Another Annoying Internet Problem

For reasons some of you may be able to explain, we’ve started getting a lot of comments on “On the Square” articles that are clearly written to order, often by people who do not write English very well. Most are generic and could fit any article, but some make some vague reference to the article. Two examples of the generic sort, which just appeared this evening:

Very interesting but long read. Agree and disagree with various areas. thanks for the discussion.

and

I am content to uncover this short article very beneficial for me, since it consists of whole large amount of information . I whatsoever occasions choose to look at the great quality content materials and also this create a difference I found in you post. many thanks for sharing. Yeah

To avoid wasting readers’ time, we are deleting these, unless there’s something in them that suggests they just might be serious. If you do happen to write something general but complimentary and it doesn’t appear, well, sorry. It’s the cost of vigilance.

Dear Reader,

Can I be direct with you?

War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.

First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.

But we can’t do it without readers like you.

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If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.

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