You had me rooting for you up to here:
I use my bidbot to help me cover some of my life costs
I think it was @berniesanders that said, 'Get a job, steem isn't here to support you.', but that was a long time ago.
Maybe he will confirm, or deny, that that is still his position on the matter.
It remains my contention that ganging up to influence who does, and who doesn't, get rewards is reward pool rape.
When you only support those that join in your reindeer games, and nobody that doesn't, you are on shaky moral ground, in my book.
As long as the contrarians and dissenters don't find support here, because we ain't popular, you are just bringing the same game into steem that most of us are trying to leave behind in the broader world.
Thanks, a lot.
I am going out on a limb here because I am not in a group and feel I am missing out and at some point may have to join one... but like you @freebornangel I am a free agent independent thinker. I love everything that is happening in steemit including the groups because some people really need them and it is a much needed service. But excluding others is the part that sort of bites me.
Well anyway... @aggroed is the best thing that happened for me on my arrival besides my friend that got me in here @steevc and I am sure thousand other members would most likely say the same thing. Respect is what I have ... however I am not in the group...we'll see :)
The issue is in their insularity.
Not looking outside the group for folks to support disadvantages everybody not in the group.
I haven't figured out the secret to getting dissent and contrariness supported, much, here.
It's certain that stinc, et al, have no interests in supporting it, I was told that straight out the gate a year and a half ago, and it has proven to be a valid prediction.
Without dissent we become a circle jerk, and our ideas lose the ability to be unique.
Nothing original is possible without being outside the accepted norm.