If we are forced to treat everyone as if everyone out here is a whale, and we don't know where the next big upvote could come from, we might find people treating each other better.
Of course the alternative is that what happened in steem.chat happens to everyone all the time, because it is easiest to just beg everyone for upvotes rather than putting out content that stands on its own.
Begging is easier than working, a Steem and universal truth. Haha
Now we need @transisto to add a philosophy tag to this thread!
Your first point I definitely have to agree with. Sadly people would treat each other better if some people could possibly benefit them I think... I think people would be a lot more wary and conscious of how they act if anyone could possibly be a while.
Haha, your second point is too true as well, I have heard this statement echoed a few times by different people.
I think that the possible downside of hiding whale's levels is that people may possibly just begin to beg even more in the hopes that people are whales... But you know what? This would make a great experiment! Hide levels for a month and see what happens!
Haha, that we do! Funny how such a short post can encourage such big thoughts.