I'm not sure what life was like in the sixty or so years Cicero was alive back in 106 BC to 43 BC [when he was finally assassinated], although if all one needed was a garden and library I think I'd be rather content living back then. I think the phrase was meant to make a point rather than be taken literally though and, with a few additions, I'd completely agree with that quote.
These days it's not as easy as all that though; we tend to require more than the basic physiological needs of a human like food, shelter, sleep and warmth. Safety and security is an element, as is love and belonging along with self-esteem and self-actualisation and there's other things of course, but they tend to fall underneath one of the above I guess.
When I say need I'm talking about those basic things a human requires to survive, however these days there's many other things that come into play and that people say they need like computers, cars, insurance, superannuation, healthcare and a myriad of other things and they all require money. Sure, the barter-system can work in certain circumstances, however I can't barter an item to add funds to my superannuation fund for when I cease actively exchanging my time and expertise for money in the workforce for instance...so yeah, money.
Need
Because Hive is global the community is very diverse; it's sometimes odd to me to think that I could be talking to someone from a very poor country who is struggling to make ends meet, or just to feed themselves, when I come from a country that it quite wealthy, and from a position of great comfort. Typically, I'd never interact with those people but here on Hive it happens. Sure, my comfort comes from hard work and effort, but being born in Australia has provided opportunities that others may not have.
Not too long ago I spoke to one such person who reached out for my advice.
The person needed [wanted] to take some Hive earnings out into the real world to facilitate day-to-day life but also had a deep desire to build an account and support the blockchain through powering up and curating others. That's cool right? The user wanted my take on the situation and to bounce their ideas off me.
We discussed the situation, did a few calculations around what amount would make a difference in the real world, what Hive earnings the account was gaining and what would be a feasible strategy that accommodated both needs. It was a really cool process to be honest, hearing that person go back over their real-world needs and those on Hive.
Balance of needs
A compromise was decided upon. Every several days the user would power up 50% of what they held in liquid Hive and remove the other 50% into an exchange and subsequently into the real world to assist with those real-world financial needs. These transactions would be done at the same time so anyone looking would see the balance. We're not talking about huge amounts here but it makes a difference in the users' real-world situation and supports Hive at the same time. I'm not suggesting that everyone does this, however it seemed a good compromise.
I've never taken Hive out into the real-world (fiat) and any I have taken from Hive went to an exchange, was traded for gains and put back in and powered up. I guess not everyone can do so though.
Hive isn't a users' personal bank and if everyone shit-posted hourly and removed every scrap of Hive they earned rather than power up and curate others I don't think it would ultimately work out so well. This is why I don't like to see people self-voting also, it's selfish and, interestingly, most that are self-voting also have a constant power-down active. That says a lot right?
It's great that we have a place to monetise our words but some responsibility is required, in my opinion.
I was really pleased to be involved in the process that user went through to come to a decision and am happy to support the account with some additional curation as the quality, effort, passion and personality is there. I also appreciated the way they're proceeding in their life offline and in support of Hive and I wish them the best of luck.
What's your thoughts on the matter?
Are you one who likes to shit-post and spam-post low-effort content for rewards and take it all out of Hive? I'd love for you to comment and identify yourself if you are. Alternatively, do you have a strategy similar to the user I mention above in support of yourself and the Hive blockchain? Maybe you're like me and you leave it all powered up and spread it around through a lot of post-curation and comment-voting. Feel free to comment below.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Any images in this post are my own
The only time I ever voted for myself was in the early days on Hive. I was just learning the buttons. 😅 I also haven't withdrawn a penny from here so far. I don't see the point in withdrawing $100 when you can make a few more cents on top every day until that lump is enough to live on or retire... But by the way, the 50/50 option is pretty good for those who need to eat. Let him be better off eating and creating great content here and growing at the same time, than starving and going away after a year. And in a year he himself will understand how much more you can get from Hive than a few tens or hundreds of dollars...
There's benefits from building one's Hive account and at the current prices I don't see much point in removing any; that's just me though and everyone has a different situation. I really like the balance the user I mentioned in this post applied and I will support that person with larger votes because of it.
