The evolution of e-commerce is a recurring theme in Irving's diaries and emails, reflecting both the opportunities and challenges of online business. It highlights the dependence on third-party platforms and the vulnerability to arbitrary decisions impacting commercial activity. This topic is intertwined with concerns about censorship and perceived political persecution.
Irving's experiences with online commerce, particularly through platforms like PayPal and Amazon, reveal a complex relationship with the digital marketplace. The excerpts demonstrate a reliance on these platforms for sales and distribution, alongside anxieties about their control and potential for sudden termination. The diary entries also touch on alternative strategies for online sales, such as exploring merchant banks in Dubai and Kuwait.
* 2017: Irving’s business faced sudden termination from PayPal, leading to a complete loss of online commerce ability. This was attributed to "marketing revisionist history" and lacked due process, drawing comparisons to historical injustices (diary_2017_may_oct, diary_2017_may_aug). * 2017: Suggestions were made to explore alternative platforms like Amazon (diary_2017_may_oct). * 2021: Irving continued to receive book orders overnight, indicating ongoing online sales activity (diary_2021). * 2022: Irving noted significant price increases while in the USA, impacting consumer spending (diary_2022_jan_jun). * 2023-2024: Emails discuss financial strategies and potential risks associated with banking and investments, suggesting a broader interest in economic trends impacting online commerce (emails_2023_2024). * 2023-2024: Emails promoted investment opportunities and warned of potential financial troubles related to major banks (emails_2023_2024).
Initially, the focus was on utilizing established platforms like PayPal. The abrupt termination in 2017 prompted exploration of alternatives, including merchant banks in Dubai and Kuwait. Later emails demonstrate a broader awareness of financial and economic factors influencing online business and investment. The tone shifts from direct platform usage to observing and commenting on broader market trends.
* PayPal * Amazon * Censorship * Political persecution