After spending more than a year on Steemit, I decided to think through why I'm here, again. I've noticed a stark contrast in attitude between Steemit and the other social media outlets I partake in. I find that Steemit is far more positive than every other place I frequented before. I like the pocket change I earn here, but that's not the only reason why I'm here. I also like the sense that I'm denying the major social media outlets of my content, putative as it is. I am here on Steemit because I have a genuine sense that my posts mean something here, to you.
Now I'm not a social media maven. Most of my posts on Steemit get a few cents here and there. I even have one fan on Steemit and a few elsewhere. When I was just on Blogger, I didn't know how to promote my stuff. I learned how to promote and get a few page views there. I got a few pluses from people who follow me. My posts on Facebook got a few likes, too. Every so often, I'd get a few retweets on Twitter.
But here on Steemit, when someone upvotes my post, whether it be an article or a comment, or even a reply, that really means something to me. Yes, I get a little money with it, but the fact that anyone is willing to send me something of value is meaningful to me. I'm also happy to see a reply from someone else on my articles. I guess you could say that I don't get out much on Steemit.
I have to admit that I sort of snicker every time I post a link to my articles on Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter. Every time I do that, someone comes to Steemit to read my articles. Then they see the dollar signs at the bottom, and hopefully, they want to know more by then. I like to plant the seeds of change rather that attempt a naked sales pitch. I take some satisfaction in knowing that once you know a fact, you cannot unlearn it.
I suppose with a bit more dedication, I can do more and earn more, but I'm OK with the way things are going now. I'm wiling to let this grow organically. I'm willing to learn and to grow as time permits. When the opportunities come to write more, I will write more, participate more, experiment with different art forms and start to socialize more. I admit I'm slow here. But it, whatever it is, will come when I'm ready.
As much as I like the words and wisdom of Dan Larimer, I'm not here for the Austrian economics, the game theory or the cryptocurrency. I don't know enough about Austrian economics to form an opinion, but I'm not sure I'm a fan even if I knew more. I'm a liberal, but I'm willing to consider different ideas than my own. I just like what I see on Steemit and so I keep coming back.
I like cryptocurrency for a number of reasons. I like the idea of a monetary system that is not owned by one man or a group of men. I like that a properly designed cryptocurrency system is resistant to self-dealing at the top. I have been exploring a notion that you cannot have giant monopolies and even billionaires if the money system is fair and resists self-dealing. But that's for another article.
I'm fascinated by the idea that I can "mine" cryptocurrency by writing an article and posting it on Steemit. I'm also fascinated by the idea that my article is essentially preserved so long as nodes, the witness computers, are processing transactions on the Steem blockchain. I'm fascinated by the idea that so many apps, Steemit, Busy.org, Dmania and Steepshot, to name a few, are running on top of that blockchain. Every input of creation "mines" currency.
This idea, that creative acts will "mine currency", I think this is the future. Yes, robots are taking over, but that takeover is going much slower than the people who promote the "scary robots" story are willing to admit. I think that Piers Anthony, nailed it with his vision of the future in the world of Proton from his Blue Adept trilogy. In his vision, the robots make everything. Everyone has basic income, but if they want more, they have to create to earn more. They play games to earn more. They create art to earn more. They write to earn more. The only problem I have with Proton is that everyone lives in a city sized bubble because the ecosystem has been destroyed. Hopefully, we can keep the ecosystem viable for us.
I like Steemit. I like it so much, that I'm really scaling back the time I spend elsewhere. I don't see the point in debating the old politics anymore. I don't see the point in taking verbal abuse from someone raised on abuse, anymore. I like that people are polite on Steemit because they know they'd lose money if they acted like some people I see acting in other social media platforms.
Yes, there is anonymity on Steemit if you want it. But there is no impunity here. This lack of impunity on Steemit, the sense that one has nothing to lose by being rude, is something that I have come to admire about Steemit. People are more polite here. They're not here to score points of ire with someone else. They're here to score points of Steem and Steem Based Dollars.
To do that, they must write high quality posts. They must be polite. They must build and maintain a reputation. This reputation factor, is something that I don't see anywhere else. Not Google+, not Facebook, and not even Twitter. At least not in the sense of Steemit reputation.
I'm here to build and maintain my reputation. I'm here to see how others do it, too. I'm willing to admit that I'm confused and that makes me teachable. That admission of confusion also makes me cautious in how I handle myself here.
Suffice it to say, I'll keep coming back. If you show up, I'll show up.
I like the fact that this is one of the few social media platform that one can earn something by just participating . Unlike other social media platforms which take advantage of its users to generate money for themselves and don't even share anything from the billions that they make ..
steemit is the real deal.
I always enjoy the insight you bring to topics you get involved with. I don't get here as often as I'd like, and I'm still not sure what I would offer, here. But I agree, it seems to me to be so much different than G+, for example, and I'm glad you have discovered your "niche"!
Good to see you here, Dave. I suggest that you just write something and post it. I have this little prayer on my wall in front of my desk: Oh, Great Creator, I will provide the quantity, you will provide the quality.
That's what I go by. I start with an idea and just start typing. Before I know it, I'm deep in a writing trance and I've got a thousand words going. Of course, I've sent the censor to the local bar, but I still manage to get something like an article in about 20 minutes. Then I edit. Then I post after a few passes.
You never know what you have to offer until you summon the power of the Great Creator. :)