Stop Clapping and Start Reading!

My Stories Count more than my Comments

Happy clapper courtesy of Unsplash

I like to see “claps” as much as the next person. I’ve got an article (rare) that has upwards of 1,000 claps. Yay, me! However, that essay is the exception. When I check my notifications, I get a lot of claps for comments.

Thank you for liking my comments. Sometimes they’re off the cuff. Sometimes they’re well thought out. Sometimes, not too often, I hope, they can tend toward the smart-alecky. At other times, I seriously want to question the author about their point of view and how they got there. I am initiating a real conversation with the writer. No matter what the comment, I never expend as much effort on it as I do on an essay. Yet, yet, darnit, there goes that unread essay, or (and someone has to explain this to me) hundreds of claps and 57 “views.” How is that possible?

I do homework. I check sources. I want to make sure I don’t embarrass myself in front of people who know more about a topic than I do. I also want to be right so that I don’t mislead someone who doesn’t know as much as I do. I want to know what people think about my point of view.

I can’t do any of that if you don’t read what I write!

So, my plea to you. I’m glad you like my comments. I’ll be even gladder if you give my other stuff a look.

Thank you!