It was February 5, 2018 when I first created my Steem account. The story on how I found out about it was a bit funny.
It was September 2017 when friend texted me about this 'new site where we could earn some crypto and turn it into real cash'. She said that you can post anything and earn from it. Your art, stories, and even memes... literally anything. Of course it didn't make sense to me because it seems scammy - why on earth would I post some random memes on the internet that I don't own and earn from it?
The rewards for your content is not quite a new concept to me considering bloggers, Youtube creators, "influencers" and stuff earn from posting although it may be indirectly. But, what really discouraged me was the way it was explained to me that you can earn even though you don't own the content you're sharing. It's a red flag of course, but my mistake was I never looked more into it as I was caught up in a lot of real life shit.
How it caught my attention
Sometime in January 2018, there was a massive drama in my art circle. One of our colleagues posted a work of my friend and claimed it as his. Considering this cunt can literally draw works himself, he decided to do the lazy thing to earn some ca$h, sacrificing his dignity and friendship. Such a shame, but I live for some drama so I investigated more on Steem.
Since my works were done, I had nothing else to do so I had all the free time. I read about the blockchain and even though I didn't really understand all of it yet, I decided to create an account. I remember very well I was at a coffee shop using their wifi and setting up my account literally saving my keys there as well. XD
I reported that abuse to Steemcleaners and even there were a lot of us who reported it, the post wasn't really downvoted because of more lies coming from the abuser, which confused Steemcleaners and is understandable. I don't know if you'll remember this but @guiltyparties, yes he did plagiarize it and lied about it being ''settled''. He has now been outcast and most of us stopped talking to him after this.
So yeah, because of an abuser I was able to create an account and learn.
My first intro post
...was very unique cos it was an original poetry and art but none of you mfers noticed it which was a shame. Losers. XDDD Jk of course.
During this time, bid bots were RAMPANT. There were a lot of shit on trending that got a lot of votes and of course I was confused why. I saw their wallets and confused the heck of me why they're sending SBD to another account. It took me a while to realize what they were doing. :D
I continued to explore and engage/connect with people on Discord.
Then I did my second intro post that is more about myself but I still wanted to be semi-anon but still it didn't get the amount of votes that I expected cos my thinking was "This is a lot better than the ones in trending so where are my upvotes bitch?????????". The entitlement LOL.
I continued to observe what works until I hit the sweet jackpot.
My first Curie vote
I had a brilliant idea of painting my eye on Photoshop and do a step-by-step so it will be a "longer post" and of course a realistic painting always works.
This post got me a @Curie vote and got me into Trending (I think). Looking back, it's now funny how I did this. I painted this using a MOUSE. Yes a freaking mouse on a mouse pad cos I didn't have money to buy a tablet back then. And also funny how I used a basic air brush and also just traced the picture of my eye for the 'sketching'. Hahahaha.
After this, I managed to be a curator in Curie and then all the fun began. :D
Curiexperience
Apart from making content, I found myself curating in Curie. I remember it took me a while to become an official curator as we had a bit of a training first. It made me learn a LOT of things including blockchain stuff (this is where I learned about decentralization), originality, how to spot quality works (and how to make em), how to spot plagiarized posts.
This is how I learned to become an "FBI" and was able to report some abuses on chain. I was a good detective which made me rethink my career path but I love art more than that so I didn't submit my resume to the FBI even though I know they will need my skills.
Of course, this is also how I met some of my on-chain friends (in no particular order plz I'm not gonna rank my frenz): @elfranz, @veryspider, @svemirac, @justineh, @randomwanderings, @carlgnash, @vadimlasca, @jazzhero, @rasamuel, @rubencress. I've lost touch with some of them now, but they were some of the people who stood by me, lifted my very down spirit, accompanied me through my depressing times, supported my artist ass and overall just being awesome. Also special mention to @veryspider (come back plz) she was the one who first called me Hiddi, and that nickname is still with me.
Some of my most memorable early posts
Tortured Blindness was the post that got a funny reaction. I really felt like a genius for doing this and I think it is my most genius post ever. XDD
As you can see here, it looks like nothing. Even though it says "Pen and ink drawing" it's just text. My friends were like "Uhmm, did you forget to post the images?? XD" and I was like "haha no". And a bit later one of them figured it out and submitted this post on Curie. They were freaking out like WTF is happening???? Why is this nominated on Curie???
Until it got a Curie vote. LMAOOOO some of them were losing their shit. Until they realized they just have to toggle "night mode" on to see the images. The night mode was a new feature back then so there's not much people using it yet. To those who were using it already they would've seen the work immediately. Because you know, you have to be in the dark to be able to understand it, right, hehe.
