It's been a tough few years for MacStories.
An explanation of why we resumed posting on X, and what comes next:
Discussion
It's been a tough few years for MacStories.
An explanation of why we resumed posting on X, and what comes next:
@viticci If you really think that returning to X does not change your values, than your values were not as great as you believe they were.
You did your contributors really dirty. They were the ones that led me to buy a club membership. But now it is cancelled as quickly as well.
@viticci I disagree with everyone piling on. Using a service does not mean you agree with everyone involved. I'm sure there are people at Google that you don't agree with? Do you still use Google.
What about your politicians? Don't agree with them so decide you aren't using the roads anymore, etc.
@viticci why not on Truth Social as well? Or whatever other hellscapes exists.
Wrong is wrong. Wrong to save the business is still wrong. That sucks and I’m sorry you guys have to face that choice. But you made the choice and if that’s what it takes to save the business, I’m out.
Pivot the business, come up with something else or sunset it. Don’t support the hate.
@viticci Blocking @macstories@macstories.net and @macstories@flipboard.com and @MacStoriesDeals. I recommend we all do the same.
Thanks for all the fish!
@viticci There’s no righteousness in going broke, and if you say it’s necessary I’ll believe it. I actually hadn’t realized you were back there, I look away from what happens on Xitter.
But more than a commitment to “communicate better next time”, what would have really brought peace of mind would have been a commitment to a long term goal to drop Twitter again when the business makes it possible, and a commitment that there’s going to be work in that direction, no matter how long it takes.
@viticci There is no legitimate reason to post anything on Twitter ever.
@viticci Nah, not buying the excuses. I’m not naive about business, but also not naive about how personal/business decisions like this impact the social/political realities. You had to choose between principled ethics and money, and you chose money.
@viticci If this is about getting the most eyeballs on your stories (which I understand), wouldn’t posting reels and shorts on Instagram and YouTube be the way to go? It’s not like X is a growing platform…
@viticci Federico I’m really disappointed in the way this all turned out. I just feel like you could have made so many decisions differently. You could have posted on MacStories about financial struggles. You could have let your team know ahead of time a huge mistake I thought uncharacteristic of you. And lastly I find it hard to believe joining X is suddenly gonna drop a ton of money for the site.
@viticci And paying Musk at the same time for a premium account is supporting his nasty behavior no matter if you say you disagree with it. I know you don’t agree with many of his beliefs but paying him and being there is going against that no matter what. All of this could have been different and you aren’t even posting this to the site. I guess your hoping to just sweep this under the rug.
@refactoredd @viticci the thing I don’t understand about all this is, where is all this outrage for all the other big names in the indie app community that are subscribed to X? Here’s Paul Hudson. Same with Sean Allen and Seb Vidal etc. and Mastodon trying to cancel Federico just seems a little more ridiculous when you look at the rest of the indie community which never left Twitter, which is a sizable chunk of it.
@refactoredd @viticci by Mastodon’s logic everyone should stop interacting with Paul who may be the biggest name in the indie community. This whole situation needs more nuance then “Federico bad because he made a business decision in the world we live in.” It’s the same decision everyone has made with Apple regardless of them cozening up to the Trump administration.
@dominicnieto @viticci and you can see pretty evidently how he messed this up. Everyone but John it seems doesn’t want to work with him anymore.
@dominicnieto @viticci Dude you really need to stop. Your not going to get a trophy from Federico. I didn’t see Paul take a principled stance and leave then come back and treat his colleges badly by not telling him. Federico had every opportunity to let people know in advance. To post this on MacStories and he didn’t do that. You keep ignoring the way Federico messed up and no one’s perfect but he handled this very very poorly. People are entitled to their opinions and walk away from someone.
@viticci “I don’t agree with the values of the nazi bar, but I will give them money”
@viticci You don’t owe anyone an explanation for choosing where to speak. Returning to X doesn’t invalidate your principles or require a defense. World is not black and white, and X is not ”all nazis”.
Everything that is happening in AI is over there; this is your jam, roll with it. 💪
@viticci While you may not align with the platforms’ values you are directly enriching the Nazi that runs the platform by adding value to their platform.
This is the company that makes a CSAM generator. This the company run by the many that gutted parts of the US government that have lead to the deaths of 700,000 people so far and more to come. This is the company that is poisoning the air in Tennessee where one of your best friends lives.
Is more traffic and eyes really worth that to you two?
@viticci Sad news, but it’s your call
@viticci This isn't an explanation. It's an after-the-fact excuse.