The Rubesletter - Let's chat it up
This is the Rubesletter from Matt Ruby. I’m a comedian, writer, and the creator of Vooza. Every Tuesday, I send essays, jokes, and videos to your inbox. You’re on the free plan, for the full experience, sign up for a paid subscription. Let's chat it upAlso: The real problem with social media? It was built by dorks with no social skills. Of course it broke bad. | Plus: Thoughts about horseshoe theory, Andrew Tate, status, and the science of beauty.
Bonus Rubesletter! Well, lookie here. A new addition to my Substack publication: The Rubesletter subscriber chat. It’s kind of like a group chat or live hangout exclusively for subscribers. I’ll post short prompts/thoughts/links and then we can all discuss without having to deal with an algorithm, Elon Musk, or your weirdo uncle tossing in rando memes. “Will be wild.” (I end all invites with that now.) To join the chat, you’ll need to download the Substack app, now available for both iOS and Android. Chats are sent via the app, not email, so turn on push notifications so you don’t miss conversation as it happens. More details at the end. 5 tech thoughts💾 The problem with social media is we let people who lack any semblance of social skills be in charge of how we all communicate. It’s like putting incels in charge of all the dating apps. 💾 The tech world: "The problem with humanity is it doesn't scale." 💾 The secret power of the algorithm is it’s an editor that can't be sued for what it chooses to show you. 💾 Kinda amazing to look at the social media platforms that dominate our lives and realize the most reasonable one is owned by the Chinese government. 💾 As far as I can tell, 80% of educated people I know do nothing. They're not rich. They're not retired. Yet somehow they pay for 6 streaming services, rounds of mezcal shots, and Burning Man. They say they work in digital marketing and talk about SEO optimization, yet spend all day on Instagram. It's all perplexing and feels unsustainable, but I guess our empire has to collapse somehow. Podcast: Kind of a Lot with Matt Ruby🎧 Ep 5 // I was not alerted: The most unbelievable things about life before smartphones
Here’s a clip. 🎧 Listen to the full episode. And if you dig it, please leave a kind review at Apple Podcasts. Like this one… 5-spotted🗯 In The Honest Broker, Ted Gioia asks, "Where’s the audience for all this content?"
🗯 Jules Evans on the popularity of Andrew Tate:
ICYMI: Earlier this week, I wrote about non-toxic masculinity… 🗯 I just learned about horseshoe theory.
🗯 In “The Status Revolution,” Chuck Thompson argues class signifiers have flipped, so that what was once luxe is out and what was once lowbrow is in.
🗯 What makes something beautiful? According to Neil deGrasse Tyson: We know it won’t kill us.
Thanks for reading. -Matt P.S. Full details on how to get started with chat:
Download the Substack iOS app, then go to the Chat tab in the bottom row. There, you’ll see available chats for Substacks that you subscribe to. You’re on the free list for The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby. For the full experience, become a paying subscriber. Watch “Substance,” Matt’s 2023 comedy special where he performs sets high, drunk, sober, and on shrooms. Check out Matt’s other newsletter: Funny How: Letters to a Young Comedian. Follow Matt elsewhere: Instagram • Twitter • YouTube • TikTok • Facebook |
Older messages
How to be a man without being toxic
Friday, February 17, 2023
Our masculinity crisis and the last men standing.
How to make weed cookies 🌿➡️🍪
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Cook weed (video and recipe included) and you won't get fooled again by your edibles. | Also: Thoughts from Rick Rubin, Heather Havrilesky, Dean Wareham, Oliver Burkeman, and more.
The greatest guitar solo ever played
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
RIP Tom Verlaine. A breakdown of the title track from "Marquee Moon." | Also: Mean Girls, Mars, crypto, ChatGPT, small talk, Midas, and more.
Bill Burr: "If you're going to fail, fail doing what you want."
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
15 life, business, and creativity lessons from legendary comedian Bill Burr.
I adopted a Puerto Rican street puppy and it's a whole thing
Friday, January 20, 2023
On failed fosters, rescue operations, "shy party girls," and the rest of the dog adoption runaround. Also: My new podcast launches, fun quickies, the launch of "Substance," Club
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