Absolutely awesome. Two things jumped out at me right away as I read this:
- I really want to start learning more about the witness thing. I voted for witnesses when I got started up, but it was basically a load of choices made at random and no idea what the witnesses really do.
- I love the anonymity of Hive, and I agree, it’s not because I’m up to anything nefarious. Personally, I’ve made accounts with other platforms like Twitter, Facebook Instagram, etc., and within a day I’m getting comments and friend requests from family members, former class mates and neighbors, etc. The most attractive aspect of Hive, for me, was the fact that I could build a space which is fully and unapologetically centered around me and my interests, where the friend-base I would grow was based on these sorts of common interests. I don’t want my mom calling me and saying “Honey, I saw a video of you playing a flute while you were driving, I don’t know if that’s a safe idea…and also, how long have you been playing the flute?” Lol - or my sister saying “Interesting post you did about sigils and magic - what are you supposed to be now, Harry Potter or something?” Hive is where I go to share the real, personal, actual me. I put it out there and people can like or not like it, but it won’t follow me in to work or my family life, etc.
I used to like Reddit based on the ease of new account creation and giving people the right to "say something on their mind at the moment" without giving away their main account where others may be able to siphon out who he is based on the history. These were called "throwaway accounts" and while they're not as easily created on Hive you can consider some to be that. The immutability of text also makes people more careful of what they say and post on chain knowing it'll be there forever but the anonymity of it all gives them the freedom to speak their minds without fear of "real life" retaliation or consequences, for better or worse.
I actually came here from Reddit, which I liked for the same reasons. At the time, I was looking for a new video hosting site so I could put videos on Reddit without my whole world being notified the moment I did, and @quochuy told me about #threespeak - transitioning over to #hive was all but instantaneous, and I really haven’t looked back since.
[…] what they may need the value they've earned on Hive for, etc. They could of course talk about it, and many do, but they could also lie.
I withdrew something like 300HBD and shot it over to the market where I sold it to pay off my last remaining credit card debt. It was awesome to get rid of that last debt, but it was also cool to prove to myself that Hive/HBD really can be used as a store of value, and to find a solid method I know can work if needed. With that said, I don’t plan on doing that again anytime soon, and in fact, when I see how the loss impacted my interest returns, I kind of regret doing it - but it was worth it to know I can, and to know how. I only recently learned how to look at someone else’s wallet, so far haven’t really been too curious about others’ holdings, but it is cool that Hive keeps everything on the table like that.
My reputation on Hive is something I've considered to be priceless because it enables me so many things and generates value in so many forms I couldn't see myself getting rid of it.
I actually don’t know yet what kind of value the reputation brings to an account, but I can say for sure that I’ve come to cherish mine as well, even if arbitrarily. In terms of actual reputation and the perpetuity of text as you mentioned, this is also a reputation that means a lot to me. I tend to steer away from controversy and content that would cause a potential flute or ukulele fan to leave based on unrelated beliefs. On Reddit, I never worried too much. I had burner accounts and a main one, so I could build a reputation and then go rogue or whatever without impacting my main thing. On Hive, my reputation is too valuable to me to risk even that. I think, if it’s got potential to damage your reputation here, just don’t do it - and even still I probably manage to ruffle a few feathers here and there, but I guess the goal is to not go far enough to make enemies.
I really appreciated this post. As I turn the corner and begin unfolding my second year on Hive, I’m finding myself growing from just creating and curating, to developing an interest in some of the finer nuances that really make Hive unique - it’s something I hope to continue expanding on as I grow with the community. Thanks for taking the time to write this up, these perspectives are really valuable to newer users like myself!
Just thought of this, but you mentioned anonymity as well as reputation - and I think there’s a relationship between the two that helps guide the ecosystem. I may be anonymous, but that doesn’t mean I’m free to post awful shit with full abandon - between downvoting and reporting, users taking advantage of their anonymity to post nefarious content (I suspect) would not find it profitable to do so here. Hive is, HANDS DOWN, the most respectable and healthy social media platform I’ve experienced. Anyway, just wanted to add that - maybe I’m avoiding other tasks lol