I just wanted to add 1 more thing that actually happened which is why I wrote this example.
I saw a post that was clearly first and had some votes already ahead. It looked like it was gonna be the main trending post in regards to that topic and a few minutes later, I see a post with the same content. Guess what happened, a whale voted for it and instantly bumped it up over $100. Now guess which one is leading and will most likely make it the front or at least have a higher chance of making it there? The one with more votes and replies, or the copy post that has a whale vote and less replies? And what's to say that the Whale said to a friend to make that post and he'll help him bump it up to the front so he can maximize his friends earnings?
Timestamp"2016-07-19T05:51:00"https://steemit.com/steem/@steemed/steem-is-on-poloniex @$2909 created after
Timestamp: "2016-07-19T05:12:00"this other post same content: https://steemit.com/steem/@cyber/steem-on-poloniex#@sephiroth/re-cyber-steem-on-poloniex-20160719t042958993z @$1.30
The time difference is min apart but still, 1st mover with more votes and more replies. The only reason like I said it was able to become to main trend is because the small fish follow the whale votes rather than the whale votes follow the small fish votes or what is technically popular by majority.
A question to ask now is, hypothetically, what if that user paid that whale to upvote a his post so he can get the most popular vote in the long run? If the influence of the whale is also dependent on the # of replies/votes and limited the initial $ increase in the post, the other post that was there earlier with more votes and replies could have made it.
I wasn't the original one who posted it so I'm not mad or anything like that where it's potential $ that could have been made, but rather I am just looking at some flaws that should be addressed in the long term. Looking forward to the discussion tomorrow.