Another one was a Comedy Open Mic entry which was me shitposting with style. XDD Peak hiddi comedy right there.
Work Hard To Reach Your Dreams was me being on peak depression.
Lastly, Not Alone post was me confessing that I have PTSD.
I was able to become creative and used the line breaks to my advantage. It was crucial to the storytelling and I'm still proud of this post.
You see, I was "hiddenblade" for a reason: I didn't want to be that open and vulnerable especially on a place where text is immutable. But I became confident enough and learned that immutability is a nice advantage to tell a story. That blade isn't hidden anymore.
Thanks to plagiarism, I found my Hive love story :P
I was doing a lot of detective works and reporting them to the appropriate curation groups to unvote or downvote them. I was doing it because I couldn't stand seeing an abuser getting rewards on Hive.
I saw OCD was voting a plagiarized post and I normally don't message curation groups directly (I usually just report to steemcleaners) especially not on a DM but I was a bit desperate since the post was about to pay out so I decided to just message the OCD boss @acidyo. I didn't even know if he will see it in time or if he will even respond to me but you know, desperate times call for desperate measures.
I've always thought whales are snobby hehe, and I know there are already a lot of people messaging them in hopes for the juicy upvotes so I didn't want to sound like that's my intention. I didn't know that much about acidyo, so I didn't know how he would react. Surprisingly, he replied after an hour.
I didn't expect him to be this nice. Like I said I didn't know him much or what he does on chain. I only saw his CS:GO gameplays but didn't really check on comments and stuff like that.
Since then, we had tiny interactions on OCD Discord since I became a curator there too then came a time where we just started talking everyday. Not to be cheesy and exaggerating but I felt a connection between us despite me not even knowing his name or what he looks like, but when we started talking personal stuff we just vibed and it felt like I've known him for a very long time.
Fast forward to 2023, we are currently living together and have nice plans for the future, like you know, what a normal couple does. XD
I also messaged the original creator to let her know that this unfortunate situation became the bridge for me and acidyo. Funny how I started my account on Hive because of an abuse and now I got a boyfriend because of abuse as well. XDD Had she never responded, I would not have any proof of the post being plagiarized which would make me not report it and message acidyo. So yeah, it feels like this love story just finds its way.
Because of Hive
I could never thank enough the people I've met all these years that made me who I am today. Not only did I gain knowledge and friends, but it also made me realize the importance of a blockchain. It gave the people who feel "powerless" their own power. Gone are the times where we would just wish to be born in a wealthy family or to meet powerful ones to be able to "make it" in life. We are given an opportunity to do something we thought we won't be able to do so before. It gave us all a chance.
Of course nothing is perfect. There are still people who will abuse and will try to take all that power but the important thing is we have a genuine community who cares and does its best to make the world a better place.
I thank the people who continue to strive for improvements, those who show their creativity and authenticity on chain, and those who just hang around. Life got a lot better because of Hive.
Wow, we pretty much started at the same time. I just checked and looks like my 5 year will be happening on the 19th. Although it's really before that because I think I lurked for weeks trying to figure things out before I finally made a post. @veryspider was also the one for me that held my hand and made me feel welcome here, also @nonameslefttouse. Happy 5 year from a fellow OG haha.
Haha veryspider was always very fun. Did she give you a nickname as well? Yeah nonames too, always interesting post and comments😆
Happy 5 years anniversary.. Yiee mao diay ni story sa hive journey pati lovelife kilig much charot hahaha I Laughed at the pen and ink and your friends asked if you forgot the image hahaha
Lol ganyan talaga🤣 The Hive journey was really unexpected, the abuse was the silver lining lol
A true Hive-Love-Story - awwww 💜. I remember veryspider through the ArtBees Discord, which I have since left because of, you know, too many Discords.
I'm happy things turned out so great for you (two)!
Me too I left cos there was too much servers for me 😭
Thank you! :D
Happy 5 years anniversary 🥳🎉
Wow! This is just beautiful. What an amazing journey. It makes you wonder, what could have been if you only did this, or only did that.
Happy fifth anniversary!
Five years on hive is no joke and all I can say is damn!! Lol. Am genuinely surprised when I find out that people have been on the blockchain for so long.
I didn’t start reading from the beginning cause i didn’t plan on commenting but the love story part made my smile and then I couldn’t hold myself but comment 😂.
Anyway, am happy for you. Am surprised people are able to find love on the internet not to even talk of finding it on hive. Wow.
