I remember seeing that thread. That letter was shared *as if it were an open letter* to everyone. Did she paywall it or were the comments the only thing that was paywalled? I think you can choose which posts are public and which are only for paid subscribers. I think for this particular issue it is important to have an open debate and send out Free. Perhaps she wasn't meaning for it to go as viral as it did? (I saw it reposted by many.)
On the note of charity, it is hard to put out the right tone on written replies. Things can sound a bit more truculent in comments than they would be if people were actually talking to people in real life. Anyway, I think the high emotions were also feeding the situation a bit as well. I mostly read everyone's responses and signed nothing. Perhaps my lack of putting my name on letters comes from working for/with lawyers for so long.
I find it frustrating to start an article and halfway through hit a pay wall or am blocked from commenting because I am not a paid subscriber. If I knew access was limited, I wouldn’t have started reading. I feel kind of ambushed and embarrassed to be excluded based on income. I understand that writers need to earn a living so I sat down and looked at the writers I enjoy reading to choose which I would subscribe to but honestly, I couldn’t afford subscriptions. I’m 75, on a fixed income and have high monthly RX expenses - I know, me and every other old woman. One solution might be that writers could offer reduced subscriptions to seniors, low income and disabled women (and men).
That's a good idea. But you would have to post a photo on your profile so we could verify your age.No one is going to want to demonstrate they are low income for other reasons, I suspect. My account is always free for those who need it, and those who want to can have a paying subscription. It's purely voluntary. As a consequence, I don't have very many paid subscribers. I'm not in for the money.
I remember seeing that thread. That letter was shared *as if it were an open letter* to everyone. Did she paywall it or were the comments the only thing that was paywalled? I think you can choose which posts are public and which are only for paid subscribers. I think for this particular issue it is important to have an open debate and send out Free. Perhaps she wasn't meaning for it to go as viral as it did? (I saw it reposted by many.)
On the note of charity, it is hard to put out the right tone on written replies. Things can sound a bit more truculent in comments than they would be if people were actually talking to people in real life. Anyway, I think the high emotions were also feeding the situation a bit as well. I mostly read everyone's responses and signed nothing. Perhaps my lack of putting my name on letters comes from working for/with lawyers for so long.
Thanks ,Zina. I didn't sign either. There were parts I didn't agree with. She has made some changes as a result of my comments.
I find it frustrating to start an article and halfway through hit a pay wall or am blocked from commenting because I am not a paid subscriber. If I knew access was limited, I wouldn’t have started reading. I feel kind of ambushed and embarrassed to be excluded based on income. I understand that writers need to earn a living so I sat down and looked at the writers I enjoy reading to choose which I would subscribe to but honestly, I couldn’t afford subscriptions. I’m 75, on a fixed income and have high monthly RX expenses - I know, me and every other old woman. One solution might be that writers could offer reduced subscriptions to seniors, low income and disabled women (and men).
That's a good idea. But you would have to post a photo on your profile so we could verify your age.No one is going to want to demonstrate they are low income for other reasons, I suspect. My account is always free for those who need it, and those who want to can have a paying subscription. It's purely voluntary. As a consequence, I don't have very many paid subscribers. I'm not in for the money.