Medium’s Clap System Amounts to a Vermiform Appendix

Nothing more than an evolutionary-holdover-source-of-infection — I propose an evolution

Introduction

The clap system is a vestige of the old pay-wall calculus. Now, it only serves as either an ego stroke or a source of irritation between writers. It took me months before I even realized that multiple claps were possible. Then I could not figure out what different amounts of claps meant to different people. I asked a few times and no one responded. I’ve seen people complain that why clap at all if not giving the max? Are you kidding me? Finally, I came up with my own system: 0, 18 or 36. To me, 50 is perfunctory and 36 is very meaningful, because in Jewish superstition, 18 is a very lucky number as its formed with the same letters as the word for life, and thus “double ch’ai” connotes something very special. Le Chayim!

Repurposing to have meaning without irritation

Make the scale 1–100, or 1–10. Make the rater anonymous unless they want to be identified. Each piece should have two scores à la Rotten Tomatoes. The average score from writers and the average score from readers. There should be a third score uniquely relative to the viewer — “rating by people you follow.” Lastly, people should have the option of receiving a notification whenever someone they follow gives a story certain ratings.

Please Medium Staff take note and you’re welcome.

Marcus

PS: I learned a new word, to wit: vermiform, which is only used if it is not abundantly clear to which appendix one is referring. Vermiform describes a worm-like tube and derives from the same Latin word as does the word vermin, which is exactly what the present clap system resembles.