As I do a number of times a day, I logged in this morning to check my feeds for something new and interesting, for some signs of people being empowered or some unselfish soul fighting for a cause but as usual, I was met with a disappointing mix of shit.
Now firstly, I post shit. Basically, because I'm not clever enough to articulate into words exactly what I want to say. So I just carry on my merry way trying, and doing the things I believe in without fuss or feeling the need to garner publicity or glory.
I can't remember how I found my way to Steemit, probably by following numerous links across various social media, but I was struck by the word I often see here: EMPOWERMENT
Now empowerment to me is about helping people to help themselves but all I seem to find are the majority of people empowering themselves by telling other people how to empower themselves.
The first article I read this morning was an article about motivation and how we can all achieve our dreams. Sailing into the sunset on a yacht was mentioned. Err, no we can't. We can strive to, we can work our bollocks off to, but very few will. Even fewer if you look at the situation that half the world has as a starting point. I find it arrogant in the extreme despite the fact this particular article was well intentioned and coming from someone I seriously do admire here, an exceptional benevolent individual, who really does work for the betterment of the community. I guess he misses it's irony. I will print this article out and pass it amongst the street kids of downtown Makati next time I'm there. They might get some nutritional value from the paper and ink.
The problem is, it's preaching to the already converted. The people who need empowering are the ones we don't directly reach on this platform because they are not members. Not members because they are too busy worrying where the next meal is coming from and have no 24/7 access to the latest 2 grand Macbook and the www.
I read an article yesterday from a member who's stated aims are 'the long term purpose of this account is to provide the necessary funds to live a self-sufficient lifestyle at home with my family'. Very noble, and thanks for the article and pictures of you getting your new mains electric supply. Riveting and well worthy of the 48.76 worth of upvotes. At least be real, you're a smallholder working as a blogger, you're self-employed like millions are throughout the world. This is great and I truly admire this guy and his lifestyle choice, but selling himself as something he's not is pathetic. He operates on the same model of existence as the rest of the developed world. PS, you're new goats are cute 'kerching'.
And the Anarchists...ahh all heading off to Acapulco to pat each other on the back and plot the demise of central banks and government. Anarchism - the idea that government is unnecessary. I'd dare to suggest that there is more governance and rules and regulation on Steemit as there are on many other forums and allegedly more mainstream social media. Sounds like a load of educated selfish middle class buffoons operating on their purely self-centred agenda to me. Hopefully, they'll throw a couple of coins to any poverty ridden Mexicans they see littering the path to their nice hotel. Don't get me started on that glory hound on dtube and youtube who thinks he's a rebel without a cause cos he smokes whilst presenting! Get a life and bring some value to the world dude.
And Crypto, ahhhh the darling of the libertarian age. Bollocks. It's just another financial instrument for others to make money. No different to the current financial system in place, just a very clever and alternative way to raise funds for a new start up, like traditional shares, but easier to trade and less transparency and regulation, thus making it more open to to scamming scum setting up fake ICOs to try and extract the hard earned cash of the hard working, and the not so hard earned cash of the greedy traders.
So back to my feeds....let's have a look at 'trending'.....
Oh look. Yippee, FuriousPete has rode into town with his 500,000 followers from YouTube. I'm practically dribbling piss in excitement, and for simply announcing his arrival, has cashed in to the tune of $1151, obviously YouTube isn't paying as well as it used to do. Let's have a whip round for the poor fella. trust me Pete, you're not as furious as me. I'm bloody seething.
He is swiftly followed by, the Hodgettwins, whose videos on Youtube I was implored to watch by a star-struck and giddy witnesses post last night that excitedly informed me that these huge social media influencers were coming to Steemit. I watched, I saw, I thought what a pile of shit. About as funny as an oil slick. Again, happy days. I was just thinking this morning how much the world needs more 'social influencers'.
And at the bottom, yet another Crypto themed post, how could I get through my day without reading it, my life is complete.
We don't need social media influencers, whatever that conceited and ridiculous title means, I keep reading that Steemit isn't a facebook alternative, but yet now we have a twitter clone, an Instagram clone and dmania, where people post 'funny' memes, for rewards of course! Quite odd really 'cos whenever I've looked at Dmania it's made me weep rather than laugh .....
What we need are humanistic influencers. People who want to change the world in it's entirety. One step at a time.
All I hear about is this new transparent, accountable decentralised new world where everything is shared, but conversely, all that's happened is that indivduals have lost even more rights to privacy and the vast majority of information that's being shared is simply being used for voyeuristic purposes and to as a rod to beat the sharer....a little bit like this article has done!
A few of the photos in the photo competitions that run here actually have copyright notices or signatures across them. How conceited is that? I fully intend to lift them and make a post of them, as an attempt to demonstrate the irony. Attempt being the operative word.
