A Fine Conclusion for Illumination…For Now

Summary

A disruptive Medium writer has been removed from the platform following collaborative efforts by the community, ensuring a safer and more supportive environment for diverse voices in the Illumination publication.

Abstract

The article celebrates the successful removal of an individual whose behavior had caused distress within the Illumination publication on Medium. This outcome was achieved through the collective work and persistent efforts of many individuals who advocated for a respectful and safe space for writers, particularly those who are new and vulnerable to hostility. The community's fight was driven by the value they place on a nurturing environment that encourages diversity and provides a safety net for writers to express themselves. The author emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between constructive feedback and harmful bullying, urging vigilance against any future inappropriate behavior. The publication's growth and resilience are attributed to strong leadership, quality writing, and the collaborative spirit of its community members.

Opinions

The removal of the problematic writer is seen as a victory for the Illumination community, which strives to maintain a supportive atmosphere for all writers.
There is a recognition of the challenges faced by new writers, and the importance of providing them with a safe space to develop their craft without fear of hostility.
The author expresses empathy towards the removed individual, acknowledging that there may be underlying issues contributing to their behavior, but asserts that Illumination is not the appropriate forum for such personal struggles.
The community is reminded to remain vigilant for any signs of recurring negative behavior and to document any incidents for the sake of accountability and integrity.
The article underscores the value of feedback while drawing a clear line between constructive criticism and abusive behavior, advocating for a culture of respectful discourse.
Gratitude is expressed towards Dr. Mehmet Yildiz for his leadership and dedication, which are credited as key factors in the publication's rapid growth and success.

A chapter ends with good news, until the next one starts

Yesterday I received an email from a fellow writer who reported, after some difficult exchanges, that a particular Medium writer who had been the cause of some angst within Illumination (and elsewhere) had been removed from the entire platform.

Those of us who had been subjected to this person’s behaviors were rather glad to see that happen, if for no other reason than it’s hard enough just to compose. Especially for newer writers, a hostile environment makes it awfully hard to try your wings, make mistakes and still feel safe. What is clear about Illumination is that if nothing else, it seeks to create an environment where there is a safety net if you wish to take a trust fall, and where diversity is encouraged.

That’s worth fighting for. We did fight. And we won.

That said, the removal was the culmination of hard work, concerted effort and collaboration among quite a number of people. To be fair and to ensure continued anonymity, I do not intend to identify anyone here, for the sake of privacy and also out of respect for everyone touched by this situation. I would respectfully ask that anyone who wishes to comment on this article please NOT name any particular player, kindly keep those comments private, as I have been requested to do, and am honoring here.

Suffice it to say that not only is everyone who was engaged pleased about the outcome, but the whole journey, while difficult, was an exercise in cooperation, empathy for those involved and a commitment to protect the integrity of all writers and their right to their unique voices.

That would include the person involved, albeit Illumination and Medium were not the appropriate forums. I very much valued the compassionate observations of several who pointed out that there are indeed both scientific and potential medical reasons for such behavior, possibly exacerbated by the stresses of our current situation. That said, Illumination is not the place to seek help, if that is the case.

In private exchanges yesterday I was reminded, and would like to pass this along to everyone, that the person involved is quite capable of rejoining Medium under another guise. That is why, while this chapter is closed, I might ask all of us to kindly be vigilant, and to be aware of any untoward behaviors. Again I beg all of you to document anything that is clearly outside the boundaries of polite and respectful discourse.

If I may, let me please review:

Simply disagreeing with you is not abusive. Taking issue with a fact or pointing out a grammatical mistake are not abusive. Bullying is very specific, and it means to do you and me harm. Feedback adds value, bullying is personal and does damage. Please note the difference, for Medium can be overwhelmed with claims of bullying which are more often badly-worded attempts at feedback. I ask that we take the high road and give people room to make mistakes, but also be aware that there are those who truly do intend to do harm. Take screen shots, copy and paste, make sure you document and save. If a situation escalates, we can do little without documentation.

If we have difficulties in the future, then we are required to submit proof. It’s only fair to the community as well as to ourselves. If someone accuses us unfairly, we also have the right to proof. Let’s play by similar rules.

My thanks to Dr Mehmet Yildiz for his endless hard work, untold personal hours, dedication to this publication and our growing community of talented writers, and for allowing us to support him. There are reason Illumination continues to grow so fast: great leadership, superb writing, terrific diversity, and collaboration to protect what we’ve built and continue to build.