What’s with the heart begging?

I’m new to Medium, so I’m still learning the ropes. Perhaps I’ll end up schooled by some of the old timers, but I just don’t get the “ask” at the bottom of a lot of posts. It’s usually along the line of “Please hit the heart if you liked my story/article and follow me.”

This is the only social site where I’ve experienced this request. Folks aren’t asking me to like their Instagram photo, Vine video, or FB post. It’s just the norm right here.

There is so much talent on Medium. I’m really digging it and I find daily inspiration from the content. The stuff that I read and that reverberates for me, I will “heart.” Hell, I’ll even follow the writer.

Isn’t that the way it works? Do I really need to put the “heart me” request on my writing to find an audience?

I don’t want pity hearts. Either my writing speaks to you on some level or it doesn’t.

Hopefully, I’ll find my community and my connections on Medium without requesting what to me seems to be very obvious.