Share your knowledge, but share for the sake of empowering humanity and not for the sake of sharing your own ego. Don't just write, but read too. For every article you write, try reading 5 others in their entirety. And comment!!
In the 5 minutes it's taken someone (probably no-one!) to read this, 85 people, somewhere in the world have died as a direct result of hunger or a hunger related disease, 57 of them children.
Empower someone who needs empowering. Today. Please
LOL. Having a bad day?
I did read your whole article. Only took me about 2 minutes but then again I am quick reader.
I do fullheartedly agree with your comment about reading 5 posts at least for every 1 post you write. I only started on this platform yesterday and I have noticed a lot of the issues you are mentioning throughout.
I see a lot of people commenting, but it is just nonsense comments that clearly shows they didn't even bother reading the post. I think these people are missing a great opportunity to connect with somebody else in another part of the world.
Wow, what a great comment! You've made a serious impact on my life, thank you! Please follow me, I'll follow you...what the hell am I doing?
This doesn't work, it's never worked, and yet people still do it. You're right, where are the meaningful comments? And @nathen007? You raise a very good point about how people aren't willing to put in the effort to truly grow their network.
I regularly remind people that your name is a brand. @ddrfr33k is a brand. @glugster is a brand. Your interests, the things you like to talk about, that's part of your brand. The way you show yourself online is your brand. And when you annoy the piss out of everyone around you, you tarnish your brand. You have to show your best image at all times.
Not everyone got that memo, it seems...
I'm not a brand, I'm just me. If I were a brand I'd have not just tarnished, I'd have rusted to dust years ago...but I'm too long in the tooth to worry too much about how I'm perceived.
Thanks for dropping by and commenting :-)
Cheers for that mate. I always write what I feel when I'm having a bad day so I look forward to more bad days haha
Welcome to Steemit :-)
You're spot on about connections. Learning about others lives creates understanding and perhaps more empathy.
And it's fun :-)
Take care and thanks for dropping by. Look forward to reading you!
For someone who feels they are not clever enough to articulate what they feel I think you did pretty ok. Everything you said is true and applicable to all places where you have people determine who gets to the top, we can hope steem would only promote those who have certified NPO funds , or the best upcoming writers (as long as it is not erotic fantasy) , we can hope that people will provide funds to posts that you can feel the blood and sweat dripping of your screen but this is not our world , this is not steem, the moment steem allowed power to beget power it was lost.
Now I enjoyed your post and will need to re-read it a few times to understand all the points , eventually maybe but right now I will just blindly strike and concur, but also warn that as it is there is nothing to be done but appreciate that we have found sections we belong take our few cents, then just smile and wave.
That's it in a nutshell !!
"the moment steem allowed power to beget power it was lost."
Perfect sentence I'd never have come up with! Thank you
That's what I don't like. The system of reward is broken and needs adjusting to benefit the majority, not the minority. It neds to be used to encourage and nurture. Not give to a pair of plonkers making 'funny' Youtube videos. Nothing wrong with that, it's their choice. I'm not judging, just using them as an example. But with so much power within this community, I just feel some of it could be directed towards a greater good.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate your input :-)
I've recently been less and less active on Steemit because it's gotten very samey and I don't really care to read endless articles on crypto speculation. I hit up my feed and new now, and try to boost things that are interesting. I don't really have enough power to make much of a difference, though.
At any rate, welcome to my feed.
Thanks, that one of the things that needs to be addressed, trying to get people posting different things. Where are the toe nail collectors, the aviation geeks, wacky hobbies and some real life....
Every day, its bitcoin this and that. The platform is about so much more!
Cheers for stopping by, as I said at the end of the post...it's the engagement that matters. Thank you :-)
Nice read! Not a bad rant after all, cause most of what you said are true! I have been here long enough to know that the steemit community is changing. I don't know if it's good to invite more and more people but, reading fewer good contents. I still hope and would like to see steemit grow to incentivize good quality posts that gives value to human kind. And for that I'm on your side. Cheers!
Thanks so much. I just see Steemit as a way of helping people with a chance to make lives better. I want to see lots of groups like you guys over there have in the Philippines. The community needs @surpassinggoogle s on every continent and every country. There's sadly not much altruism here.
Thanks so much for replying, maraming salamat po :-)
Wala pong anuman:) I see you have been to the Philippines as you mentioned Makati in your post. Yes @surpassinggoogle has been a good mentor to many and an inspiration to all of us Filipinos. I just hope each and everyone here would keep the value of steemit today and for the next generation to come. Cheers!
I have been lucky enough to travelnto many places in your beautiful country, i posted about a trip to Romblon last week!
thanks again, every steemit success to you :-)
Best of luck to you as well. See you around!
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