Heya @playfulfoodie,
I can see that this is a legitimate reason to not flag but, rep and rewards won't matter at all if Steemit fails. It is also understandable to feel that retaliation flagging could harm our own hard work.
Their flags may remove my rewards, but it will not make my blogs any less meaningful. I would imagine that there is actually enough power to wipe out almost ANY post, if everyone works together to spread the awareness. If we can stop things like this now, there will be far more rewards for everyone in the future.
I am in a slightly different situation than you are, I am a student and have a day job on top of being on Steemit. My bills still get paid even if I make nothing blogging, and it is liberating to know that I am here because I want to be around to see Steemit flourish.
My suggestions to others would be,
If you have income outside of Steemit, you can afford to flag and help everyone.
If your only income is from Steemit, take some time out to write posts that will help reach those who can flag.
Unless we can move together to resolve problems and overcome hurdles, we are only a community in name. Depending on our own choices and our voices, we choose if everyone wins or loses. Please don't forget that.
With love,
@shello
I love your reply @shello and you make very good points! I'm sticking to flagging plagiarists for now, since they usually can't harm me too much. They retaliate from time to time, but they aren't big whales, so that's okay. Besides that, I will keep boycotting the big earners that I feel are undeserved, like the post spammers and simple vacation pictures of cute girls.
I've written some Steemit related posts before about problems and/or solutions I see for Steemit. The problem there is that they don't really reach the eyes they are meant to. They just reach other frustrated Steemians. I'll throw one in now and then, but I don't want to look like I'm milking the steemit tag either :-)
I'm glad you liked it @playfulfoodie!
I understand that you will use your efforts while still helping to improve Steemit, but not putting yourself up at risk. I don't vote anyone who is a large earner, unless it was a post that truly resonates with me. Like how you boycott those users, I am not afraid to flag the ones who are draining everyone, without concern, and cannot change.
I've noticed an interesting pattern with bad actors in a sense that they refuse to stop the abusive behavior when it is brought to their attention that what they are doing hurts others. I usually stay out of these topics altogether unless the user in question is someone who blantantly does not care for others and I have looked into it enough. I will voice my thoughts only, but not write a direct post about it. For now, I am joining everyone else in flagging and understand the risk of being retaliated upon.
The way I see it is like this, as long as you are doing your best to help Steemit grow and improve, then it is more than enough. I think that talking about the current issues can be good, and I like your approach because your focus is on helping, and not the money to be made from it.