This exactly. As it is, Steemit is simply a giant advertising space for the whales. Original content is never seen because normal users don't have the weight to push it up, even voting in the hundreds, and whales don't care about real content: just whatever will make them the most profit.
This place is a feedback loop. Whales choose to promote corporate sales pitches for Steemit rather than truly great content. Great content creators such as myself are already back on Reddit, where at least you have a chance to spark a cool conversation. I had a post at the top of reddit AND at the BOTTOM of Steemit at the same exact time. It was pretty telling to me. Thats just me - I am abandoning ship because this place is boring, and nobody here has an interest in my adorable ferrets, epic pictures or even crypto-news bits because its not directly in line with the Steemit Corporate Propaganda Machine. This is just another place where rich people decide what you should be paying attention to. I live in the USA, and this style of corporatism is getting dull. Its not very decentralized when the same 10 people are on the front page from day to day, or when 4 out of the 5 top posts are from Whales. And then there's gotta be one post from a girl with big boobs littering steemit balloons all over the beach.
Im pretty much done with Steemit.
However, all this money will have a huge impact. Its going to turn into a big corporate church. Dont want Hillary to be president of the USA? The whales will never vote for your post again.
Have an extreme belief?
A harsh critique of the platform?
Prepare to be blacklisted.
Otherwise known as a rich-man's circlejerk.
I have yet to see a woman with SMALL boobs at the top of Steemit.
I started the following comment on one of your posts, though felt it'd be better to post here, as it'll gain more exposure. (I've read a few of your different posts, and this comment is equally applicable, speaking to the common theme throughout them)...
one perspective...
herein lies an opportunity to make something of the opportunity for content CURATION.
there may be alot of great posts that don't get noticed, yes. SO, therein lies an opportunity to help bring attention to them...
what about a daily/weekly "The Top 10 Best Daily/Weekly Diamonds In The Rough" type curation...?
if someone were to step up and do this, ensuring the highest quality of both the curating posts and the curated posts, sooner or later, they'd get attention.
Over time, the creme rises to the top. Persistence IS required. And so is different forms of marketing & promotion.
Many posts may have great content, but lack something in the delivery. i.e. a person can be brilliant and have great writing skills, but if they don't know how to craft a killer headline and choose a great picture to go with it, their posts aren't going to get opened nearly as much as if those particular skills are developed and exercised.
The system's not perfect. But there are advantages in that if forces people to step up their game and increase their skills and value to the community, if they're committed to the long term game.
those who keep playing eventually WILL get noticed, and as they keep at it and gain exposure through others who recognize their value, will get rewarded...