The Explainer
Regarding the Weekly Picks that are shared on the blog on Sundays.
Preamble – Some may recall a time when social media feeds were chronological. When posts from friends and pages were neatly arranged by time, sans algorithmic shuffling. The presence of the profit motive (advertising creep and predilection for alarmist content) was limited. That was a long time ago.
That old way of reading the web is still how I consume news. Notably, forcing the information flow to be chronological through settings, then clicking based on topics of interest. This digital grounding helps keep me sane in a world where so much information is so easily accessible. Without strong digital literacy skills combined with a solid baloney detection kit, it is difficult to develop an informed or critical view within the battleground of the internet.
The ’Weekly Picks’ that you see are the latest incarnations of social media posts that I used to make many years ago. A collection of usually longer but always engaging commentaries that prompted good discussion. Amongst friends, these were fodder for fun, serious, and sometimes heated discussions. I would create bookmark libraries of these articles, which I still maintain to this day; my own digital archive of in-depth analysis, searchable via key terms. A way to support dialogue-framing between non-experts.
We know that the multi-media specialists and companies dominate the fourth estate. The old-fashioned investigative journalism and longform reporting guided by independent interests is dwindling. Space, time, and money for incisive writing is becoming concentrated as our species navigates its digital infancy. I have noticed, since I began this sharing exercise more than a decade ago, how much the online information landscape has become adulterated. It is appropriate to find it all overwhelming.
Now that I do not engage with social media and having recently set up this blog, I showcase the articles here. Keeping up with this exercise supports me in continuing to seek out diverse opinions and evidence for my own edification. A good mix of news, analysis, and contemplation of the bigger picture through smaller stories. There is always a changing balance between aesthetics and substance of a piece in consonance with my personal penchants.
If you are interested, follow along!
So, what are these lists, anyway?
Articles that I have read in the preceding week that I consider worth the forward. Usually, they have also been published in the past seven days, though on occasion older highlights will be included. In the past, I would share these on social media or in chats to stimulate conversation. Now, they are posted here for all to view. To highlight writers across a wide variety of publications who have put in the time to sit down, organize their thoughts and research on a page, and contribute fuel for valuable discourses.
What audience is this for?
Those more critically inclined, seeking reflections on a broad range of topics. Those who can tease the macro from the micro and vice versa. Those intrigued by the longer reads that invite a more careful consideration than their briefer counterparts that dominate the news cycle.
Where do you find the articles?
Over many years, I have bookmarked an ever-growing list of online publications that support me in staying informed. On local and world affairs, the latest scientific advancements, or our collective cultural output. While I cannot keep abreast of it all, I tend to wade through the publications (often at random) and bookmark pieces that pique my interest throughout the week. When I have time, I read what I can.
The publications include independent and corporate media that retain editorial independence. I also frequent a large number of magazines, blogs, and journals, many sporadically updated.
What makes your picks unique from all the other lists out there?
Yes, there are other aggregators out there who also capture reads from around the web on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. The curation of pieces featured on In Difference depends on the following factors:
- Recency. The pieces linked will be fairly fresh. Usually published the preceding week, with occasional exceptions.
- Time. Although I am an avid reader and writer, this blog competes with many other priorities in my calendar, not least my nine-to-five. I do my best to find a minimum of four to five thoughtful essays, but there will be weeks when the lists are truncated.
- Reduction of noise. I share the article links and brief excerpts; no frills. You can go elsewhere for the long newsletters with additional features.
- The rare supplementation. On occasion, there will be a link to a piece that is closely tied to the one presented, containing a competing or complementary perspective, adding context to the substance. I usually include these after the quoted excerpt for those interested. In case that first step prompts you to take a few more.
- A focus on insight. The excerpts quoted will often include a salient nub of information that is not only part of the thesis, but also comprises part of the deduction. They are regularly taken from different sections of the original article. If you have limited time, the excerpts offer a more meaningful glimpse into the arguments than the headline or introductory paragraph may relay, the latter as shared by many other sites.
- An avoidance of biographical and autobiographical accounts. I largely avoid profiles of individual histories, with rare exceptions. Call it personal preference, as far as my reading habits go. (Yes, I note the irony given this is a personal blog.) The articles featured may utilize firsthand accounts or knowledge, but lean towards the larger scale sociopolitical, philosophical, or scientific trends amongst our collective condition.
What makes you an expert?
Absolutely nothing. I enjoy reading non-fiction generally and have decided to incorporate this weekly exercise into this project as long as capacity allows. I may not fully agree with all the author’s opinions but consider them to offer a worthwhile take. Challenging perspectives are necessary for edification.
You can learn more about me by visiting the About page or by following the blog. To confirm: In Difference is and will remain unmonetized. The pieces featured are independently chosen.
Will the articles linked be behind a paywall?
Often, yes. Some publications may only require email registration. If you have a library card, chances are you have free access to paywalled publications through your local library.
There are many ways around paywalls, but I cannot offer too many suggestions here. If you are unable to financially support your favorite publications, consider patronizing them in other ways, like through newsletter subscriptions (these often include unique links that provide free access to paywalled articles).
Why can I not comment?
For now, I do not have the capacity to moderate a forum.
Why do you do this?
Pardon the cliché, but why not! It does not take too long and is worth it to highlight enjoyable writing happened upon. May you find ideas worth exploring through this space.