So many points here that could be unpacked it's hard to know where to start. Just a stream of thoughts.
I remember your earlier stuff. You stood out as an exceptional writer. Because you had something real to say and you had real talent.
That hasn't changed, only your focus has changed.
Which is good because, in case Mr. Stubblebine didn't notice, the WORLD has changed. The "Golden Age" of peace, plenty, and safety is OVER.
There is a reason that writers focusing on sex, beauty, relationships, work tips, and self-help are tanking. People read that stuff when times are good and they feel safe. In times of disaster, they want something with meat to it. Not intellectual cotton candy.
Which is why you are doing well. You have become a "trusted voice" to, at least, 100K+ people. Because you are tapping into and saying "out loud" what they are scared of. What they are worried about but perhaps not able to talk about with those around them.
Which is common. Particularly for your "WHITE" readers.
Let's NEVER FORGET, 2 out 3 WHITE VOTERS, VOTED FOR TRUMP.
If you are a WHITE Liberal, you may not have people around you that you can have conversations with. You may be surrounded by family that mocks and attacks you. By coworkers you cannot say anything to for fear of creating a hostile environment.
Being a White Liberal makes you a minority in the White community. It can make you feel isolated and under siege by those around you. Those people are your readers and they love you for being their voice and their lifeline.
You tell them they aren't crazy and that there are others like them. You give people hope just by telling them the truth of what you see.
THAT'S A BIG DEAL, IT MAKES YOU IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.
It also makes every Tom, Dick, and Harry wannabe, extremely jealous. But, their "followers" were never going to follow you anyway. Mostly, because they are WHITE GUYS preaching WHITE GUY BS to other WHITE GUYS and pretending it's the wisdom of the ages.
Not one of them has anything like your record of predictive analysis. They are all (based on extensive examination of their work) second rate intellects. There is a reason I follow you and Umair. You are brilliant and you are not afraid to say what you see.
Lastly, on Medium as a platform.
It seems to be in a transitional stage right now. It's unclear where it's going. The original vision of a "writers collective" is being replaced with a more commercial "writers marketplace". These are very different systems of organization with different reward mechanisms for participants.
They produce environments that favor different types of content and different types of readers. By attacking you, Medium is demonstrating what type of content and what type of readers they are most interested in appealing to.
It is extremely revealing that Mr. Stubblebine would mention you by name but say nothing about writers like David Siegel. Who is not just a "Climate Denier' but a funded agent of the Fossil Fuel Disinformation campaign. Who has 11K followers who take their cues and talking points from him and spread climate change disinformation and lies.
Or, the "dark half" of Medium. The Conservative, MAGA Medium that is really ugly, racist, homophobic, misogynistic, and fascist. Not one word about cleaning up or policing that cesspool.
Because, they are the ones complaining about you. Because that's the readers they want more of. Average WHITE people like the one's who watch FOX. The kind of people investors want to see big numbers of. The kind of readers a company like Disney (who might be a buyer) want to see a lot of.
That's why you are a target. You are not compatible with the "brand identity" Tony wants to establish.
Finally, I always knew you were brilliant but DAMN GIRL, you be GENIUS. Fuck the Ivy League, it would have just filled your head with memes you had to unlearn. You taught yourself what you found interesting and you built your own conceptual framework of meaning and interconnection.
You are a "free thinker". It's what I treasure most about your mind.
