Bluesky is a Twitter clone that’s been gaining a lot of users lately and has the potential to be what Twitter used to be. It needs more chesspunks right now.
It’s thriving now in certain niches. It would only take a small handful of prominent chesspunks to lead a large migration. That’s what happened with UK techno-centrist political twitter… a few large accounts lead everyone across the water
I hope you'll consider, after a rest :), trying Bluesky out. It doesn't do algorithmic timelines and such as Twitter does, so it could work really well for a community like chesspunks because it's otherwise very much like Twitter, so easy to use out of the gate. I'm not super optimistic that enough people will move for the community to take off, but one can dream.
Yes, it also have some downsides, but if twitter continues down this road it cannot continue forever and it seems like more and more find other places. Maybe we can organize a collective move of chess twitter ;)
I completely agree and understand. Twitter is beyond toxic. I wish we could all migrate to an alternative space. Bluesky is trying. Its going to take a coordinated mass exodus to cripple x. I definitely want out. Musk is insufferable.
I also have some hopes for Substack and their Notes as a future alternative. The content is at least much more nuanced and interesting (but not much chess content)
Thank you, Larry! It feels a bit scary, so your support is appreciated. Also I think about 25 people (free) unsubscribed, so it is not everyone who agrees with me.
Quite understandable. I never really got into eX-Twitter (as another blog I read regularly calls it). Even the chess content didn't hold me, as it seemed I always had to sift through ads and other content in which I had no interest. Once Musk took over and started turning it into a platform to push his personal views and shove other content in front of me I didn't want to see I abandoned it for the most part. Occasionally I follow links there, but do not linger once I've seen what I went there to see.
I like the idea of a mass migration to another - hopefully better - platform.
I have not been on Twitter long enough to truely understand how it has changes, also because I always pick the « following » option and thus only see chess content from people I follow.
However, regarding the decrease in the quality of chess posts, I am wondering if a lot of people are feeling like I do : I am personally a bit tired of reading, listening or posting about chess improvement. I am training and playing, but I feel that enough people have suggested how to train tactics, how important it is to analyze your games etc. I no longer want to know the training plan of another adult improver.
I have posted analysis of my games in the past, but did not get much replies and honestly, people wanting to imprive should be analyzing their own games instead of mine anyway…
It’s a good point and I agree that there has been a lot of meta improvement talk, that over the years can get repetitive. But I wonder how the genre can renew itself? What content would you find interesting or inspiring?
I like chess content that let me know of something in the chess world I might be interested to follow/buy etc, like the release of a book or if someone is playing a tournament and they’re going to stream it on twitch etc. I like very concrete chess content like a coach sharing why their student should’ve went for this plan in the endgame etc.
You raise a good point (adult improving content is often stale). To which I mostly say "yeah, me, too"). Including the part of: I only pick "following" and one of my accounts only follows chess folks. I do get some chess news from there from time to time, as well as folks highlighting interesting videos.
As for me, I post interesting (well, interesting to me) positions from my games (which, since I'm somewhere between beginner and intermediate aren't too hard) or interesting questions (well, at least some of them are: ChessCoachAndras once made a two-part video of one of my seemingly simple questions).
For what it's worth, even though I have many more followers on Twitter, I get far more traction for coaching and courses through Substack. So I'm not even really sure how valuable for business Twitter really is.
I too left X. Life is too short for hate and if seeing extreme violence now passes for entertainment, leave me out.
Also, it’s not even a free speech platform anyway. People get carried away and you can find yourself in legal troubles just for airing your views written in a moment of madness.
Bluesky is a Twitter clone that’s been gaining a lot of users lately and has the potential to be what Twitter used to be. It needs more chesspunks right now.
I checked it out in the early days, but it was a bit chaotic, but maybe worth a peek again
It’s thriving now in certain niches. It would only take a small handful of prominent chesspunks to lead a large migration. That’s what happened with UK techno-centrist political twitter… a few large accounts lead everyone across the water
Maybe worth a try! I will give it some thought. I feel like I need a little resting time after making this decision 😄
I hope you'll consider, after a rest :), trying Bluesky out. It doesn't do algorithmic timelines and such as Twitter does, so it could work really well for a community like chesspunks because it's otherwise very much like Twitter, so easy to use out of the gate. I'm not super optimistic that enough people will move for the community to take off, but one can dream.
