As many know, this last week my brother @galenkp who I haden't seen for 12 years is visiting Finland and it has been great to have he and his wife as our guests. What I have tried to do is show a little bit of what we have been up to each day and also give you insight into my personal reflections on the situation.
The reason I write about this stuff is because I find that it gives some space for me people to consider their own positions and perhaps consider it all a little more or, differently. There is value in this in my opinion and I hope that you are able to take some time for yourself while reading or looking at the images and find something that helps you improve something, however small. Perhaps it is just your mood.
It has taken quite a lot of work to keep posting consistently while they are here and I have dropped back the frequency slightly and, focused more on what we have been doing rather than how Steem is doing. I find the work it takes me to delve into Steem thoughts is much more intensive than reflecting on family as it is mostly out of my wheelhouse but, it is very rewarding for me.
I really like thinking about how communities operate and, how various individuals act within those communities. I like attempting to find solutions to issues and of course, being a part of helping various people solve some of the things they face. Of course, not all of the things are on Steem, in fact, most of what I do isn't on Steem at all. I'm not saying that I spend all of my time in chats but, off-chain conversation takes up a lot of my time space.
It seems a lot of people think that all that happens off-chain is link dropping but that is not the case at all. For me at least, off-chain is where I actually get to know people as it is a more 'natural' environment of sorts and you can see how people act when what they say isn't immutable or needs to be hardforked out. It is also the place where people can discuss personal challenges and circumstances. For me, it is where friends can be made.
This week, I have had to forgo some of my activities to keep up with spending time with my family and it is interesting to see the effects it has. For example, I haven't been able to comment straight away and, get to all comments with a reply. Often, I will spend more time commenting on my posts than writing them and, my posts aren't 'quick to write' posts. Engagement is something that is often talked about but rarely actually invested enough in to understand.
Even though I have been trying my best, I have found that over the last few weeks (after my daughter was in hospital and then my brother arrived) where my method of engagement has changed, support and commenting has changed accordingly. Since I haven't been able to answer as fully, the comments aren't as full. This is quite natural but I wonder how many people really think about it.
If someone goes out of their way to comment well and then they get "great." as a reply, why would they comment well again? It is the equivalent of comment spam, reply spam. I feel that I have had to do a little of this lately and I apologize for it. I have also had to post and run occasionally too which means, posting without staying to reply to the first few comments at least, I don't enjoy this.
There are so many things that I want to write about that are more serious in nature but, it doesn't feel right to write those this week so I am avoiding them for the time being. After my brother leaves, I will get back to those things.
I know that for some, the way this place operates can be very frustrating but for me, I see that frustration as a sign that I actually care about something here. It could be that it is only the money but, I believe that not to be the situation in my case. I actually enjoy the hard times, I enjoy the dealing with problems. It seems, I am a bit of a masochist of sorts but, it is where I feel that my particular skills have value to the community.
Any community is made of a range of people who offer something or, take something and the healthiest members ore those who do both. I am not looking for sainthood, I want to get paid but, I do not want to get paid for nothing and, I want to be able to give more to the community than I extract. This isn't Steem value though, it is about the perspectives I can offer that could help individuals within improve themselves, their lives and hopefully, the lives of others also.
A community requires all sorts of skills and even though I don't think I have found my place yet, along the way I hope my own skills can help others find their place in the community, a place where their skills make the community a better place for more people. There is a lot of potential here to improve lives and it isn't all about the money but, it does help those who can, do. The problem for many though is they won't do until they are getting paid.
That isn't how a community works, the investment comes first, than the reward.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
PS, it is after 1 am and tomorrow is the last full day my brother is here therefore, I am going to go to bed so we can get an early start. I will get to comments later but I hope that more people will both talk with each other and, reward each other for commenting well which means, reading the comments of others, not just the post. That is engagement.
Frankly man, I am just happy that you reply to my comments and sometimes visit my post. People like me who are really into commenting learn the importance of understanding this. Not everybody will reply and those who do won't be able to it all the time.
As a steemian whose primary contribution is to try to add value through comments, I know that commenting is my area of focus and other people have theirs but replying to comments is nobodies area of focus.
I have been commenting on this one guys post for last few months and he hasn't once visited my blog (maybe they did and didn't like what they saw..........who knows). I didn't mind that. but the thing is that I rarely received a reply on the comments that I left. Then I stopped receiving replies altogether.............
You are an epic commentor lol but make sure you post more darinit! If people like your comments and want to follow they need some content :) maybe scale back a few comments and make some posts with that time. I know I would upvote pretty much anything you post just cause I know you put time and thought into your comments and community.
Advice taken!!! I know I have been slacking of on the posts and from now on I would be targeting at least 5-6 per week. Thanks for the push you guys............sometimes it takes a bit of a nudge get things rolling for me.
@steemitadventure you are one of the reasons I know that my posts won't end up without an upvote. I appreciate the support, so much...
I hate to say it but, @steemitadventure is right. Post more. in time it will pay off even if there is not a great deal of support now.
:)
Last week #14, 159 comments with 66431 characters lenth, #26 with a 34% powerup. I say that is very well done. and Congrats is in order to you 👍
Replies are more important to me then the vote. The vote will come but the comments are a foundation builder
Thanks for noticing man! This time I am also going to take @steemitadventure's advice and increase my number of posts as well.
Its a lot to do and the length of comments you make along with doing more posts could be over the top. I started a couple of week ago doing the anhouraday and it has help. I still keep up with comments and it has increased my posts and writing skills, almost doubled my posts.
