I didn’t know this and I have been on Medium for over a year. Huh.

Clapping is what it is. Everyone has a different method. I just figure any clap is a good clap.

Often single claps are the most valuable because they are usually come from new readers who haven’t clapped much. So each clap is more valuable. My claps are probably worth less than a penny each because I clap a lot.

I also view clapping like a music concert. How much a story moves me determines how much I clap.

As a musician, I hate “polite applause.” It is so obvious. “That song bored me, but I am clapping anyway to be polite.” So I don’t do it on Medium. If I don’t like a story, I don’t clap. No participation medals from me. But, hey, I’m a grumpy old man. So you have to consider the source.