Good for you Martin. It’s hard to leave but there’s a good chance I’m not far behind you
Yes, it also have some downsides, but if twitter continues down this road it cannot continue forever and it seems like more and more find other places. Maybe we can organize a collective move of chess twitter ;)
I completely agree and understand. Twitter is beyond toxic. I wish we could all migrate to an alternative space. Bluesky is trying. Its going to take a coordinated mass exodus to cripple x. I definitely want out. Musk is insufferable.
Good for you! Respect! I would be interested in joining you on an alternate platform. I have tried to ignore Twitter for the last few years
I also have some hopes for Substack and their Notes as a future alternative. The content is at least much more nuanced and interesting (but not much chess content)
Congrats on your great principled decision--I'm not quite there yet but definitely am using X much less.
But I am motivated by your decision to share and comment more on substack. We gotta move fresh content away from X and on to more reliable platforms.
I quit the moment Musk took over a year ago! I mostly post on Threads or Mastodon, they are good!
You just sensed it would go like this? I must admit I was wrongly more optimistic at the beginning
Definitely a good decision. There can't be any benefits of staying on that cesspit
The return was definitely not great anymore, but I was kind of invested with so much time spent on the platform, so still hard
You're making the right move. Out of gratitude, I'm upgrading to paid.
Thank you, Larry! It feels a bit scary, so your support is appreciated. Also I think about 25 people (free) unsubscribed, so it is not everyone who agrees with me.
I am on Bluesky and Threads, as well as Twitter. I agree with you Martin. Would be good to see more chess players on the other platforms
I will eventually check out the alternatives, but I will also try to convert some of the time into chess study time instead 😄
Quite understandable. I never really got into eX-Twitter (as another blog I read regularly calls it). Even the chess content didn't hold me, as it seemed I always had to sift through ads and other content in which I had no interest. Once Musk took over and started turning it into a platform to push his personal views and shove other content in front of me I didn't want to see I abandoned it for the most part. Occasionally I follow links there, but do not linger once I've seen what I went there to see.
I like the idea of a mass migration to another - hopefully better - platform.
Have made same decision. Would be interested in checking out Bluesky.
I have not been on Twitter long enough to truely understand how it has changes, also because I always pick the « following » option and thus only see chess content from people I follow.
However, regarding the decrease in the quality of chess posts, I am wondering if a lot of people are feeling like I do : I am personally a bit tired of reading, listening or posting about chess improvement. I am training and playing, but I feel that enough people have suggested how to train tactics, how important it is to analyze your games etc. I no longer want to know the training plan of another adult improver.
I have posted analysis of my games in the past, but did not get much replies and honestly, people wanting to imprive should be analyzing their own games instead of mine anyway…
It’s a good point and I agree that there has been a lot of meta improvement talk, that over the years can get repetitive. But I wonder how the genre can renew itself? What content would you find interesting or inspiring?
I like chess content that let me know of something in the chess world I might be interested to follow/buy etc, like the release of a book or if someone is playing a tournament and they’re going to stream it on twitch etc. I like very concrete chess content like a coach sharing why their student should’ve went for this plan in the endgame etc.
You raise a good point (adult improving content is often stale). To which I mostly say "yeah, me, too"). Including the part of: I only pick "following" and one of my accounts only follows chess folks. I do get some chess news from there from time to time, as well as folks highlighting interesting videos.
As for me, I post interesting (well, interesting to me) positions from my games (which, since I'm somewhere between beginner and intermediate aren't too hard) or interesting questions (well, at least some of them are: ChessCoachAndras once made a two-part video of one of my seemingly simple questions).
In any event: respect to you, Martin!
Very understandable choice. It’s tough for me to walk away from the audience I’ve built up over years, but I’m certainly considering it.
Yes, I had the same reservations, so its probably not a net positive for my chess business right now. Hopefully new doors will open ;)
For what it's worth, even though I have many more followers on Twitter, I get far more traction for coaching and courses through Substack. So I'm not even really sure how valuable for business Twitter really is.
I think that propepably also is true for those who decide to sign up to my substack or buy my books. I think it has changed over the years
I too left X. Life is too short for hate and if seeing extreme violence now passes for entertainment, leave me out.
Also, it’s not even a free speech platform anyway. People get carried away and you can find yourself in legal troubles just for airing your views written in a moment of madness.
Not worth it.
Yes, seeing violence pop up randomly into your face daily is not healthy for anyone to watch and does not serve anyone.
I support you 100%
well stated
Thank you, David
Good for you.