Really Ev?

Being a publishing tool is not necessarily a bad thing and although the points Ev highlights are valid, Medium still comes across a publishing tool and this is why:

• The focus is writing and reading in the layout and overall design
• It feels that social chat, gifs and publications are an add on to the beautiful writing environment. I can imagine the board room conversation “no no we must add social and gifs to increase users and make it Tumblr like”
• A network and community need to have the right tools too and social integration to feel more community based . It does not feel like social is pushed enough
• Targeting 9% of the web is great, but it feels like Medium is targeting a certain type of that 9%. Professionals and personality who have an interest towards blogging and writing, which means it could be classed as a network — yes a clossed off one which does not encourage a “social” network
• Web first development is great and the best way to develop. Communities are not created on the web and are created via our smartphones. App development needs to come quicker and with more stability

Personally, I think Medium is currently confused on what it is and is lucky its great content is keeping it alive and interesting.