Much appreciation to you!

I believe as you do - here's why.

I joined in the early part of 2021, as a paying member and I barely read - for a YEAR. If I read 3 articles in a month - that was a lot. It was sporadic.

I paid, because if I saw a headline I was interested in - I wanted access. There have to be MANY members as I was. Those are funds that don't have to "be spread."

Here's what I wished others thought about - but I don't want to come across as though I know this for a fact. But it's reasonable to me.

Medium doesn't owe us or anyone an explanation. Their one-paragraph explanation is taken so literally that it then feeds into these "myths." They provided a general enough statement that probably does have some truth - but there are clearly other ways they decide how to pay the writers. And maybe the truth is: our expectations of how much we can make is also based on hearsay, so there is bound to be false hopes or unrealistic expectations - which then leads to the I'm doing well or I'm doing poorly posts.

Medium does well so long as people see value in reading. So, it must be a very difficult challenge between managing a social platform and keeping their expectations of quality writing high (what that means and how - another difficult one to answer).

Keep well AJ -- I appreciate your feedback and help. Always!