13 Comments
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David Perlmutter's avatar

Maybe the same person who got you flagged is the one that got me forced out of Medium.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

For all I know I'm getting flagged 50 times a day and Medium goes to the mat for me again and again and again. If that's the case, I think I'd prefer not to know. I only report people when they leave messages that are clearly spam claiming people can make thousands a month. So much goes on behind the scenes.

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Alison Acheson's avatar

David???!!! True, I haven't "seen" you of late. Oh my. This is distressing. I'm so sorry.

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Amelia Hassan's avatar

That is one vindictive lady. But you are right, you are no stranger to hostile comments because I used read your articles on Newsbreak and that was bunch of unbelievable awful people.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

I eventually couldn't take it anymore over there. It really showed the level of racism and ignorance in the US. Thanks for the support!

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Jeanie's avatar

Walter, you are tremendously conscientious and with it as a writer. Perhaps the comment was the result of an unfortunate episode in the life of the other.

I recall my Dad attempting to install a bathroom sink. It split in two:

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you, and yes, that's the only explanation that makes sense. I'd prefer to be able to help people through tough times, but help never comes in the form of making trouble for other people. I feel for your dad! I've broken my share of DIY materials, though never a sink. It would be pretty easy to break a vessel sink. Thanks for the nice comment!

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Jeanie's avatar

Hope in the great beyond, Dad is healed by your compassion. He was momentarily devastated.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

The best part about DIY projects is that you save so much on labor that you can break all the materials 4 or 5 times! I wish him peace as well!

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Alison Acheson's avatar

Walter, I'm so sorry you had to endure this. Good move to know when to block. But you give SO MUCH to the writing community!

And wow--that sink looks good!

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Walter Rhein's avatar

It's just part of writing on the internet. I'm used to encountering hostility. However, it's weird to encounter hostility for offering some guidance on how to be more successful. Oh well, I suppose it was probably inevitable.

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Alison Acheson's avatar

I guess the significant piece of it all is not to let it get to you! (Though I understand how it can!)

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Thank you, Alison. I think is one of the flaws of Medium's infrastructure- they allow "trolls" to pursue private vendettas by accusing others of violating terms and conditions, and the operators side with the accusers rather than the accused. At least on Substack, it's decentralized enough to prevent much of that from happening.

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