Summary

A detective is investigating a Medium Con attendee who has not clapped for any published work, a serious offense on the writing platform, and is seeking information from potential suspects who have left fingerprints on various items.

Abstract

In an article titled "Were You Present at Medium Con?" a detective appeals to the readers, who are also attendees of a virtual writing convention called Medium Con, to help solve a case involving a writer who has not engaged in the expected social interaction of clapping for other writers' work. This non-action is considered a significant breach of platform etiquette. The detective has found several items with fingerprints belonging to specific individuals, including a book of commas, a grill, Stanislavski's memorial, a box of crayons, a pair of scrubs, sun particles, and a wastebasket. The owners of these items are considered potential suspects and are urged to provide their accounts of the situation, either through poems, short stories, or any form of narrative they prefer, to prove their innocence or provide leads on who might have committed this "heinous crime."

Opinions

The act of not clapping on Medium is portrayed as a serious issue, akin to a crime.
The detective takes the case very seriously, implying that community engagement on Medium is of utmost importance.
The use of creative storytelling is encouraged for suspects to explain their innocence, suggesting a value for artistic expression within the community.
The article implies that there is a strong sense of community and mutual support among Medium writers, as not clapping is seen as a significant deviation from the norm.
The detective's future as a detective is tied to the resolution of this case, indicating the high stakes involved in maintaining a supportive writing environment on Medium.

Were You Present at Medium Con?

May I ask you a few questions?

There’s a sociopath among us in the shadows of this writing platform. Millions attend Medium Con, happening right now, without even knowing it. Any and all published work on Medium is their VIP access into the convention. It has been brought to my attention, that…

a writer among us has not clapped.

To clap is to show appreciation. Or so am I told. It is essential to the platform. But a writer among us has not clapped. As a detective, it is my job to figure out who has not clapped. I have been a detective for only a week and this is by far the most important case I have ever worked on. My future as a detective depends on the results of this case.

Various objects have been found throughout the convention floor. These items have fingerprints from possible suspects. As a detective I must ask:

were these items used at the scene of the crime?

I certainly hope not. Here is the information I have gathered:

Eli Snow’s fingerprints were discovered on a book of commas.

Charles Roast’s fingerprints were discovered on a grill.

Jasmine Poulton’s fingerprints were discovered on Stanislavski’s memorial.

Elle Rogers’ fingerprints were discovered on a box of crayons.

Dr Mehmet Yildiz’s fingerprints were discovered on a pair of scrubs.

Simona Rahmanova’s fingerprints were discovered on sun particles.

Kyrie Gray’s fingerprints were discovered on a wastebasket.

As potential suspects, you must convince me and others in the department that you did not commit this heinous crime. If you know others that could be involved please do bring it to our attention.

It is important that you let us know —

If the item linked to you was used.
If you were framed. If framed, who framed you.
Your whereabouts.

and whatever other necessary information that will help us close this gate.

You can respond via poem, short-story, long-form improv. However, you feel fit to best tell your story. Thank you for your participation. Any and all information is appreciated.

Its time to make the clap-less cat meow.