile pic I have here will probably always stay the same - it's just a way for me to put a face to my name (but if you notice, I'm wearing oversized sunglasses, haha!). I've done a couple of podcasts where I was on camera, which was fine because the environment was very welcoming. However, with the podcast, I made sure to have a really cool, fake background and I do the same with Zoom meetings. I don't want people to see my quiet, safe place, nor the pile of laundry that may happen to be on the chair because that's not the purpose - it's what we're discussing, the ideas, the meaning, and the laughter which rolls forth. In the end, though, you have to do what feels right for YOU, not anyone else! :-)
"My quiet, safe place" is the exact phrase I did not know I was reaching for in that piece. That is the part people miss, that keeping the environment private is not hiding, it is protecting the thing that actually matters, the ideas and the laughter that rolls out of them. The oversized sunglasses are a perfect touch. What finally made the podcasts worth stepping on camera for?
My friends. They are a group of genuinely kind, funny people and we have quite a bit in common, so the conversation just flowed. I feel like I spent half the time laughing! It was a fantastic vibe I wanted to be part of and share.
That's amazing, Christa. Stepping out from behind the mic surrounded by people who already feel like home makes all the difference, no wonder it felt like laughing your way through it.
I'm here for the words! And I am anti-video 😄, if there was a setting to keep it out of my feed then I would. Obvs it is popular, but not for me.
Love that this does seem to be something you can do on substack.
My profile picture is my way around needing a photo 🙂✏️
"I'm here for the words" might be the best sentence anyone building an anti-video corner of the internet could hand me, thank you.What pulled you toward words over video in the first place?
Honestly, probably just that I never really got into video. I wasn't really on social media before substack. The words have always been there 🙂
How about you?
Honestly, the idea of being on camera, being "on" and aesthetic and creating content, just drains me thinking about it. I don't have it in me. But I still love following accounts, book recs especially, that do video in a way that feels real and not performed. So it's less an anti-video thing and more a "that takes energy I don't have" thing.
Yes, that makes sense re the creating vs consuming video. Definitely easier to watch it than the odd feeling of performing for a camera.
Substack is great for all of this though. Really does feel like a lot of our people in here 😄
Yes! Social media never felt quite right to me, partly because I want to be a writer (not a photographer or video editor or onscreen personality). You have also helped me recognize that I've been bumping up against an unconscious boundary, a feeling that I should be able to connect with people in a genuine and meaningful way without having to reveal more about myself than I am comfortable sharing.
That distinction you made, wanting to be a writer and not a photographer or video editor or onscreen personality, is the whole thing. So many people get funneled into formats that have nothing to do with why they started writing in the first place. What does that boundary look like for you now that you've named it?
Good question! I’m a mom and I work from home, so I don’t have a lot of time or space that is just for me. By maintaining some anonymity here, I find it easier to separate from my other “selves” and find my voice as a writer.
That’s a really good reason for it.
This resonated with me so much! I want to create and share my work, but I do not want my face to become the content. I especially loved your point that this is a boundary, not an insecurity. Substack has made me feel that my ideas and writing can be enough, and that I can build something meaningful without constantly performing for the camera. Thank you for putting this feeling into words so beautifully. ❤️
Reading this made my morning, Michelle. That boundary versus insecurity line was the whole point I was reaching for, and hearing it landed the way I meant it means everything.
I’m so glad it came across the way you intended. That distinction really stayed with me, and your article made me feel much more confident about creating without making myself the content. ❤️
This is literally me. I have no interest in showing my face on the internet (despite being extroverted and social!). I just like some privacy and want it to be about my work!
The extroverted part makes this even better. Wanting privacy and wanting it to be about the work are not opposites, and you just proved it. Thank you for sharing!
I think it’s ok!!! A lot of people on Substack are really nice but I just feel safer if I keep some privacy for myself. Thanks for writing this!
You are so right, this community has been nothing but kind and supportive. It's not about trust, some of us just need that bit of privacy to feel safe putting our work out there. You're very welcome!
I have made a decision to limit personal exposure on Substack, but it is not a hard and fast rule. I’ll relax this decision on occasions when it seems the right thing to do. My decision is based primarily on how I utilize social media. For me each of the three platforms I utilize serves a different purpose. I rarely accept a friend request on Facebook unless I have met that person in real life. I also traveled for many years for work. So Facebook is convenient as a forum to keep in touch with people that I would otherwise have lost track of. That’s where you’ll see photos of me, my dog, my house, my friends, family, vacations, occasionally my politics, etc. Instagram is just the opposite. It is devoted exclusively to iPhone photography, and almost none of my connections there are with people I know. I mostly connect with other visual artists there. I joined Substack in mid-April because I started writing regularly as a New Year’s resolution. I want to improve that skill and in addition to the actual writing, I thought community would also help towards that end. I will be retired by the end of the calendar year and will have the time to keep a promise to myself to post every other week for a minimum of two years. I have 12 subscribers, 9 of whom I already knew. I’m fine with that. It will grow at its own rate. I’m not here for numbers or to monetize the account. I’m here to learn and have some engagement with others with similar interests. As you said, I don’t want to be the content here. Thanks for an interesting essay!