Exactly! It's like depriving yourself of possible future profits voluntarily...
It’s an interesting conversation— cash out or cash in. I’ve been one to cash out, as the situation requires, as I explore blockchain and use cryptocurrency in my life. Admittedly, my biggest struggle is consistency which, in part, HIVE and STEEM prior, has taught me with a soft touch.
Now, I’d be giving a token too much credit, when it’s people within that network that deliver so much value, but I’m grateful a token can unite that community— to make it all happen.
I realize again and again, the brilliance lies within simplicity— my process, my photography, my writing. 50-50’s a decent split. Whatever the choice is, keep it simple.
Buy HIVE with HBD when it’s lower than, with 80% of my HBD balance, save 20% in savings. Split my paycheck 50/30/20 for bills/emergency/savings.
Do what ya gotta in order to ‘escape’.
I'll cash out at some stage I guess, but when the price is so low I don't see much point, it's chump change compared to my real-world earnings, so it might as well stay staked. It's been over five years of staking for me, to build to the 160,000 or so tokens I have, so I might as well continue. It's a simple plan.
I have definitely withdrawn Hive for real world purposes. I think that is one of the strengths of the blockchain and it's utilities. I am fond of utilitarian coins.
What is interesting about Hive - and other blockchains - to me is that they have absolutely no value other than the value that the people who use it provide it. Hive has value because we, the users, say it has value. It's a strange thing.
It's all a little weird, crypto I mean.
Some will take out some value and others won't, or at least, not right away. There's some rather draconian tax laws here so it's not at all a straightforward thing to take and use crypto.
Hi, @galenkp thanks for the open discuss this topic.
Might be I am one of the people you mentioned, sometimes I did shit-post, and sometimes I did post something with all my heart, with all my writing skills and hope my reader gets new insight, of course, both of them are with purpose.
Before I found Hive, I am a blogger. Being born as a newcomer is hard in that blog, so someday I decided not to continue my blog. It's nice I found out about Hive cause I still can blog and share. For me, Hive thought me how to become a blogger differently. Also, Hive is support newcomers. It doesn't always have to be informative, but with a simple sentence like 'I am happy to be here, somewhere, and what the other simply word'. By the time I passed Hive, I turn from users with the money-purpose to users who like to share everything, cause there is no guarantee of being curation, right? After my long hiatus, I decided to keep blogging whatever will happen with my post cause it's hard to be consistent. Hive for me likes personal storage now.
According to me, I don't mean to the objection you, It's fine if someone has money oriented as long as they are honest. Cause we even didn't know they're actually financial. Who knows before knowing Hive, they are jobless, and Hive made them has new hope for life. I believe the whales has their self consider to curation and I trust that they would be fair for users with shit post and low-effort post.
Thank you Galen, you make me write long hehehe...
It takes all sorts of people to make up the world and that's replicated here on Hive. So, it makes sense that the various people on the platform will act as they see fit, for themselves, and in ways that suit their needs.
I totally agree with you..
That is very cool that you were involved in the process and worked through it with them. I still find it very cool to see the world at a different level, one that anonymity allows, of course in the good and bad ways.
I have never taken any hive out for my personal use. I have given some out from time to time, and I have really enjoyed watching Hive make a difference in lives. I also like watching people grow with hard work and using their Hive in ways that fit their needs.
I hadn't a real clue what Hive was when I joined - or perhaps the right words are, I had no vision of the potential it had.
Yeah it was nice to see someone caring enough to ask the opinion of someone who has been around, and to trust me enough to be open and honest. They came to their own decision, I just added my endorsement.
Me either. I wasn't even into crypto at all. Now...I'm still clueless.
Ha! Not a chance, but, I like your modest nature.
Lol...Well, cluenessness is my superpower so I might as well own it.
I just rent mine until I figure out what I want.
Cluelessness is not a super power. Pick again.
Knukleheadiness?
That's insane. I love it.
It is always good to seek advice from others who are doing well. It is also nice when those that are doing well are willing to share their knowledge. Nearly nobody minds helping others who are making an honest effort to learn and grow.
