Substack writers face the same challenge as op-ed writers for major media outlets: After a while, we have nothing new to say. Tom Friedman, Ross Douthat, Nick Kristof -- they've been writing the same basic column for decades (while receiving a nice paycheck). Sure, the details differ, but their core arguments, their essential worldviews don't change. Same is true for many of the writers here (including me and my Story obsession). Each of us has a particular shtick, and we're shticking to it.

This isn't a criticism. It's just an observation, and not a very surprising one. If my worldview shifted week to week -- I'm a Jew. No, wait, I'm a Born-Again Christian! No… recalculating … I'm a Muslim… a Scientologist… a Marxist… a disciple of Tony Robbins! -- you probably wouldn't want to subscribe as much as suggest I seek psychiatric counseling.

You could quit Substack today… take a six-month break… and if & when you returned, most people here will be saying essentially the same thing. (Right, Phil?)