Saying the criticism of this type of article is based on “jealousy” is lame ad hominem. The problem with these money-grubbing articles, rather, is that they’re hackneyed and crass. Plus, the advice these articles provide is usually BS or cosmetic.

Sure, it’s an open platform, and you should write whatever you want, within the guidelines. And sure, folks will read what they want to read. But that doesn’t mean open markets are meritocratic. There’s such a thing as exploiting folks’ inherent cognitive weaknesses, including their fears and yearnings. Since ancient times this has been known as sophistry.

Yes, you’re free to write exploitative sophistry. That doesn’t mean you should do so, nor does it mean that the prevalence of sophistry in an open forum makes the world a better place. But you do you.