Profiles can’t reveal everything.
Last night, having trouble falling asleep, I began thinking about some of the people I engage with or have engaged with during my many-year journey on Medium. Do I really know who they are or what they stand for? Do I know how they spend their days, on or off Medium? Do I really want to know?
Most people I knew or interacted with when I first started writing here have vanished. I don’t know if they went elsewhere to write or quit this platform. I have remained in touch with only one of my acquaintances from the early days.
Presently, I can count on one hand the number of writers I would consider to be “friends” with, much like most of my Facebook “friends”. I think they know who they are.
I mostly learn about people through reading their profiles, but many times, these profiles don’t give an accurate picture. I truly get to know people when I read what they publish or through their comments.
I have discovered that a few people are not who they say they are. In one instance a fellow writer I read and followed, turned out to be rather homophobic. I am gay and liberal, and I don’t try to hide that fact. After publishing a few posts advocating gay rights, I noticed this person quit engaging with my stories. He suddenly started publishing stories where he pointed out that he was a “normal straight person”—a red flag.
Conversely, I got to know a writer, by whose profile, appeared to be a quiet and meek individual. But, in time, after reading her stories and comments, I found out she was really a liberal firebrand. I’m so happy I connected with her.
Sometimes, I wonder what some of the people I engage with do when they are not on Medium. Do they have a full-time job, a family, hobbies, etc.? There are writers who seem to be on Medium all day and all night long. They seem to be pumping out stories like a machine gun. Are they real people? Are they one person or a combination of people?
I didn’t intend to mention any names here, but I feel I must do so. I often wonder if he eats or sleeps or if he is a real person. He is quite a prolific writer, editor, reader, highlighter, and commenter, if he does indeed exist. I’m talking about Marcus Musick. He is what his writings and profiles say he is.
There are many wonderful people on this platform who we will never get the chance to know. I only wish there was a way to connect directly to them, such as a direct messaging option, other than leaving a private note on one of their stories. It would be nice if we could follow someone by seeing what interests or passions they have, instead of Medium suggesting articles to read. But I guess that is asking too much of Medium.
What do you think?
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