I think its all about preference and agree that the benefits depend on the engagement and value being created. I personally have manually voted 100% since starting. However, there have been times that I know I missed some votes because of my inability to be available. So I do think that there is a good use case to have the option to do so to support users that are consistent. For example, if I ever decide to go a vacation to disconnect, I would like for my voting power to be used while I am unavailable so that may be an option at that point. However, if I am available I prefer to do so manually and engage. Manual curation also allows me to adjust voting weights to ensure my voting power falls too low. I have been doing this more lately to accommodate more curation and support. So like most things, it really depends on the situation...
Ok, I've read this post from top to bottom including each one of the comments here. And I think that in order to make clear my position on the issue of autovoting trails, guilds, and for that matter, any kind of automatisms with regard to the code of conduct and interaction between human beings in what supposedly is a living community within a true social network...
To not make my answer way too long and difficult to grasp. I will use that excerpt above to finish my intervention with a simple reflection and question.
¿How many people here in steemit would care a flying fuck automatize their votes whether they were to be present, absent, on vacations or disconnected to keep "supporting" anyone if they also wouldn't earn a damn through 'curation rewards' by doing so?
I know quite a few who don't care about curation rewards for various reasons. I know people who have delegated to curators while they go on holiday. I know people who have donated money indirectly and directly. I know people who go out of their way to help others even if it costs them. I know people who consistently fight for others even though it costs them. I know people who have given their, time energy and staked their own reputations to support others. I know people who would be in much better personal positions if they hadn't helped others and I know people who would do it again, even if they knew the personal costs.
Yep! I am well aware you know a good bunch of people who don't care about curation rewards. Being you one of them and the one that helps the most disinterestedly, I have not the slightest doubt that you have been able to surround yourself with the best and most of them who are like you. :)
But the truth is that the target of my question was not addressed to you specifically. Since at least toward me you've already given me multiple samples repeatedly in what you affirm.
So, it's aimed at everyone else. Because we can not help but think, not even for a single minute, that the majority here are not like you, nor like me, nor like all those you say you know pretty well. ;)
And by the way, did you notice that throughout your response, in no case any of these forms of support correspond to automatisms of any kind? LoL
Some of it is luck, some of it is work, some of it is how I have chosen to approach it but I have met some pretty decent people here who work tirelessly for this place.
There are all sorts much like the real world, the difference here is we see them all more easily.
That's right. We can see them all more easily here.
And that's why I selected a relative newcomer like @newageinv with his comment to elaborate my reply. I bet 95% of all steemians would never think in join an autovote trail/guild if they did not earn even a cent from curation rewards through those 'blind automatic' practices while they were absent.
In fact, I believe that the vast majority wouldn't move a finger and would not have the motivation or will to waste time in it if it were not to get them some kind of financial benefit in return.
I think so too. It is some kind of sponsorship. I don't actually do this, I manually vote but I have people I know I can blindly vote on if in a rush and I will support the content if I read it.
Some people can't read situations well ;)