Relational Medium

A Gauge I Can Get Behind

Thank you, Ali Hall

Ali Hall’s recent piece in An Open Letter gave this sage piece of advice.

So here’s a little clap gauge:

0 claps = you suck; 1 clap = I hate you; 2–10 claps = yeah you’re ok; 11–30 claps = you’re pretty good actually; 31–45 claps = you go my writer, friend; 46–50 claps = you write awesome stuff and I want to support you!

That’s a measuring stick I can get with. From the beginning, I’ve had a nearly impossible time trying to decide how many claps to give to what and why. If it’s a short form but I loved it does that qualify the piece for 50 claps? You wrote x number of words and it sucked but because your editing was impeccable, your images on point, references flawless should I then give you 50 claps for at least making the effort?

I’ve said more than once- if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. There’s a reason that the 5-star rating system has been around forever and a day and is still being used in 2021. Come on, Medium. click click Let’s get on board here, okay?

And there must be something in the air about clapping, again, as I just posted a couple of days ago about the same issue. For Those Who Clap Less Than 20 Times has received the embrace, I thought it would. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.

You can read Ali’s piece in all its glory here.