Yeah, even more surprising how people can join in 2016 when it seems like literally nobody cared about crypto. 🤣 Lol if somebody else made the same post I would react the same way, always interesting to find a relationship in a social media that's not a dating site. 😆
Such an interesting Hive journey and I think it's bonkers that nowadays people still do LD relationships and make a success out of it. Great to see things working out for your guys and you're planning for the future
I've read in a study that those who met online and are on an LDR are more likely to succeed than fail cos they will work harder to compensate for it. Sometimes even better than couples who met in person. It was not easy for us as well especially covid happened, I guess both of us are just as committed lol
OMG! Five Years! I also want to reach that soon, soon!
And happy 5th Anniversary. Whoa, seeing your First Intro and Post and how you were able to grow here is just awesome. I love those hidden art too and it's cool.
Thanks to that person that plagiarize your art you found a way to know more about steem and then now, Hive.
Soon! You don't even have to count, just enjoy the moment and one day you're gonna be like "woah it's been 10 years??"🤣.
Ayeeee happy 5 years anniversary @hiddenblade!!
I actually stalked your intro post late last year and was so amazed and dumbfounded why it’s only a few cents. I haven’t stalked that much because I didn’t find your 2nd introduction post.
I really love your creativity and the way you write and present your thoughts. 🥰
Ayeeee may gugma man diay sa Hive oi. hahaha Would want to see a lot of my online friends find their partners here on Hive, just like how you found yours. char lang!
I know right??? Hahah. It was because there were way more users before than now and discovery and curation was not as easy as what we have right now. There were so many people competing for attention so most really get cents even after 10 posts.
Thank you! I’ve seen some others find their love ones here as well, even back in 2018 where a New Yorker I think went to India and got married lol I have no update on them now tho
Ohh so it was crowded before than now. I thought it's the other way around.
That's so epic! It would be amazing to read love stories brought upon by Hive. Ayeeee
Thank you for sharing your Hive story! So many interesting twists and turns. Amazing what a single message online can lead to, hey?
It feels weird to think that we've been in this space for so long. Weird and nice. I feel that Steemit and then Hive helped me to find a place were I feel I belong completely. I'm very happy that you are part of that place.
And my bests wishes for you, guys!
Yeah those times felt like yesterday really. I'm happy I met you and @mandelsage here as well. This place feels like we can all be weird together and nobody would mind🤣 really different with other social media. Thank you!! And you as well😍
You're an old cunt now. I'm terms of tech years lol
Hala ba't may kilig factor kainis ka Hiddenblade! HAHAHA 5 years is rough journey for sure pero you find it interesting and sobrang nakakatuwa ang memory lane mo dito.
Shocks di ko mapigil yung kilig tinalo na ang FiLay!
Hahaha andami pang nangyari pa non pati sa PH community for sure naalala mo some. Ulogs, Steemgigs, meron pa community for specific cities. Halos lahat wala na sila. 🤣 Ngayon Hive PH nalang, stronger than ever!
Sorry naman sa kilig factor😆 Di pwede may Hive story tas di yun isasali hahahah
meron kayang gagawa ng story of Hive/Steem Community history...?
"Yes bitch, sadness cos you've never interacted with me early on until today " this crack me up LOL, its amazing the idea of the dark mode and yes thats something that became popular on browsers in the past two years i would say (to the muggles), I dont consider myself a designer but I know a bit of photoshop, trying to draw with a mouse is insane but do it that good is crazy
Yeah I don't think I've seen other posts doing that as well XD it was so hard to do it with a mouse but I've never really experienced doing it with a tablet so I guess I just got used to it quick cos I can't complain much granting I can't compare it to a tablet lol
Nyay! happy hivesary! 🫰🏼 Kilig man uyyyy. Shookkkktttt. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
That's a pretty insane story. One of the things that is interesting to me is the original list of friends you had I don't think I have really interacted with them which shows you how big this community got over the years.
Yeah and sadly most of them are not active anymore.
Yeah, the attrition situation has never been great. I have been here since July 2016 and I feel like there are only a handful of the crew from that era.
It's amazing how people who have been here a while remember their first Curie vote! I remember mine so well and it's a real buzz and sense of achievement. Mine was during Hivefest in Poland whilst all the good creators were partying and the curators were obviously struggling to find anything decent to vote on so I was lucky lol
I met my wife through a similar blogging platform to this, although not blockchain of course, back in 2008. We've been together for 14 years now and married for almost 9 years, not that I'm hinting at anything of course ;-)
Best wishes to you both and I look forward to the 10th anniversary post :-)
Congrats on the internet love, haha.