I have not taken any out yet, but my good fortune is that at this time in my life, I don't need too.
I can imagine that person will do well. I hope they do.
I was happy to have been asked for my opinion and that the thoughts that person had about what they would do leaned the way I would have suggested anyway.
Same here, there's no point taking out that which I don't need I guess.
Hi, there! It's interesting what you say. It's very likely that you know what country I'm from, and if not it's very easy to see it in my profile. Unfortunately, many people around here see Hive only as a means to get some extra income. It's not my case and since I started my goal has been to build my account, and all my liquid rewards were powered up for a long time.
Now in the last few months, I have had a more similar approach to the user you mention. My priority is still to grow my account, and I have set myself goals in this regard, but real life sometimes has unexpected needs and for that, I have used some liquid rewards. But my position as far as possible is to reinvest and that way we all win at the end of the day, which is what it's all about, right?
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I do know yes, but didn't know you were also splitting your earnings between real-world and growing your account. I respect that and feel it is a good balance, as I have said in this post about the other user.
I know people who complain about not having as much Hive staked as I do, but then they took all of it out over the time. Some have been around even longer than I have. Had they applied a better strategy though, maybe they'd have more of a balance. But some of those needed those funds I guess. That doesn't excuse low-effort posting and posting many times a day. That's farming and if I see it I'll zero out the rewards as it takes away from the legitimate users doing the right thing.
I could easily take my Hive out and buy something, but I don't need anything and so don't see the point. I have a job and that provides for my life, here on Hive I continue because I enjoy it. If the rewards amount to something down the track that affect my real-world life then so be it. If not, then not. It's a simple thing. In the meantime I'll stake it and enjoy my time here.
There are many people on the chain, who I have met along the way, that have that real need for turning their words into fiat. Although I also know that those in DIRE need have no access to the internet or Hive or clean drinking water for that matter. So that being said, I often just start with my local community and work out from there.. when it comes to help or donations. As far as those with less, but the intelligence to work their way around the blockchain, if they can find a balance (and not leach the system) then they are okay in my book.
There’s no need for crap posts. No matter how bad off you are, if you’re on here and you have access to the Internet, then you should be able to put a little effort in to preserve the system. I don’t expect everyone has the ability to write 500+ word posts, but I do expect everyone has the ability to put some effort into even the smallest of posts.
Glad you were able to connect with someone who has good intentions and is looking to preserve what could potentially help them out of a hard situation in life. Bravo! You have always been a good source of advice.
I think you’d be happy with the garden, the library, and probably at least one gun. Lol. Never know when something unwanted is going to get into that garden.
Yep, good point.
And again. That whole paragraph in fact. I agree.
Yeah, I'm simple and don't need much.
The three G's:
Garden, guns and glibrary. 😂
Ok, so that didn't work as well as it did in my head. Let's go with, the two G's and an L!
Everyone has their needs, ways and plans, I've seen a lot of people take out their HP and put into exchanges for day to day trading, they did make some good gains too. Some may have even cashed out, for their needs, bills or whatever, but who knows what they have planned for the long run.
But I would say it's good to have a decent amount of HP staked, because I see a future for Hive, a future where the price of Hive will hold more stability and reach higher highs. For example, even last year and the year before Hive held well around the $10 cent range, but this year it's holding on to the 40/50 cent range like it means it, wants it. And next year or on the next bull and bear run I see it holding up higher.
Hive is quite a hidden gem and a lot of people underestimate it, and that's a mistake. The problem is that most of these people and users are thinking short-term, instead of seeing the long-term benefits.
People will generally do what's right for them and I don't have a problem with people doing so, freedom of choice and all.
But that same freedom of choice causes people to address those who may be seen to be doing the wrong thing, farming for rewards, with frequent and rubbish content.
Freedom of choice goes both ways.
I'm hoping Hive does major things and am stacking it up for that reason. I've built up about 160,000 tokens and have it all staked so have the ability to spread some curation around and make a difference to a few others which I do with general curation and in other ways. If it goes to $10 I'll be happy, but I don't rely on it for my life and so whatever happens, my life will go on.
