Global Eyes: Your wish is our command

Thank you, kind readers!

Pedro notes that our survey methodology left something to be desired.

From Claire—Thank you so much to everyone who answered our questionnaire yesterday. As I tabulated the responses, I realized that methodologically, our approach was garbage. The flaw is this: If you really, really like Global Eyes and feel warmly disposed to the authors, you’re much more likely to reply.

That, at least, is what I concluded as I read that almost universally, you think we’re doing everything just about perfectly and don’t think we should change a thing. It’s hard to believe that this is, in fact, the universal sentiment of our regular readers, still less our infrequent ones: If it were, they’d all be subscribers, right? But in fact, many people who sign up for the free content haven’t yet converted (to use the marketing term of art), so they must feel that something isn’t quite right.

Pretty clearly, the responses we received were from our happiest and most satisfied readers. We’re not, in reality, making all of you as delighted as the responses would suggest—and we still don’t know why we’re not. But never mind. We were thrilled to hear from our happiest readers, and if we’re making so many readers of our readers that happy, we’re on the right track.

A quick response to your comments and suggestions:

• Some of you suggested our Latin America and China coverage could be stronger. We agree. Completely. We talk about this all the time. Bolstering it is one of our highest priorities.

• A surprising number of you wrote that you don’t share Global Eyes because you don’t have friends who share your interests. This suggests we should organize more events at which you can meet one another. We’re working on the agenda for the coming year’s book club, which will be much more active, organized, and regular. We’ve also discussed holding a weekly Zoom call for subscribers to discuss the week’s events, perhaps with the writers of the week’s most interesting articles. Shall we prioritize this? Would you join us if we did? If so, what day and what time would suit you? Tell us in the comments. Make sure you indicate your time zone.

• One of you wrote that he doesn’t share Global Eyes because the content is paywalled and he thought that wouldn’t be cricket. No! Share it! We want you to! How else will we find new readers? Once you receive it, it’s yours and you’re the owner and you can do anything you please with it. If you want to post it on social media, mail it to everyone you know, or hire a skywriter to engrave it across the heavens, we encourage you.

• One reader wrote, “Whenever I see that an item is in a foreign language, I skip it. Unless there is translation.” If you’ve got your browser set properly, you should be offered a translation automatically, via Google Translate. If you’re not sure how to set your browser, follow our handy guide. We can’t guarantee the accuracy of the translations, but they’re getting better and better every day. We specify the original language just so you know.

• A minority, but a notable one, told us they never watch the videos and prefer written information because they can digest it faster. Yes! Literacy lives! I feel exactly the same way. Nothing annoys me more than asking Google a question—“What’s the best way to get nicotine gum off of cat fur”” (or vice-versa)—and finding nothing but YouTube videos. I believe it’s a dismaying symbol of our written culture’s devolution to oral culture and a sure sign that we’re going to hell in a handcart. If I absolutely must watch a video, I usually set it to play at 3.5x speed. You can be certain that if I’ve included a video, it’s because it was interesting enough to keep my attention for more than 30 seconds—which means it was very interesting—and there’s no written substitute.

• A few of you noted that it isn’t helpful when our links hit a paywall. Good point. I’ll keep including them for people who subscribe to those publications, but from now on I’ll mention that they’re paywalled so you don’t waste time.

• Some of you suggested that occasionally, but not always, you agreed with the statement, “I feel like there’s something I should know about this, but I don’t know what it is. It would help if you offered more background.” If ever you feel that way, don’t hesitate to ask in the comment section or by email. If you’re wondering, someone else surely is, too. This goes for any item we publish. If you’d like to know more, just ask. It’s never an imposition; we want Global Eyes to be useful to you; that’s why we do it.

• Some of you said you haven’t subscribed because you can’t afford it. We can’t bear the thought of this. Our policy is that if you forward CG to ten people who might enjoy it, with a note explaining why you’re recommending it, we’ll comp you six months. Just copy us on the email.

• One of you said you didn’t know whether you’d subscribed. If you’ve hit a paywall, you’re not subscribed. If you’re sure you’ve subscribed but you’ve still hit a paywall, send us an email. We’ll sort it out.

• Someone else asked whether he could subscribe via PayPal. Yes. In fact, we’ve started a fundraiser, here, to help us expand CG. If you’d like to subscribe via PayPal or contribute to our fundraiser, please use that link. (Remember to send me an email if you’re subscribing this way, because I have to add you to our list manually.)

Now to the fundraiser: We want to expand. We’d like to hire an audio editor for our podcasts, pay our correspondents properly, and hire a bang-up copy editor to ensure your reading pleasure is never again blighted by the sight of a gnarly typo. If you think we’re on the right track so far, would you please consider contributing? In any amount. All of it helps. Becoming a super-subscriber also allows you to commission an article on the subject of your choice for the magazine.

BECOME A SUPER-SUBSCRIBER

Thank you so much for all the kind words and encouragement. It was good for our morale to learn that so many of you find Global Eyes useful in exactly the way we’d hoped.

Now stay tuned for your link to the one-time-only secret Global Eyes full of surprises, delights, and wonders.