Avoiding Excess

The wrong sizes are ruining our lives

In the early 2000's, McDonald’s introduced a new word to our lexicon: supersize.

McDonalds began to backtrack on it’s usage internationally by 2001, and by 2004 it was pulled from the regular menu, but the damage was done.

I know the word supersize.
You know the word supersize.
Kids born since 2004 know the word supersize.

We all know supersize.

This is the problem with overindulgence. Once it’s happened it will never un-happen. So in a world without 8 ounce servings of fries and 42 ounce cups of soft drinks,we're left to fend for ourselves and we don't do so well.

That’s why it’s important for us to now recognize Medium as the treasure it is. Too often web services bring with them a need for excess configuration, or worse a feeling of helplessness due to underdevelopment in beta and alpha label products. Medium is none of those and it’s also not a part of the super-social-ad-tracking machine.

Big Gulps, Trenta, they were only the next logical step based on what we've asked for and what we respond to. Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo all want to take over the web and fill it with “advertainment” content. And they will. Not because we want it, but because we're not saying no.

By not being all things to all people Medium single-handedly finds it’s ground. Supersize isn't the solution anymore, it’s the problem. More web services need follow suit.

In some ways, the web is starting to finally feel like it’s reaching for another point release. Maybe not 3.0, but perhaps 2.5: another important bug fix that patches our expectations with new better possibilities.