The only time I’ve ever removed a clap was when it was both accidental and on an article I found particularly odious. On the iPhone app, the “clap” icon under a story is located in the exact same spot as the home icon on the feed. So it’s really easy mistake to make, especially if you’re new to Medium and/or enjoy the occasional “hate read.”

That said, removing a clap isn’t easy and is hardly worth the effort. Could the negative claps be the result of Medium removing clap-happy bots?