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Clapping on Medium
Dearest friends across the ether,
When I first started reading on Medium, I had no idea that when I clicked on the clapping hands icon for a post that I loved, it had a quantitative element. I clicked once — kind of like we “heart” once, because if we do it twice it turns back off — and thought I was showing the author my love.
Only later did I realize that I could click up to FIFTY (50) times! I should have known. I mean it’s called “clap.” When I’m in an audience, and the performance is over and I liked it, do I only clap once? No! I clap over and over. Sometimes, weakly and without conviction. Sometimes not at all because I’ve left the theatre already. And sometimes madly, till my hands hurt, yelling and screaming, “BRAVO!”
So, in that same way, on Medium I could clap once (or not at all) for “Meh,” ten times for “This was good. Thanks for writing it,” but up to fifty times — the equivalent for me screaming “BRAVO!” Or anywhere in between. Nice to have the range so that our appreciation can have the nuance that the piece might have.
I’m posting this only for those of you who might be new or who might not know. If you love what you just read just stick that finger down on the clap icon and don’t let up until it won’t go any further.
With much love to all who read the writers here on Medium, definitely to all who write here, and to those who made Medium possible at all. Thank you!
Tina
