Readership has fallen off over the past couple of years. Some reasons are obvious, such as my changing from two posts a day to one after complaints that I write too damn much and it’s more than you have the time to read. It was just as well for me, as there are (as of today) 12,828 posts here and after a while, the same issues repeat themselves and I’m disinclined to write about the same things over and over. I already said it and don’t feel any need to say it again. I realize that some of you didn’t read it the first time around, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s here already.
But another metric concerns me as well. While I write and post for free, there are substantial costs involved in maintaining SJ. The other day, a WordPress Update corrupted the blawg and required some significant fixes, well beyond my very meager capabilities. I had it done, but had to pay the bill. I did, but it gave me pause to realize that donations have also fallen off. Some long time readers ended their donations. Others who contributed once or twice a year haven’t done so lately. Still others read and, well, just read.
My theory has always been that I do the writing and if it’s worth it to readers, they will help out with the costs. SJ is something of a group effort. I’ve never charged for my content as many others who have migrated to substack do. I was pitched by substack, but turned them down. I don’t want this to be a business, a money-making venture. It started as a blog and I hope to keep it that way, free for everyone.
At the same time, my expectation was that those of you who found something of value here would find it worth your while to contribute. Your call, but it tells me whether readers value what they read here. And some of you have been most generous, and your contributions are very much appreciated. But when they fall off, I wonder why?
Like everything else in life, keeping the lights on at SJ has become more expensive and involved. If it’s not worth it to the readers to be part of this experiment by contributing, then I have to question whether it’s worth it at all. You tell me.
I’ll write either way. It’s just what I do. Keeping SJ going, on the other hand, is another matter. If it’s becoming a zombie blog, then tell me. If not, then let me know that as well. Thanks.
Update: Thank you for your support and generosity. It is deeply appreciated.
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I would be terribly sad to see the end of SJ and hope that if you decide to write through some other channel, you’ll let me know where.
Ditto.
It’s more than worth it and I apologize for not contributing more often.
Please post how we can contribute. I disagree with you on wokeness but your contribution to discussions is invaluable.
I’ve never made any money on blog and I never have really tried to. But then again, it’s never cost me any money to run and I don’t feel any pressure to write when I don’t feel like it.
That being said, I’ve gotten to where the posts are so far and few between that I’ve thought of scrapping it on occasion.
But then I’ll have something pop up that I really want to write about and I’m glad it’s still there. The rest of the time, I feel like it’s a pet that I’ve gotten tired of doing the upkeep on.
Murray.
If something makes me really really angry and tight in the chest I find that writing about it helps.
Initally I write in an attitude of righteous furious hatred in a style which I call WMD Level Sarcasm. I intended to be the first person to assassinate someone I don’t like by sarcasming them. As I write the anger fades and the end result is rarely the screed I started. Since I got access to a text editor on a mainframe computer in the early eighties I found that I could write. Before that it didn’t matter whether I used a pen or one finger typing I would end up with wastepaperbaskets full of torn up pages. I would make a mistake, tear up what I wrote, start again , reach the same place and repeat the same mistake. With text editors or word processors it does not matter whether you are a one or two finger typist, one can edit non destructively and in the end the mistakes disapper and one cn start with a cogent argument.
Writing about what makes one angry is a good form of therapy. It gets rid of the tight feeling and it does not matter whether it finally gets into the newspaper or blog.
Over time stuff surfaces from one’s unconscious mind of the believing of which one is unaware. Humans mistake the conscious mind for the whole mind when it is in effect just the post and telegraph annex. 99.99% of our thinking is in the unconscious and that is where the problems with otherisms such as racism and misogyny reside. We cannot fix silly beliefs that we have if we don’t know that we have them and consciously believe that our bones are pure and nonracist.
Honestly, didn’t know you ran on donations.
Happy to kick-in
As a relative newcomer, all blawgs seem new to moi. And each morning is better with SJ. So, although you’ve softened your sharp elbows a smidge, your pen continues apace. (In truth, I picture you using a Royal or Underwood ribbon.) Keep on truckin. Please. And thank you.
For quite a while I was a daily reader, and a sporadic contributor. In my case, the things that have changed are with me, rather than SJ, I’ve really been going through it, and have only stopped by to read when a link on X catches my eye, but I just don’t have “morning at my desk” anymore.
I hope that when I come back around, SJ is still here. I’d miss it. Rational voices are hard to come by.
SHG
I have many things to say that may be too much for one blog reply.
1/ You DO NOT blog too much!
2/ The people who read your posts may not agree with you but they find what you say worthwhile. I find that they often connect with other issues that concern me.
3/ The programmers (and their maintenance systems) who maintain web software are less than competent in testing and validating changes than those who used to do so for mainframe systems.
4/ Web sites like WORDPRESS and the site of the Australian Broadcasting Commission recently made changes that prevented them working with my favourite Browser Seamonkey. I can no longer post on your blog with seamonkey and have to use either Firefox or Google Chrome.
5/ The reason that donations are down may be that your donation link is no longer functional. It does not point to the appropriate web page but to the .img file for the link display. Another change that wordpress has made means that I can only access web pages via the continue reading link not by the heading link in the email. If you have a way of forwarding this info to WordPress ADMIN please do so.
6/ I would gather you are near retiring age my advice is that you would be bored crazy if you didn’t continue what you would consider productive work.
