Extension of last post: https://steemit.com/flag/@edicted/the-trolls-will-make-us-rich-but-at-what-cost
Phase 3: Profit
How can we profit off of flagging? Well, actually, we don't have to do anything. That's the beauty of it. Every flag recycles stake away from not one but two people. As long as you aren't getting flagged more than the average person you'll automatically benefit financially from flags being issued on the platform.
Theoretically in a flag war-zone we could stop trying to receive rewards by posting, and simply sell our vote. Then it would be impossible to get flagged. Obviously this is totally against the spirit of the platform so it's not a great idea, but the option is there. (Not to mention it assumes that someone wants to buy your vote.)
As I've said time and time again, if you don't want to get trolled, then stop giving power to the troll. It takes a lot of self-control to ignore someone poking us with a stick. It takes even more to engage them while maintaining the high ground. However, the payoff is worth the effort.
"That's not what flags are for."
A lot of users make the argument that flags are for this or that. Some say that flags shouldn't exist altogether. Personally, I know that if flags didn't exist this platform would be in pretty bad shape. Proof-of-brain would be completely unattainable without flags.
As far as the other arguments that claim what flags are for, it matters little. Anyone can throw a flag for any reason, and it is this simple rule that makes the system impossible to exploit while still being highly mutable. It's up to us to build up more complex systems on top of this foundation if we want to see less anarchic results.
Virtual flag redirection
This most recent flag-war between @fulltimegeek and @berniesanders really got me thinking.
@ranchorelaxo uses 100% of his voting power to reward @haejin.
-----@berniesanders
I'd be more than happy to counteract him with you. But, it seems like you've been contaminated by his infectious greed. YOU are the hyprocrite. Also, your flagging and demeanor has been nothing but toxicity lately. Either I flag you, or him. I'm done letting these problems fester.
-----@fulltimegeek
What if I (or anyone really) created a dumb contract that allowed two people to virtually flag each other but redirect those flags on the blockchain to a mutual enemy?
Two users on bad terms could increase the power
of their stake by utilizing such a contract.
For example:
@fulltimegeek virtually flags @berniesanders for $50 (likely represented by rshares).
#virtual-flag @berniesanders $50.00
#target @haejin $100.00
Such a contract would imply that if @berniesanders does not accept it then he will be getting flagged $50 in the future by FTG. If Bernie accepts the contract they both flag @haejin for $50/each instead. If either of them break the contract, they would lose reputation given the metrics of my reputation system (which doesn't exist yet).
Still, the blockchain is immutable, and a nothing stops a valid reputation system from going into the past and seeing that someone broke a contract. When you say you are going to do something on a blockchain and break that promise the transparency of that betrayal is evident for all eternity.
Also, both Bernie and FTG are programmers and use a bot-net, so it would be pretty easy to set up something like this in a very low-risk fashion.
Crunching the numbers.
In the case of @fulltimegeek and @berniesanders flagging each other for $50, both lose $100, for a total of $200 being returned to the reward pool.
If they both agreed to the contract they would both lose $50 and @haejin would lose $100, again for a total of $200. This assumes that @haejin would not retaliate, which is obviously ridiculous, but you get the idea.
The contract could even be nested to include @haejin:
#virtual-flag @berniesanders $50.00
#target #virtual-flag @haejin $100.00
#target @some-other-guy $200.00
This contract states that FTG will flag Bernie for $50 if he doesn't help him flag @haejin for $100, but if @haejin also accepts the contract then they will all flag @some-other-guy for a total of $200.
Mutually Assured Destruction
It is with a system like this that whales who don't even like each other, possibly even hate one another, can organize to clean up the platform for the good of everyone.
Honor System Fail
Proof-Of-Brain is an honor system. We have to trust that users with stake are going to upvote the highest quality content because ranking content is totally subjective. Honor systems have a way of breeding bad actors. One person realizes it's really easy to cheat the system to get ahead. Other players see the abuser and decide that they will also abuse the system in order to "stay competitive". It's the exact kind of justification we see in professional sports with steroids, enhancements, blood-doping, and all that.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Virtual flag contracts provide a way to form alliances with the intention of cleaning up the platform. All the parties of the contract have to do is decide that another abuser is clearly a more flagrant threat. Set aside your differences to try to bring an even bigger abuser into the fold.
Conclusion
We can't expect that the platform is going to clean itself up. We also can't expect to gain some kind of 51% majority where more than half of the platform is in agreement. These are unrealistic expectations. However, I believe that a system like this would be able to reverse the domino effect that bad actors set into motion. Instead of a whale deciding they need to abuse the platform because everyone else is, they could decide to flag the abusers rather than get targeted by an entire alliance. What could possibly go wrong? (lol) Let the witch hunt begin!
Cool concept. I do feel there is a need for people to get their priorities right.
But then we all have different views on what is the most important thing that needs to happen.
For me, this is the one single headline we need to see:
"Steem Blockchain user earns $1,000 for sharing post on steem social media site. Is this possible and should you join?"
I don't care how this happens, but that would be the most awesome catalyst.
The sad thing is, the people who have the most steem power to be able to make this happen are busy selling their votes or self voting. There's nothing "wrong" with that, but it doesn't quite capture the imagination...
"Steem user makes marginally more steem by giving up control of their voting power"
@kabir88
I have vision and faith in this platform that rivals the most dedicated zealots. (@taskmaster4450)
Once we figure out a decentralized reputation system that organizes trust and leadership we will be unstoppable.
Amen to that new reputation system! Was hoping @steempeak would have adopted the @steem-ua ratings by now. Or maybe @partiko will be the first to do it. We shall wait and see
Somehow I feel these people will destroy the system slowly but surely. Their energy is so negative, but I'm sure everyone's in denial
Just an observer #asyouwere
Posted using Partiko Android
There is no way to destroy the system. It may lose value, it may become smaller, it may even become less reliable. But as long as there are 21 people willing to run a witness node, the steem blockchain will keep chugging along.
Can you imagine a social media platform with drama + money. This thing is going to be awesome and I got front row tickets.
It will put all those twitter disagreements to shame
This sounds great but it sounds idealistic to me. I would like if these two would stop their feud but I don't think Bernie would do something like this from what I've read so far.
The idea behind it is that you can still continue the feud. In fact, the idea is to make the feud even bigger by adding more people to it. It's issuing an ultimatum: "I'm going to flag you but if you like we can both flag this other guy instead."
So basically FTG and Bernie would still lose money, just half as much, and the second half would get dumped on a third party.
In essence, it provides an escape that can break the cycle of back and forth binary flagging and opens it up to cascade into a domino effect that would be beneficial for the whole platform.
You are probably going to get flagged for this post
Picture from @pibarabot
That's what I love about STEEM, it's more life like. Complicated painful not fair sucky life. And dam it feels good to be alive.
If I have learned anything from @berniesanders he is 2-4 months ahead of our time for setting the standard of what is excepted in STEEM. It always looks like he is super wrong at the time but then 4 months down the road, that guy who was complaining about Mr Sander's is doing the same thing he was saying he would never do.
The question is is Mr Sander's a trend setter or a really smart guy ahead of his time?
Freaking brilliant
Very interesting idea/concept. Not sure anyone would agree to it, though hey it is still a neat idea.
I am surprised that your post didn't get flagged by one or more of these players. These guys have been flagging anyone and everyone who gets involved.
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