“Viral” is an understatement here. You see, I am a bottom writer. So even my best articles are other writers’ average.
But nonetheless, when an article goes far above my usual average, it does tickle my ego.
In 2023, I set my own “viral threshold” at $5.00 per article. I kept that threshold for 2024. With about 150 articles, only four reached this level.
Revenue: $9.41
The Medium echo chamber likes George Carlin. This title definitely takes a shot at him. The article elaborates on that shot. I was surprised that this article did so well.
Revenue: $6.78
This title suggests another round of Trump bashing. Medium readers like Trump bashing. I was not surprised this article did so well.
Revenue: $7.71
This title sure seems to follow the political philosophy of “Republicans being a basket of deplorables.” I suspect this article got most of its clicks from people wanting to validate this opinion.
Instead, this article gives a logical, rational reason why MAGA is MAGA. Low intelligence, racism, and misogyny are smaller factors than the reason I gave in this article. I say that MAGA has actually made a sound, wise political choice--if self-interest is their goal.
Bashing the Pro-Palestinian Encampments is an unpopular opinion
Revenue: $6.06
Medium seems divided on the Israel/Gaza conflict. Maybe both sides saw something in the title to cause them to click and read. Anyways, I don’t have a solution for this international mess. I can only say that we should not put Hamas on some kind of pedestal of benevolent governors looking out for the welfare of their people. Probably the same for Israel.
Bashing, Bashing, Bashing
Take a good second look at these titles. The word “bashing” appears twice. The other two titles suggest more bashing. These articles did so well, relatively speaking.
Building
Most of my Medium writing is about building. Building a new way.
I have about 100 articles about building a new democracy. These articles are lucky to get $0.50.
In February, I put out a 24-part series about a new model for commerce. Medium writers and readers are often complaining about the nefarious ways of business. One would think these readers would be interested in a possible solution.
The first spolu article almost made the viral threshold ($4.79), but this was mostly because of my clickbaiting.
The other 23 spolu articles averaged about $0.25. No one was interested. Yet we will still complain about the nefarious ways of business.
You can say that my ideas are just too far-fetched to go anywhere. And you can make that conclusion without having read my works. And I would say that is “fair game.” It is my job to entice you to take a serious look at my ideas. In that, I have clearly failed.
But you liked my bashing articles.
Why?
Should not my bottom writer status be uniform across all my works?
Should not my bashing thoughts get relegated to the same traction as my building thoughts?
Should I change my mission on Medium to bash people and groups?
Conclusion
Occasionally, I have made a little quip about the Medium culture and its writers and readers. I shall just refine this quote a little:
What Medium readers are reading says more about us than what the Medium writers are writing.
It is sad that these four articles were my “best” articles in 2024.
Published on Medium 2025
