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> I think we are at the point where Patreon & podcasts can keep the best researchers self-funded... What I believe you are saying is that the "popular" researc

> I think we are at the point where Patreon & podcasts can keep the best researchers self-funded... What I believe you are saying is that the "popular" researchers will get ad-spend to fund their "research" that won't be peer reviewed. Why even bother publishing research, if no one reads anymore? It would just devolve into a popularity contest and following trends. Those trends will just be co-opted by monied interests. The esoterism is due to the fact that there is a body of research that you need to know to understand the new research. Just because you can't understand the topic in a short sound bite does not mean it is not worth researching. Not all of the research is intended to be consumed by a lay public either. Many podcasts and Patreon exclusives are behind paywalls and there is no expectation of peer-review. In regards to calling this a "college model", not all research is done at college there is also thinktanks (institutions) and industry research which are funded by governments as well. I think governments should be accountable for making sure the research is rigorous, has a social benefit, and is publicly available.

monero-xmr 2y ago
I don't see why my tax dollars need to fund Proust studies, nor Elvis and Hip Hop researchers for that matter. It's all for elites to feel like they are doing something useful, "research", that no one would ever voluntarily fund otherwise. Or if they would, they should find a way to get paid voluntarily.
- worik 2y ago
  > It's all for elites to feel like they are doing something useful Forgive me, but I do not think that is a considered position. I think it comes from bigotry Proust, Elvis, Snoop Dog, and Satoshi Nakamoto are all important to our culture as it is. It is important to understand culture and society to be able to have meaningful social policy. Social policy that makes good use of our tax dollars
fallingknife 2y ago
You are quite correct that Substack will favor the popular, not the best. But universities will favor what is popular too. Just popular with the different audience who controls university budgets instead of the general public. And how can governments do any better? The way they are held accountable is an election, or in other words a popularity contest.

monero-xmr 2y ago

I don't see why my tax dollars need to fund Proust studies, nor Elvis and Hip Hop researchers for that matter. It's all for elites to feel like they are doing something useful, "research", that no one would ever voluntarily fund otherwise. Or if they would, they should find a way to get paid voluntarily.

worik 2y ago
> It's all for elites to feel like they are doing something useful Forgive me, but I do not think that is a considered position. I think it comes from bigotry Proust, Elvis, Snoop Dog, and Satoshi Nakamoto are all important to our culture as it is. It is important to understand culture and society to be able to have meaningful social policy. Social policy that makes good use of our tax dollars

fallingknife 2y ago

You are quite correct that Substack will favor the popular, not the best. But universities will favor what is popular too. Just popular with the different audience who controls university budgets instead of the general public. And how can governments do any better? The way they are held accountable is an election, or in other words a popularity contest.