7/ Most commentators on important issues are beholden to particular ideologies. Sometimes I will see them post something that I agree with and perceive as principled because it is consistent with their (and my) ideology that I support and later see them post something against another ideolgy that I support but is completely one eyed. There are however other commentators who post consistently according to their principles whether they are criticicing LEFT or RIGHT. Glenn Greenwald is an example and he has gone from The Intercept to Substack and now to Rumble. You should consiider doing likewise.
8/ You have my email address, feel free to email about computer and blog problems.
Regards Carl.
As one of the few retired cops who stop by daily to be educated and aggravated in a foreign language may I make a simple suggestion to your readers?
Pay up!
If you are not on PayPal already sign up and set up a monthly payment to Scott. Ten or twenty bucks a month, or more, from each regular reader will make a nest egg for those eternal electronic surprises.
“We love you, keep writing and posting these wonderful thoughts”, comments warm the heart but don’t pay the bills.
Pay up.
Write Claudius, write…
I’m pretty much a daily reader. Not a lawyer, so probably a lot is over my head, but I hope that what I’ve learned over the past however many years has borne decent fruit. I know I think differently – and possibly more realistically- about the law now than I did before I hopped over here from popehat.
It had been my intent to donate yearly, but time seems to be speeding up as I age so the interval may stretch a bit. Apologies.
Keep the wheels turning. Thank you.
Sometimes we just forget to donate…
Somedays I in=magine I can tell you struggled to find something to write about and the post was a chore. Don’t be afraid to say “fickit” and skip a day. Most of us won’t mind and if someone does, fuckem.
As Skink likes to say, we’re all hanging out at this here hotel bar. It’s the least we can do keep the drinks flowing.
I really enjoy your blog and would be really sad if you stopped doing it!!!! That being said, the spot where you ask for donations isn’t particularly visible, at least not NOTICEABLE to someone like me. Perhaps consider making it more obvious?
I can’t believe all the ass-kissing going on here. I’m still pissed that you aren’t doing 3 posts a day by 4:45 AM. Mush! Now that I have donated, as have many others, if you shut down too soon we may have to make a criminal referral to some super-aggressive U.S. Attorney. Like David Weiss.
Count me among those who never really noticed the “donate” button. But I’ll remember it now (and just used it for the first time). This place is one of the bright spots on the web for me; hope you keep it going.
Adding to the chorus:
I’ve been a regular reader since forever — at least 15 or 20 years, I would guess. I’m a “far-right extremist” myself, so I probably disagree with 90% of your opinions; but you force me to think, which is absolutely invaluable.
As far as donations are concerned, I have to echo what others have said: The “donation” button is not very prominent, and it’s not obvious to the casual viewer that donations are important to you. Maybe you should have a twice-a-year “fundraising week” or something like that.
Please keep up the good work!
You have a unique take on things that keeps me reading here. Sorry that I never noticed the donate button before.
I’ve read SJ every day since Jan 2016, soon after I retired and my law license went inactive. My practice would have benefitted had I stumbled across SJ sometime during the preceding 40 years. Reading SJ now helps fill my void so, yes, it’s still worth it [to me]. Sorry I can’t contribute commensurate to my enjoyment, but I’ll do what I can and hope SJ doesn’t go away. Thanks, Scott.
All things must pass. You have helped us out on all things legal over the years, But you have not helped us out with our attempt to re–open our civil rights cases against the State of CORupticut. In the same manner that RFK Jr. Got his cousin Michael Skakel sprung from a life sentence for alleged murder of Martha Moxely in the corrupt and incompetent state. Huh!?? So you blog away blithely without lifting a finger to help those of us in need of competent legal assistance. Shame on you. Perhaps it is time to close up shop and hit the golf course. NO?
I hope you will reconsider your decision to not move to Substack. Going there need not be a money play –to date, if you don’t want to charge, they will host you for free–and you get some nice infrastructure (and control over your mailing list) regardless.
A writer of your directness and style, Ted Gioia (aka The Honest Broker), moved there and was able to bring his entire back catalogue with him. I have not played with the interface, so I am not sure if you will have as much control over editing the comments section as you do here (and that would be a loss) but on the other hand, you definitely could limit comments on a given piece to only subscribers. (Tuesday Talk can then become an open-mic opportunity.)
In any case, I hope you keep this up. It’s been an education.
I no longer receive daily updates. I have to find them through the back-door. Is there something wrong on you end?
Before I retired your blog had great value to me as a practicing attorney. Now it has great value as a good read and keeps me connected to the profession. I will be kicking in $100 once I get back from the north woods. Please don’t stop. Us geezers like old school blogging.
I also didn’t realize your site ran on donations (actually, never thought about that). Anyway, I’ve fixed that bit by a monthly contribution. I’ve been reading for a number of years nd while not a lawyer, I work with a bunch on a routine basis as an environmental consultant. I do enjoy the blog and want to keep you at it.
Thanks
ORB
I support multiple WordPress sites including my own.
I would be happy to help, considering the benefit I have already received from you over the years…
I won’t hold your ownership of a Healey against you…
I just re-read my above comment and am now embarrassed. Did I really write that? Must have been either toasted or depressed. Perhaps both!
You do have your “tendencies” and strongly held points of view. If readership has fallen off and donations have dwindled, well, …all things must pass. We’re faced with two instituitions which won’t go away. One is THE EyeRS and the other is the Supreme Injudicial Court which we all luv and revere. Especially writers named Jeffrey.
So don’t give up the ship just yet. When we hit a big number, we may make another donation. It is certainly past-due.
Didn’t even notice the donate button. I’ve stopped freeloading.
Trust me I read pretty much every post but I very rarely comment since I don’t have anything particularly illuminating to say the target readership.