Summary

The article argues that writing on Medium is an inherently capitalist endeavor, where writers are rewarded for creating valuable content that resonates with readers, reflecting the principles of market demand and individual merit.

Abstract

The author of the article posits that Medium's platform operates on capitalist principles, where content creators are akin to entrepreneurs in a marketplace. Success on Medium is not guaranteed but is determined by the ability to produce engaging and useful content for readers, similar to how businesses succeed based on consumer demand. The article suggests that writers are motivated by the potential to earn money from their work, which aligns with the capitalist concept of being compensated for adding value to others. The author emphasizes that this system is fair, as it rewards those who provide content that people want to read, regardless of the effort involved. The piece also touches on the misconception that socialism could make the system more equitable, arguing that the disparity in earnings between new writers and established ones like Tim Denning is a fair reflection of their respective contributions to the marketplace.

Opinions

Medium's platform is a capitalist system that rewards content creators based on the value and appeal of their writing to the audience.
The market on Medium determines the success of writers, much like how markets dictate the success of businesses in a capitalist economy.
The author suggests that making money through writing on Medium is a form of capitalism, where the intersection of market demand and valuable content leads to financial reward.
The concept of fairness in the context of Medium earnings is defended, with the author stating that more established writers like Tim Denning deserve their higher earnings due to their hard work and the superior quality of their content.
The author criticizes the socialist perspective that views disparities in earnings as unfair, arguing that capitalism fairly compensates individuals based on the

If You Are Writing on Medium You Are a Capitalist

It’s not just white men in three-piece suits

You do realize that this is capitalism at its finest right? There are no socialist algorithms on here. Medium isn’t full of centralized planning.

They roll the balls out and see who can play the best. You get rewarded for producing content that people enjoy and consume. You find out very quickly if anybody gives a rip about what you write.

People join Medium because they have something to say, they want to “create.” Then what happens (this is happening to me) is that we read about people who are making or who have made money on this site and how they did it. I’ve actually come to enjoy those articles the most.

Wow, I can write about stuff and make money at the same time? Tell me more.

Capitalism is all about markets and taking advantage of them. It’s all about allocating resources to those activities that will incentivize you the most and…this is key….add value to others at the same time.

When both of those intersect you start making money. Potentially good money. Think Steve Jobs, I-phone, our need to have the world at our fingertips.

Don’t let the word “markets” confuse you. A market can be anything. Medium is a market. There is a market for good, thoughtful writing that helps people make sense of their lives and make sense of the world as a whole.

Who cares if it isn’t the way your teacher taught it?

Writing well is simply communicating ideas in an interesting and readable way. Again, your writing helps me and by reading it, I help you. Wallah!

Nothing difficult about that concept and there’s nothing wrong with that concept.

This brings up the idea of “fairness”, a buzzword of the progressive left. To give an illustration, let’s stick with the example of Medium I have been using.

Is it fair that if I write the same amount of articles as someone like Tim Denning he gets paid thousands of dollars more than I do? Absolutely!

I just started on here and he has been at it for years. He has worked hard for this. Right now his content is way more readable and useful than mine.

People would rather read his stuff right now than mine and for good reason. He deserves to earn more money than me. I don’t expect him to share it.

Socialism would have you believe that this is unfair even though it’s not. It’s perfectly fair. Capitalism is blind when it comes to the amount of work that goes into producing widgets. In other words, it’s not about who works the hardest or produces the most.

Capitalism simply cares about the value of the widget. I can spend hours writing about the NHL. I love hockey. Most people outside of Canada and parts of Europe could care less. There is no sizeable market for hockey writing.

If I put the same amount of time writing about the NFL the number of views I get is off the charts. Same work, way different value. This is what Medium is about.

You may love Bernie Sanders or “The Squad” or socialist ideals. But you can’t get away from capitalism as hard as you may try. Medium is the perfect example of it.

As you read this, you are probably gonna grind away at another article or blog and hope it goes viral so you can make some money.

And I bet you don’t want to share it either.