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Elisabeth Iler's avatar

Is there a substack “help desk”? I find it maddening also. Click, click, smash the screen (not really….lol), etc. I use all the social media platforms and they work great! We PAY for substack, the least they can do is fix their “like” buttons! (I know FIRST WORLD problem….)…..

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Mim Eisenberg (NYer now in GA)'s avatar

I have complained to Substack help, saying it has been a persistent problem for many of us, but they claim they cannot duplicate the problem. Maybe if enough people complain they will realize they have a problem to solve.

support@substack.zendesk.com

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Mary Baine Campbell's avatar

Good point. If they can’t fix it they should turn the ‘Like’ feature off, as it randomizes the responses beyond the point of their being useful. I have about a 50% success rate in ‘liking’ comments over the past several months. It wasn’t as bad in the Letter’s early days—perhaps (Luddite speaking here) they need to afford more space to a site that’s grown massively in the interim?

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Mim Eisenberg (NYer now in GA)'s avatar

I just had to refresh the page to Heart your reply. Sigh.

I think Like and Heart buttons have always randomized responses, but I think commenters and readers like to know if their or others' posts are well received or not.

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Mary Baine Campbell's avatar

Well, HCR is writing a book from these Letters, and presumably the Commentary as well, which is of a very thoughtful order. She would no doubt welcome data not skewed by massive glitches in the substack functions. I don’t read Bob Reich quite as often, but I have rarely noticed this problem on his site. I was I were techier so I could suggest a solution to them but I did write to their help address.

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Sue Selman, OC/CA's avatar

Many times I have gone back to reread one of the comments and discovered my “like” glowing. It seems to be on a delay program.

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Mim Eisenberg (NYer now in GA)'s avatar

Do you know for sure that Heather‘s new book is about her Letters?

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Mary Baine Campbell's avatar

I didn't say it's about her Letters, but she'll surely discuss for sure the long, rich conversation around and between them. It's part of the story and the context, and she's a serious historian of America: that's us!

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Mim Eisenberg (NYer now in GA)'s avatar

You actually did say, "HCR is writing a book from these Letters, and presumably the Commentary as well..." I do not recall hearing or reading anything about what the subject matter of her new book is.

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Mary Baine Campbell's avatar

I'm sorry that I wasn't clear in my haste. I meant that the commentary of 10s of 1000s of readers would "presumably" (in my book a word that indicates guessing with confidence) be included in some way in the book she's been said to be compiling from her Letters. I'm a historian too, can't easily imagine her acting as though the extraordinary phenomenon of the commentary and audience was irrelevant to what she is doing for and with us on this interactive platform: it's an event in American political and literary history. But as I said, I'm presuming. All I've heard is that a future publication of some kind is under consideration. It would be a wonderful way to remember this dark time, should it ever end--via the clarity and comfort she provides, which has by virtue of Subtack's interactive structure enabled so many to speak their thoughts and fears and even, occasionally, hopes. History therapy!

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Mim Eisenberg (NYer now in GA)'s avatar

Thanks, Mary. Your points are well taken. These Letters and interactive discussions among her readers are indeed an event in our political and literary history.

My original point, though, is that nowhere did I hear or read that Heather is compiling her new book from her Letters. It may be that she is, but there’s no way to know for sure without a reference to what she may have indicated her topic is. Maybe you heard it in one of her videos that I missed?

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Mary Baine Campbell's avatar

Oh, it's been a while now--as I recall I heard and read her mention it in an interview.

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AshleyR TN's avatar

Many thanks, Mim!

I’ve emailed Substack this morning, echoing your complaint.

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Mim Eisenberg (NYer now in GA)'s avatar

The more people report the problem, the better Substack will realize it's an issue.

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AshleyR TN's avatar

Mim,

A touch of progress…

After back-and-forth emails with Substack (including screenshots), I received this:

Bruno (Substack, Inc)

Sep 7, 2022, 1:28 PM EDT

Thanks for following up. I've reported this issue to our engineers so they can look into this further. Hopefully, they'll have an update soon.

We appreciate your patience and apologize for the inconvenience.

Best,

Bruno,

Substack Support

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Mim Eisenberg (NYer now in GA)'s avatar

Ashley,

Good for you for being persistent. Thank you. Maybe they can actually fix the problem!

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Mary Baine Campbell's avatar

Trying and failing to Like your comment!

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JDinTX's avatar

Must be overworked

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MaryPat's avatar

Must be listening. My heart like just worked first tap.

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Mary Baine Campbell's avatar

Substack, you mean?

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Susan Lorraine Knox's avatar

♥️♥️♥️

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Jeanne Stevens's avatar

I find that if you double click (and sometimes go back to it if it doesn't work the first time) it works. Some times there's a delay. Yes it can be annoying.

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