Stop posting random comments on medium

The one thing that I don’t like about Medium (and other related platforms) is the surface-level engagement we all participate in. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely did it too when I first started posting, and I have only recently seen the error in my ways.

It’s one of the first rookie strategies we see — engage with other writers! Comment on their work and support their writing and hope they’ll see the same! (very reminiscent of old-school Instagram “like for like”)

However, it’s so easy to make these kinds of engagements so deeply transactional that they’re completely pointless. I see so many people leaving comments that are lazy and/or clearly show they didn’t even read the post (I’m talking completely off-topic). In this sense, monetization has completely ruined the writer-level interaction that should be taking place on this platform. Everyone is bent on driving more people to their own posts, often sloppily. Of course, I want engagement and views and traction and financial success — I’m only human. But sometimes, when I see such disengaged “engagement”, I feel disappointed. It feels like my work is only being read by people who truly don’t care.

That all being said, I reiterate that I have been a part of this problem myself. What am I trying to do differently?

(1) Find things you actually want to read

Honestly, it’s hard for me to find meaningful content / content that resonates with me directly in my For You…