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We Need Kryptonite to Deal with Rotten Behavior on Medium
How do we write honestly and fearlessly in an uncontrollable situation?
Yesterday, I didn’t have to read for very long before hitting one angry post, and then another, and another. The authors were frustrated, hurt and enraged. They covered issues of plagiarism, borderline negative comments, outright horrible comments, and things people do to jack up their numbers. For myself, I would add the tabloid streak of the rabid coverage of the Depp/Heard fiasco, and others like it.
When an idea catches fire with a writer, at issue is not only the content, but the process, the style, the unique approach to the material. And make no mistake about it, a comment is not the same as a post.
My reactions
I am often made uncertain, uncomfortable and “creeped-out” by a writer’s work. The emotions, the images, the jagged edges may be tough to take, but I continue to read because there is something that grabs me. And I learn something — about writing, or the subject. Even if I’m a bit uncomfortable.
Other writers explicate areas of general interest to me. Their posts would get an A in Comp 101. But they are boring.