Time management is critical
so true, I would love it if more people took the time to reply to comments they receive. This is easy for me to say though. its not hard to respond to one or two comments. but to respond to as many as @tarazkp receives- that is appreciated :-)
@tarazkp is one of those guys who reply to like 90% of the comments...................can't beat that. I haven't seen a better 'replier' yet and frankly that allowed me the freedom to rant on about the problem of 'no replies' without being afraid of him taking it the wrong way :-)
Simple fact is that nobody is obligated to reply and so I can appreciate any and all replies I can get.
Man, you are making sure I have enough pressure I will never get any sleep :D
That's exactly my evil plan :-)
I try my best to get to as many as I can but, I read them all (unless they slip through cracks) and try to upvote the worthy ones.
Sometimes when I read some things here on Steemit I appreciate some things I regard as normal. I live close to my two sisters and often we see each other on a daily basis. I don't think I can survive 12 years without seeing either of them so I won't even try to understand what your last day with your brother means. I hope you see to it that you enjoy it :)
It was really nice and relaxing today. Breakfast in the market square in the morning, in the lake for the afternoon. Tomorrow is going to be hard.
Hi Taraz! I hope you won't read this comment right away, because that means you have enjoyed the last moments to the fullest – enjoy while it lasts. It's been great to follow you and read about your and @galenkp's experiences.
No need to worry one week of lost engagement on Steemit because that engagement has been going towards your family. Your "real" readers do know that.
I 'hardly' looked at steem all day except to throw a couple votes in my feed. I trust you are keeping warm ;)
Haha, that's good. I'm warm indeed, sweating like pig (wait, if I remember correctly, pigs don't even sweat, what a scam) while eating a pie, gonna have to take a cold shower to cool off for sleeping.
Bash in my brain... then kick me once again... and say you’ll never part. You know too well, we’re underneath you’re spell, so Master if you smell something burning burning , it’s my heart. Uupp excuse me.
Lyrics from the masochism tango by Tom Lehrer.
:) I liked reading that.
Wonderful to enjoy the family, 12 years is a long time apart, so enjoy the company of your brother to the fullest... We all know that the work you do in the community is to grow, to maximize the benefits and approaches. Regards!
P.D: I love photography, the clouds are subtly reflected in the water, beautiful.
Hi taraz. A comment should take some thought about the post and add to the whole thing. Enjoy the last day with Galen. It has gone too quickly and I am sure will leave a little hole in your lives.
I think I should also be a masochist, but the hard, difficult moments are that I feel things are flowing, I find solutions and I like to find a way to solve them.
I enjoy you insight because it makes me think. I would not be as far along as I am without the interaction. I still have so much to learn and sometimes the question become overwhelming compared to the ones answered.
The #anhouraday that you started has improved my skills. Not only mine but many others. I can name 10 people of the top of my head that have improved here also. Look at the #payitforward contest. to say that you have not been instrumentally in its development and progress would be a shortsighted. I can name many other things also.
The feed back that we get back doesn't always reflect the true nature of things. Once the ripple leaves our sight we may not know the effect that it has caused and when it creates other ripples we loose sight of them totally.
This was a good week for you and your family. Especially after the month you have had. A little slow down is in order. You are not one to not get up and hit it hard again. No worries
If people remembered this when they are angry, they would soon lose their anger.
I appreciate your kind words too but, you give them to me too easily.
Don't kidd yourself If I see something you do that I disagree with I would be all over it. I have been patiently waiting for that day.
The truth is always easy and the best course. There is always a time and place for things. Some of the thing are not as much for you as the readers. reading comments is important
People are easily swayed and follow what ever sounds good at the time. Never forming their own opinion. I have never had a problem with peoples opinion even when they are wrong. Its when debate is shut down or you want to use bully tactacts that gets me going.
That only seems to be true to you because at the end of the day you are an opinionated pain in the ass and that will never change.
I love reading about the time you are able to spend with your brother, the to be honest, it depresses me too. It forces me to realize how little time I spend with my own brother who is only about 60 miles away. I'm glad those to be feeling this way because I intend to make a better effort in spending more time with him and my sister too- so thanks for that :-)
Make the journey more often.... it is worth it if you go into it openly even when they are annoying ;)
Unless they're only checking in once a week and losing posts among the multitudes, I think at least your regular readers will be well aware that @galenkp is in town and should be generally expecting that you'll either be unable to be as responsive as you usually are or not able to respond at all, so maybe adjusted accordingly so you're not overwhelmed with a backlog when you get back to normal? :D
Short comments aren't automatically spam, some things really don't need an essay for a response. Or maybe I just think that because I have no problem whatsoever with "awesome" or "thank you" etc.
I'm just impressed you're able to keep up with the posting at all (even if the volume has dropped), I got back from Melbourne recently and then a pile of stuff happened and well I haven't done a root post since I got back XD
I don't mind this either if they are coming from regulars. It is meaningless when coming from people who write the same thing everywhere.
It has been a bit hard at times but I have managed. I kind of like the challenge tbh. :)
That is certainly a beautiful view! It's great you were able to spend that time with your brother. Family time is always a blessing. Thanks for sharing with us @tarazkp!
It is a lovely area not far away. A few years ago, there was a meteor shower in the auumn and I laid on that deck looking up at the shooting stars. It was a clear night and about -1.
There is a lot to write about always and staying true to oneself and what one finds meaning in will continue to drive and direct great content. On Steemit it's possible to make a difference for the first time in a very direct way.
I am finding that I like writing on Steemit more then Medium now. It feels more personable here, more real and not just a blog of a blog.
Brothers relation is good relation . I hope you and your brothetr relation is very good . This is great news that you spend time with your brother .
Thanks for sharing @tarazkp
There is a wonderful experience that really is a good place to roam there...
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Vehicle Rush centers around the Vehicle card type and has a number of cards that are directly related to them- creatures that get stronger, spells that do more and lands that are better if you control artifacts, as well as creatures that power up vehicles they crew.