Who would’ve thought a weirdo like yourself would be able to sweep anyone off their feet and without actually meeting them in person?:)
Hahaha...easy, show em a fake photo ;-)
The plastic surgery you’d need for when you needed to meet is the problem:)
There isn't enough plastic surgery in the world to make me good looking so I had to rely on my charm, wit, charisma and intelligence ;-)
It was such a big deal back then and was like one of the ways to be on Trending lol. Damn you were blogging already in 2008? 🤣 That's like Friendster days.
Hahaha the site was called Friendfinder and was a blogging platform with IM and live chat . I joined in 2003 and the friends I made there where what got me travelling the world to meet ups and going to places Id never have thought of visiting , and is how I came to spend so much time in The Phillipines backpacking....and yes, i did have a Friendster account lol
It was very interesting to learn the details about this love story :) was reading avidly at 7am, stopping only to grab another piece of ice-cold jackfruit from the fridge. :)
Congrats on 5 years!
I had a great time reading your hive story and at the same time love story, wow! If ever I didn't read the content and just read the title for sure I will just give a comment of happy fifth hive anniversary but wow! I'm glad I read it through. It is in reality that there is a love story being formed through hive. I am happy for both of you @hiddenblade and @acidyo. May God will bless your heart desires together. (Ayeeeh FC "feeling close" Ako this time, hayaan nyo lang, hehehe kinikilig Ako sa love story eh)
There's always a way to meet someone for us.
@eunoia101 baka Dito sa hive mo din Makita Ang love of your life kaya keep on engaging lang din hehehehe.
Congrats @hiddenblade for the relationship and for the five long successful years in hive.
Congratulations! I hope to reach your level and seniority one day! HIVE is the future!
What an interesting hive journey!
Now that I've read your intro post made me ask the same question.
You've been sharing a part of that hidden blade for five hive years! Happy Hive Anniversaryyy💓
Ha! True. I guess I've only been hidden for a few months. 🤣
Saludos, yo también inicie en el 2018 por steemit, pero me retire por un año, hasta que un amigo me comento de Hive, y podía entrar con la misma llave, espero seguir, ahora estoy muy bien con Hive, gracias por tus post, buenos tus dibujos, felicitaciones.
Such a great story to learn! Congratulations to you, wow five years on hive journey isn't that little. I hope you continue this great blog until the destination where you can achieve every goal of you.
Celeberation :)!
Well, congratulations! I recently had my 5 year Hive b-day too in January. WHat an interesting journeys we have had.
Is your friend still here btw? 😀
The one who invited me? Not much I think. We stopped getting in touch (more like an acquaintance). We were part of some weird group at the beginning where we vote each other regardless of quality XD I realized it was weird then I left at some point. I remember the group also became so weird during and after the hardfork. Some blaming the witnesses, some happy they got their funds stolen, even some are still active on Steemit. So yeah I don't think they are here for the experience/community/decentralization so I just didn't catch up.
It certainly seems like they werent here for the values of the platform.
This is the first time I hear someone is happy to get their funds stolen 😂
I meant they were happy that some of the witnesses' funds were stolen during the hardfork times lol - they said it was karma
Happy Hive Birthday!
Your love story is one of the best things i have ever seen on Hive, wonderful!
Hi and thanks for sharing this inspire journey! 5 years is a lot and happy for you.
As content creator I’m always looking for inspiration and motivation! Thanks 😊
What a story! Congrats on that milestone, let‘s see where Hive and we will be after the next 5 years!
Wow see me grinning from ear to ear as i read through your post, its really amazing how we can find love in awkward and strange circumstances, from a reporter to a soon to be wife? Look at you girrrrl🙃. I am happy for you both and Congratulations @hiddenblade
wow that's a long way you've come. Depression is strong, I'm glad you had someone who helped you.
The blockchain too was a good thing to be on during those times and not the web2 social media. A lot of people were understanding, the dramas were fun, it's like this place is our own safe place to be weird you know. XD
If that's the good thing about people, about this network. May you continue to be successful, greetings from Venezuela
Congratulations!! This is amazing!! It’s extraordinary that you spent 5 years on the platform. All your experience and all you’ve grown because of Hive it’s amazing and it makes me love the platform even more! Thanks a lot for sharing this!
@hiddenblade I congratulate you for your perseverance and performance!
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Oh wow! I never expected this to become a love story. Omg omg omg! <3 <3 <3 Congrats!
Late reactions for sure, but really love your journey and love story as well. It's been five years since you join the chain. I was looking for inspiration to write then someone from Davao City told me about you, so I am here learning from your way of doing things here on Hive. Thanks a lot of the inspiration.
Awww amazing hahah thank you!!
Thank you so much for always supporting the Filipino communities on Hive.
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good work on five years