I think when you get to a certain size and prominence and write about controversial issues, the comments can become full of hate and attacks and bots. Making them only available to paid subscribers is a way too keep them collaborative and constructive. Robert Malone does this. Not saying that is why MS is doing it, but I can understand it.
I can see he might want to reduce the number of trolls and bots who come onto the thread but the problem is, it cuts out a huge number of genuine people who might want to join in a healthy discussion of an important topic. At present, there are 180 likes and just 56 comments on that post and free subscribers can't even view the comments. There must be a better way. Looking at other popular authors on Substack, their comment threads are not often blighted by unwanted visitors, but they sometimes are. Eugyppius has take the extreme step of banning them for 100 years! LOL.
I think when you get to a certain size and prominence and write about controversial issues, the comments can become full of hate and attacks and bots. Making them only available to paid subscribers is a way too keep them collaborative and constructive. Robert Malone does this. Not saying that is why MS is doing it, but I can understand it.
I can see he might want to reduce the number of trolls and bots who come onto the thread but the problem is, it cuts out a huge number of genuine people who might want to join in a healthy discussion of an important topic. At present, there are 180 likes and just 56 comments on that post and free subscribers can't even view the comments. There must be a better way. Looking at other popular authors on Substack, their comment threads are not often blighted by unwanted visitors, but they sometimes are. Eugyppius has take the extreme step of banning them for 100 years! LOL.