What I find funny is when people try to indicate that I always had a large stake. I started with zero and built it through content creation, I didn't invest it in the blockchain initially. They whinge and moan about not having much and denigrate me for having a larger stake and therefore some voting (up and down) power. Dumb fuckers.
It surely does, no arguments there.
I see it the same way, not putting any number on it just yet, just doing my thing and investing whenever I can, however I can. Even if Hive hits a huge number, I'll still be around with whatever stake I have in the game. The curation mechanics here surely is interesting, and it's a step forward, towards WEB3. So I'm guessing that I'll be around for quite a while, because I'm all in when it comes to WEB3 and its development. At this point I absolutely detest WEB2 and where it's all headed.
They'd rather complain and waste their time and energy, instead of coming up with ideas and ways that will help them grow on the blockchain. They usually have a short-term "milking" tendency, looking for ways to plagiarize and milk their way forward. It's actually quite common, even if there isn't any reward in the end, people will still plagiarize and like to show that have ownership over other people's stuff and content lol. I've seen it first hand in the many sectors of WEB2, pathetic people with no originality, nor the desire to be creative.
This is an interesting post. The thought of "taking profits" also crossed my mind some time back and I also had a long thought about it because I wanted to do it in a sustainable manner, i.e. I still wanted to continue building my Hive account.
I also read a post on Hive, where one user had this 90%/10% rule, keep 90% and take out 10%. So that's one way.
In the end, I settled on just "taking profits" on the HBD interest so it would just be the 20% APR. This ensures that my principal Hive and HBD both remain untouched and will continue to grow. It wasn't any rocket science equation, I just feel that was something reasonable to "take out" to reward myself with coffee while I write posts in cafes. I guess you could say it's more symbolic for me, rather than needing the money for my daily needs, so my case is a fortunate one.
I don't have any issues for those people who wish to take all out actually. It's their choice. In fact, if their Hive earnings can make a positive impact in their lives, it is a testament of how meaningful crypto/Hive as a platform is.
That's not a bad strategy and I know a few others who do the same with the interest from HBD in savings. If it buys a coffee or two in the real world then fair enough.
Have has a lot of different users on the platform. There are some people who joined hive simply to earn. There are some people who have joined hive because they didn't want to be sitting around.
To be sincere I joined hive to earn, curate others and have a hobby outside my school life. I would be lying if I said I won’t take out hive earning for my personal needs. Currently am not working and I will need to get something out to buy data to be able to interact here.
Am an active crypto trader too so from time to time I will power up some of the gains I make from trading. I trade futures mostly so I might end up loosing it all😂.
All in all. It would be selfish of anyone to just cashout and not try to build their hive power to curate others. I am a big fan of power ups and I’ve never cashed out any give “yet”. The hive power i have were bought and transferred in to power up to facilitate my interactions here.
If I do start earning am sure for the first few months all of it will be dedicated to building my hive power.
Yeah, lots of people come along and take rewards out rather than power some up in support of the community, a lot of the time with very frequent, poor quality content. Fortunately there are people who look for those types and return their rewards to the reward pool for those users doing the right thing to earn.
Good luck with your account.
Yep that's the good thing about blockchain you know. There are people who will always sacrifice their time and effort for the good of the blockchain.
Thank you for the good wishes. I wish you luck with your account too:)
I am literally using also my hive earnings in order to me to survive in this world. But not all I take the half are for funding my trading hobbies.. Although I am not earning for this hobby but I am learning on how to read a chart..
OK. But, you've only been here since June 2022. How did you survive before that?
Yeah, I don't self-vote, but then my vote is not significant. I can imagine it must be quite tempting for larger accounts not to self-vote. It can only be an "ethical" decision, as one is free to do so. However, I agree with you... protecting the opportunity is paramount.
Yep, people can do as they please and so there's self-voting.
But because people can do as they please there's also those that deal with others they feel may be doing the wrong thing.
Hi brother what happened why I get your downvote??