It’s so so so nice to meet you!!! 🌺
Fantastic well thought through article but you really got me on the freedom of speech topic big time because that’s one of the reasons why I am still here.
Steem has taught me what real freedom of speech looks like. If someone is speaking something I don't like or is bad, there are really no rules or authority to punish them.
Nobody ever punished me 😁🤪 Except a few silly downvotes by whales experiments but never for being just me with my random posts and pretty imperfect articles. I still don’t have a footer or sometimes I don’t write much at all.
I found my “authentic” self and started embracing it as such. Sometimes I feel that my “rewards = appreciation” for my continuous engagement In this ever changing community of incredible people could be much higher but I have no reason to complain because I started with nothing.
Last year I was forced to slow down and socializing was a huge challenge for me because I was very angry deep inside to be that sick. It’s a huge pleasure to explore and also reply more again as I used to do back in the days of unforgettable June 2016
Glad you also liked the freedom of speech the most. I do think this is the least advertised and most fundamental thing to understand after decentralized. It's interesting to hear people complain about being censored here when censoring someone here is basically impossible. It's the most free speech on the Internet. I've seen so many topics on Steem that I really would never see on Facebook or Google just because they are afraid they will be sued.
That doesn't mean we cannot make an individual choice to downvote or mute. It's just never done at a system level.
I've actually never been punished either for something I've written (also just randomly punished by whales). I cover edgy topics from time to time and I won't back down from a controversial topic or expressing my opinion. I do follow basic etiquette like be careful about trolling and revenge voting, no cheating or spamming.
Occasionally, I use a footer, but to be honest I had those posts where people have 3+ footers and I need to scroll and scroll. Some haven't changed it for years and it's difficult to see the value it adds if any. Maybe a front end solution will happen sooner or later for people to promote things or show off their memberships without having to do that (I don't care really).
I think it's neat that you found your 'authentic' self. I'm not quite sure what that means, I think you are able to express yourself. In my case it took me some time to figure out what I actually like to write about. I've changed my style a bit too. However, I try never to compromise on quality or sincere feedback.
You mentioned rewards = appreciation. It's so true, and it's not just some social point, these rewards could mean serious money at some point.
I really wish I was on Steem in June 2016. It seems like crazy times back then. During that time I was on a social media break. It just wasn't interesting. I had finished a course that required me to do a professional blog and I was doing an Internet forum moderation for my employment. I wasn't too happy with that either. Glad I found a social media I like, here.
I find the people I engage with on Steem are constantly changing. I'm worried it's going to get too complicated before it becomes a ghost town or something.
Ha ha! Don't we all!!
I find this platform more and more fun everyday, both in a positive and negative way, and I can understand why some get fed up and pack it in because its not worth the hassle. But hopefully there won't be too many of them
!engage 25
I think people will always pack up and leave. Some do it for attention and others genuinely have a bad experience. Cannot please them all. Fortunately, the blockchain remembers.
@abitcoinskeptic you have received
25 ENGAGEfrom @livinguktaiwan!View and trade the tokens on Steem Engine.
@mammasitta you have received
25 ENGAGEfrom @livinguktaiwan!View and trade the tokens on Steem Engine.
Like you , I started with nothing on Steemit, so everything I earn here is a bonus and stays here to support others m, the biggest bonus being the friends I made
!engage 25
Nice to meet you ⭕️