I have seen no evidence of Medium’s “actions that speak louder than words” but I agree with you Aura. I can feel those actions even if I cannot see them. If I couldn’t feel it I would already be long gone. On some level I know that there are a few Medium employees who really do care and who are working for all Medium users and not just the top 1%. But I can also feel that it is a very daunting task and my heart goes out to those Medium employees still around.

My stats look like the exact opposite of yours. But it’s useless to blame Medium. The best thing one can do is to avoid ever looking at one’s stats. The only important thing is our writing. Whether anyone sees it is utterly irrelevant.

Bernie Sanders is fond of saying that all change starts at the bottom and moves up. We can’t wait around for the Medium staff to fix everything. To paraphrase and rearrange Gandhi’s words, we, the users, need to be the change that we want to see on Medium. It is strictly up to us. How we react and respond to other Medium users is what will determine Medium’s future. How much love we spread on Medium is what will uplift the platform. It is foolhardy to depend on our leaders. Each of us must become our own leaders — not of others but of ourselves.

It is very difficult to be optimistic about Medium right now but your post, Aura, really does help. Thank you.