Aah, thank you, Susan, for being so gracious. I am not for a minute suggesting that these sorts of articles shouldn't be written. I am all for freedom of expression within the bounds of the laws designed to protect others. There are certainly lots of success stories that can be inspirational and give hope to us all. If they are funny, so much the better. Even ones that say, "I did it, so you can too," have their place and especially when they include tips and advice on HOW to follow suit. But sometimes, the parameters of what is possible for everyone may be less fixed than we think. It is plainly idiotic for a 6’ 6” person to say to a 5ft person: well, i can reach the top shelf, so you can too. Or for Beethoven to tell me he can play something so I can too (when my finger span is half the size of his). I am more likely to get despondent than inspired. And I suppose that is the nub of it: I can do it, so you can too is not ALWAYS true. And perhaps that is all it takes - a willingness to check whether it really is true for everyone. Imagine for a minute a child who has been repeatedly told s/he is useless and will never amount to anything, a child who has never had good role models or even good teachers. Her ability to achieve or to persevere is at 3ft compared to a norm of 6ft; if someone tells her that "others can do it, so you can too," she is more likely to be despairing than inspired. She may well lash out in anger.

I fail at most things, and the Medium response column is no exception: I shall probably think of something better to say tomorrow. To be clear, I don’t think you have anything to apologise for, and it is fine to write about your successes. I applaud each and every one of them.

I feel sure we are closer to agreeing than we are to disagreeing, and I thank you for the space to help me try and circle my way around to what I am really trying to say, which is (getting there now) I don't judge anyone who writes success articles, but I don't want to judge anyone who attacks them either. I have found a line in The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran: "What penalty lay you upon him who slays in the flesh yet is himself slain in the spirit?"

Me: “What penalty lay you upon him who slays your writing, yet is himself slain in the spirit?”

Sorry. I’ve gone on a bit . . A🙏💚