For those of you who know me, I am a disabled U.S. Army Veteran with a very serious, disability. At the end of my service, when my disability began, the Army took some... slightly unethical steps to deny me any "service-connection" in regards to that disability. I did not have enough money to fight the situation in court and win. This means that the U.S. government basically screwed me over at the end of my term of service by ensuring I would receive ZERO help from the Veterans' Administration and no Federal Disability stipend. That's okay - I didn't take a bullet for anyone, I know what happened, I know what caused it, and I'm not looking for a handout from the government in order to enjoy living my life. However, life has been incredibly challenging for about... the last 25 years.
I was glad to have found SteemIt: a community of strong-minded, proactive individuals who helped me to learn how to do Technical Analysis, research cryptocurrencies, and start making my own trades. Additionally, there was good support from the #steemsilvergold community, and #whalepower, both of whom I would very much like to thank very much for their support.
The #minnowsupport project failed me in an epic manner. I could say a lot about that and explain it all, but let's just leave it at saying they were 100%, totally non-responsive and non-helpful to me in any way, didn't respond to several messages for assistance - at all, despite their many claims to be heroes and champions for the minnows.
For the very first time, in about a year's worth of occasional blogging, I was about to receive rewards that would have made somewhat of a difference in my life - a couple hundred bucks in rewards. Having my incoming "rewards" downvoted by the crew that is all about hating on @haejin, simply for commenting and discussing trading strategies on his posts - and telling them that their behavior was akin to social and economic abuse (which it is) - @berniesanders and his crew of haters and bots wiped out about $40 of my incoming rewards, right at the very last hour.
That's fine, they can do that. They have the money invested in the platform and the current Whales, Witnesses, and rules of SteemIt allow for their abusive activity to continue, unchecked. I have decided to remove myself from this abusive situation, as I believe that is the best course of action.
I will offer feedback to the entire SteemIt community by removing my money, however small it is, from the collective SteemIt platform - that is the simplest, easiest way for me to send a message: your product isn't what I want. So, I'll take my refund and move on to the next thing. Hopefully Larimer makes SteemIt 2.0, and they address the failures evident within this current model. Downvoting, misused by people like @berniesanders, is doing real damage to real people and effecting their bottom line.
It seems like creating an engine for the creation of wealth is not well-served by pairing it up with another engine to destroy said wealth. On SteemIt, the distribution of wealth is determined by the wealthy, for the wealthy. If you are not wealthy - you're just screwed. Sounds a lot like USA Inc., taxation under threat of violence. So, Larimers' "vision" of non-violence has not yet been realized in the SteemIt ecosystem. It is a failure.
@berniesanders
I feel sad about the failure of SteemIt. If you stop and think about it, you might feel similarly. No doubt, with your -15 reputation, you know even more about financial violence and abuse than I do - yet you continue to choose to remain here. Perhaps you like the abuse?
I used to wonder about people like you, who are, "Black Sheep." Why do you continually need negative attention? Well, it's pretty easy to understand: attention is like air. You MUST have it. You need it to survive. And, if you don't learn to form healthy relationships, you won't get any positive attention. But, still - we all need attention. And, in that way, Love is a lot like air: "BAD AIR IS BETTER THAN NO AIR AT ALL." Well, this is the last bit of negative attention you'll be receiving from me. Now what are you going to do? Cry about your "daddy issues" that were never addressed from your childhood? You should go and get some help for whatever wounds you are carrying.
Goodbye fellow Steemians. Some of you are some of the most amazing people! Such good talented writers, musicians, traders, and MEME-makers! I wish you well in your future endeavors. I will miss you.
Good luck!
If you can't take the heat, get the fuck out of the kitchen.
You think it's okay to flag me, but when I flag you, you quit and cry about it?
You brought this on yourself. It's too bad, you seem like a good guy.
It's not about not being able to handle the "heat." You downvoted me, first. You are disrepectful and abusive. I have other ways of making money that do not include people who are socially and econimically abusive in nature - so I am choosing to move on. There is no reason to invest in Steem Power when I can simply take that same money and allow the market to decide how to reward my trading skills - minus the petty whims of internet trolls. In fact, failures in the trading markets are often more brutal than SteemIt downvoters. Hence, they are even better teachers - they offer more harsh and real lessons, minus the social drama. In a way, you could say I'm graduating to the next higher class.
I understand your dispute with @haejin - but I don't understand how you and your bots & friends wiping out my rewards, that I've been working at building up for almost a year, has anything to do with me talking in the comments to other people on his posts.
Far from being a crybaby, I'm taking action - learning from my mistakes, taking a loss and turning it into something better - by removing myself from your negative influence. So, a loss of $40 - $100 has taught me that SteemIt is a very poor investment to continue experimenting with. STEEMIT IS A BEAUTIFUL FAILURE - kind of like a Train-Wreck that I have a hard time looking away from. If this is your "dream" for SteemIt - I don't have the $$$ to stop you. And, the Witnesses and the Whales and the entire community on SteemIt have allowed an environment on this platform which is abusive. So, I want no part in socializing with a community that tolerates violence, social abuse, or economic abuse.
I am sad that what could be greatly improved to be a good thing has not been made better by the people here. It seemed like a good opportunity a year ago. It turned out not to be. Whatever part you have in that, it's on you. Doesn't bother me at all. Have a nice circle-jerk with your bots and Whale pals.
Will do!
A very candid and well-written post. Stay on, and get as much as you can from the platform, including the fact that your message is reaching some if not many, it being an avenue to vent as you did today on this post, and most importantly for the fun and engagement you receive from people who appreciate your work. Afterall, they are the people that should matter to us. I love your very positive attitude and ability to shrug off disappointments in life. Thank you, your post inspired me.
I am a recent follower and sad to see you go. I've really enjoyed your articles. In particular, I liked the one on shorting cryptocurrency.
Unfortunately, these systems and the rules by which they operate are not the best. This results in situations where quality people decide to move elsewhere.
Indeed, as you noted, there are so many amazing people here from all over the world. I remain hopeful their voices aren't drowned out by the cacophony.
Thank you for your service. Wishing you the best kind sir.
I admire your courage, strength and dignity. I wish you the best in your life.
Thank you for your continued support of SteemSilverGold
Sorry to see you go Mark.
The bastards that pull the strings around here have a lot to answer for, a lot of people are leaving because of their selfish antics.
I brought a group of people here with me when I joined & they've all left.
The oligarchy and the bid bot abuse have turned this place into a scam platform.
Good luck in the future.