Ask HN: Please stop writing tutorials/tech articles on Medium • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Please stop writing tutorials/tech articles on Medium

#111

Post by safog » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 2:43 PM UTC

nuker wrote: post #71

jononor wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Medium has for me become a signal for "likely shallow and low quality".

Whats for you the signal for high quality?

You can usually tell from skimming the blog post / looking back at the author's history of posts - it's hard to put it into words.

I suspect quality means different things to different people and even changes based on context for the same person.

For instance, a blog describing some arcane linux command to run to fix the issue you're having does not need to be the same level of quality as something you're reading to learn + get in depth info about a topic you know at a very shallow level.

Re: Ask HN: Please stop writing tutorials/tech articles on Medium

#112

Post by mrspeaker » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 2:43 PM UTC

scaladev wrote: post #87

zepolen wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Suggesting a workaround is not addressing the root cause. Please don't.

Would you also advise against installing ad blockers?

Personally, I use an ad blocker - because I'm worried about the security of third-party code running on my machine. But I'm also moving towards the OP's idea... I stop reading articles/content that require a technical workaround to a political/philosophical problem. Any workaround strengthens the core problem.

Medium doesn't mind if you use a workaround - as long as you are using it. The business model is validated and metrics show that users are happy with it. The only way to change their mind is to stop using it entirely.

Re: Ask HN: Please stop writing tutorials/tech articles on Medium

#113

Post by rawoke083600 » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 2:43 PM UTC

THIS !

Re: Ask HN: Please stop writing tutorials/tech articles on Medium

#114

Post by ing33k » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 2:43 PM UTC

dplgk wrote: post #17

I find most Medium tech articles to be written poorly or outdated or written by juniors. They seem to be written by people that want to write an article just to write and article.

this is a general statement.

I have found several articles about Apache Kafka on Medium that have helped me a lot. I have no idea if it's by a junior dev or not.

Re: Ask HN: Please stop writing tutorials/tech articles on Medium

#115

Post by olav » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 2:46 PM UTC

avthar wrote: post #94

Writing on your own domain and blog, and then re-publishing on places like Medium and dev.to etc seems to be the best combination. You get the ownership of your own site, and the reach and SEO of medium and 3rd party publications.

That's the [POSSE](https://indieweb.org/POSSE) approach - Publish (on your) Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere.

Re: Ask HN: Please stop writing tutorials/tech articles on Medium

#116

Post by stared » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 2:46 PM UTC

Well, Medium has higher quality/$ ratio than virtually any other journal I know.

Yes, it has its issue but for many it is an easier writing experience than setting up one's own blog. In fact, a few people I mentored started writing precisely because there is Medium.

(I subscribe them. I wrote a few article on Medium. Yes, if for one there is no difference, I suggest GitHub pages a way to disseminate knowledge.)

Re: Ask HN: Please stop writing tutorials/tech articles on Medium

#117

Post by rikroots » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 2:46 PM UTC

x87678r wrote: post #20

Actually can we stop writing tutorials period. When you search for something I always get a bunch of old tutorials by people who are learning something and writing as they learn. If the official docs aren't great, contribute to them.

> Actually can we stop writing tutorials period.

No. If I don't write tutorials for my Javascript library thing[1], who's going to bother using it ... or even looking at it?

[1] - Obligatory spam link: https://scrawl-v8.rikweb.org.uk/learn

Re: Ask HN: Please stop writing tutorials/tech articles on Medium

#118

Post by dhimes » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 2:47 PM UTC

kgwxd wrote: post #99

stronglikedan wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer ads, but I'm one of those weirdos that doesn't see a problem with ads, and actually prefers targeted ads.

I prefer ads because, if they're a typical tracker disguised as an ad, I can block them without feeling even a tinge of guilt. A few weeks ago I saw an ad on a blog post. I think it's the only one I've seen all year. I was so surprised, I looked at the source. It was just an image, hosted on the same domain, wrapped in standard anchor tag. It was even something I might consider using, a server monitoring service. I h…

This is the way all ads should be.

Re: Ask HN: Please stop writing tutorials/tech articles on Medium

#119

Post by criddell » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 2:47 PM UTC

x87678r wrote: post #20

Actually can we stop writing tutorials period. When you search for something I always get a bunch of old tutorials by people who are learning something and writing as they learn. If the official docs aren't great, contribute to them.

That sounds like an opportunity for a search engine improvement.

Re: Ask HN: Please stop writing tutorials/tech articles on Medium

#120

Post by bonestamp2 » Fri, Oct 30, 2020, 2:47 PM UTC

stronglikedan wrote: post #34

dhimes wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you prefer ads or paying writers through Medium?

I prefer ads, but I'm one of those weirdos that doesn't see a problem with ads, and actually prefers targeted ads.

I don't have a problem with ads in general. But, I prefer not to have targeted ads -- I prefer ads that shoot from the hip and know as little about me as possible. I know that's not as compelling for advertisers, but they did ok with that model for a century.

I mean, if it were just as simple as, he likes gadgets and cycling: let's show him an ad for a new bike accessory -- that isn't so bad.

But when they know what your mood is, what your insecurities are, what your financial situation is, past purchases at one retailer linked with your phone number to purchases at another retailer, how likely you are to buy at a certain time of day, etc and then they show you the right ad, in the right place at the right time to exploit all of those things... that is too manipulative for my taste.