Medium: the highs and lows of clapping
How about Bravos!, Standing Ovations, Whistling from the Bleachers, and Boos, instead?

I like the rainbow sprinkles that fly off the clapping hands.
I don’t like deciding how many to give.
I do like receiving claps.
I don’t like receiving just one clap. Which many people think is all the clapper has to give. (Unless I’m kidding myself and my writing only deserves one clap.)
Let’s do the math. On a scale of 1–50, one clap might be the equivalent of “Extremely lukewarm, kinda liked, not so much”? And 2? 3? 4?
As a writer, it is so disappointing and ludicrous to receive one clap that sometimes it makes me laugh out loud. Let’s face it, one clap has the sting of a slap!
I’m a discerning reader, but when it comes to claps, I give 50 or none at all.
After all, I’m not a critic, and I don’t want to ruin my reading experience by consciously evaluating what I read. I read empathetically, sponging in intelligence, humor, inspiration, horror, grief, you name it. I feel while I read!
Reading is not a dry experience for me, and I would rather savor tears of sadness or joy running down my cheeks, than switch to my left-brain and calculate the value of what I absorbed.
Indecision factors in as well. Have you ever heard of dance floor chemistry? No? Clearly you have not been ballroom dancing lately. Dance floor chemistry is when you fall in love with the partner whose arms are embracing you in the moment. You actually swoon while dancing with him, and it is utter nonsense to imagine ever loving anyone else again!
Five minutes later, dance over. Change partners. Wow! This guy’s rhythm is unmatched! Tall, short, guapo, feo, makes no difference. Only the magic of their moves matter. Once again, I’m in love. (Same goes for writers.)
In other words, each Medium piece that holds me through to the end is my new favorite, my paramour, The Best. 50 claps! No in-between.
I don’t understand algorithms. Just old-fashioned enthusiasm. Let’s take a poll. Which do you prefer? Hearts? Claps? Bravos? Standing ovations? Whistling from the bleachers? Boos?
Tell me in the comments and I’ll give you 50 claps ;-)

