Stop the Hate On Medium

Negative feedback to fellow writers does not belong on this platform

Introduction

Being led by my moral compass, I must respond to an issue that is becoming pervasive on the Medium platform.

This story reflects my exclusive opinion. Readers may choose to agree or disagree.

My Backstory

Once I retired early from my career in educational leadership at the school, district, and university levels, I embraced my professional passion. My first book called

“Repair the Broken Pieces: A System to Awaken Positive Relations Between the Family and Educational Provider Through Engagement Fusion”

was immediately published and I positioned myself as a family engagement influencer. In doing so, my mission to ignite family engagement in education was also established.

Challenges were experienced as I became an entrepreneur. Marketing strategies had to be researched for building my brand and developing unique services to educators and parents. It was during this time of inquiry that I began searching for a hosting site for my blog.

This Is Where I Found What I Was Looking For

As I attended a virtual webinar three years ago designed to help entrepreneurs create a blog, the presenter made a brief statement about the benefits of being a part of the Medium community. Since I was searching for a platform that I could link to my website, I immediately investigated Medium based on the presenter’s recommendation.

I was extremely impressed with what I discovered. My enthusiasm for my findings led me to join the Medium Partner Program in April 2019. Consistency has had made me a self-proclaimed veteran on this platform.

I have reaped the following benefits from being a Medium writer for three years:

1. My writing skills have been transformed from good to great. The affirmation I receive from a mentor like Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Founder of ILLUMINATION and other innovative publications, has contributed to my professional growth. I am not the same professional that I was when I started writing on this platform.
2. I am surrounded by very talented and purpose-driven writers like Akarsh Nalawade and Henery X. They not only write with heart and soul but extend their passion to me as well as the other writers they share their feedback too. These writers and so many others model what it means to be a member of a writing community.
3. Even though I am a published author and expert in the area of family engagement in education, my professional credibility has grown because this platform serves as my voice. Medium has intensified the volume and reach of the message that I share. Most of my published stories are related to my efforts to increase parent involvement and participation in their child’s learning. Doing so has given me an opportunity to respond to current events in education, offer advice to parents and educators alike, and provide impassioned observations in this area. In fact, I deal with issues that others in the area of education are afraid to confront. Finally, some of my writings are connected to the role cultural responsiveness plays in building mutual parent and educator alliances. I have quite a collection of articles that I share as I serve others.
4. As a continuous learner, I am pleased to be a part of a writing platform that facilitates professional, personal, and interpersonal growth.
5. Because I function as an educational leader, I consider those who I interact with on Medium as professional colleagues. I promote and advocate for respectful interactions even if I do not agree with a writer’s viewpoint. Still, I accept their opinions as to their own.

Many other focused writers with a sustained message have also chosen Medium as their exclusive, secondary, or tertiary platform of preference.

However, despite the goodness of Medium, negativity is emerging.

Something Bad Is Happening

Writers with an evil and cunning agenda have infiltrated the platform. They have begun to disrupt the sense of community and support that used to be the norm on the Medium platform.

These writers leave rude, insensitive, disrespectful, and mean comments and messages to writers who have simply expressed their exclusive thoughts and opinions. Leaving discourteous and utterly nasty feedback to those who have published articles is intolerable.

I am taking a stand by declaring that this must stop. Who else will join me?

The alternative is to maintain an idle disposition until Medium becomes noted for being a atrocious and rogue hangout for writers. I have invested too much effort into Medium to allow this to happen.

Again, who else will join me?

Conclusion

Whether you agree that my concerns are legitimate or not, I encourage you to spend some of your time reviewing comments that others leave for fellow writers. Perhaps this will bring light to a problem that I believe exists.

Writers who believe in the goodness associated with establishing collaborative alliances with those they consider followers cannot allow others to destroy their efforts.

Thank you for reading this story.

Here is my golden ticket that helps me accomplish my mission.

Dr. Deborah M. Vereen is a retired Teacher and School Administrator. Her website is www.Drdeborahmvereen.com and her YouTube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS1DPhBeA29UlybU9jzDkdQ