“This is what Medium has become.”

[A personal reflection on Ryan Musk Jobs comment & many others made much less gracefully.]

I think that I understand the cause of your statement. I, too, am continually dismayed & frustrated by the banal, the …ist, the clickbait headlines and etc.

At the same time, I’d suggest that these stories constitute only a part, though perhaps an unfortunate part, of what appears within the Medium platform. It therefore is a little unjust to suggest that it typifies Medium as a whole.

The alternative, in my view, would have to be mandatory moderation by Medium editors. The problem then becomes, as with all moderation, the potential for the beliefs or feelings or persuasions of the moderator to consciously or unconsciously influence what is published in a particular direction.

I dislike censorship. My view is that it is better for concepts, ideas, notions, or whatever to be aired & the opportunity thus offered for contrary, dissenting, disproving or questioning of those views by those who are able to take a more objective, analytical and interrogative view of whatever issue is at stake.

Why do I feel that way: “Better the enemy you know than the one you don’t” or “Keep you friends close but your enemies closer”.

When views are shared openly we can discuss and dissect them. This process can change views — though I admit that in some cases it may harden them — but I feel that the former is more likely. Often, in fact, the discussion promoted will contribute to preventing behavioural action much more damaging than unworthy or offensive words on paper or, in this case, on a digital platform, could ever be.

Yes, I know, “The pen is mightier than the sword” — I tend to believe that — but believe it to work much more effectively when the pen is used to express truth & evidenced opinion and fact, rather than false-logic, irrationality or ill-mannered abuse — whether intentional or not.

Thank you for expressing your concern about this type of article.