Like the seasons, I go through various phases of activity. Sometimes I go along and often I push back against the elements but in general, I am just looking for a little bit of sun. Over the last year I have been investing myself very heavily into the Steem platform in multiple ways and at multiple levels as I think there is a great deal of potential here and I have done pretty well overall, I think.
For my 'real work' I talk with professionals about various aspects of their lives, including their private lives as no matter how people try to compartmentalize, all aspects are part of a whole. The other day I was talking with a client about changing jobs and based on their current key role, I asked if they felt guilty about looking elsewhere as they would leave a vacuum. They did but, they also knew it was time to move on. I agreed.
As we discussed this I found it quite interesting to think about my own positioning and how much work I have put into getting to this point. It has been massive and even though I enjoy it a great deal, time doesn't come free, especially over the last two years. Perhaps the last five. But, it has been rewarding to write and it has offered me a chance to earn while I learn. Sure, it might all be Monopoly money worth nothing since I have never taken any of it out but, there is a chance it pays off.
For the most part, I think I have done it fairly well also and have managed to add more value to the platform than I have taken. I don't just mean through what I vote but, through what I have brought. In my work I have quite a lot of experience and I hope that I have been able to impart some of what I have learned along the way to others and they have been able to use it to improve their lives. So much of this platform only values the financial side yet, there is much more to it than that.
Of course, the financial side is important and I have spoken a great deal about it over the last year or more and have been quite open about my positions. I have also been critical of various positions.. My position has cost me a great deal in both personal return and time spent. For example, out of all of my articles, I have never spun a story or rephrased a textbook or the like. Each one of my posts is an original set of thoughts from me to the audience and I sit here and labor over both my thinking and the words I choose. In my mind, we are getting paid for content and at the very least, the thoughts we are getting paid for should be our own. Not everyone feels this way.
There are massive disparities on this platform for a whole host of reasons but, no matter what I earn here, I don't think I have been over rewarded on average. My average post reward is under 11 dollars and after my posts I spend hours answering and upvoting the comments each day too. I have never been in any circlejerks obviously but, I know one user who earns 190 dollars a post on average or less than average content, has earned around 140,000 SP on the platform yet has half as much in their wallet as I, hardly comments and only upvotes a very narrow circle anyway. The platform supports them still. Would you join a circlejerk for those kinds of returns?
There seems to be so much shadow on this platform being cast by these massive identities who seem to do more harm than good. Maybe they don't do as much damage after all but, perhaps someone else in their position could do a lot more good. Where does it lead when these people keep growing and there is no one with any influence to do anything about it? What happens when the good guys are crowded out? Haejin has a Rep of 79. He is now Steemit's shining star, the highest representative of the platform. What kinds of people is he going to attract? Is that the onboarding you want?
In my opinion, I have failed the platform as I have been unable to have any significant effects on these kinds of things, not enough power to act strongly and not enough influence to convince enough or the right people to act to stop it. Is it going to once again be a situation where the good guys finish last?
Maybe in the Wild West, even the pacifists must learn to sling a gun.
Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]
Hmm, maybe the platform, and the bulk of the people on it, failed themselves; Certainly the top echelon for sure. But then...They make massive rewards and so feel like they have succeeded. I don’t think you've Failed at all really. Human nature is greedy and whilst not all humans are greedy people the trait recurrs in our lives over and over. People want. Wars start. People gain. People lose. It’s no different on steemit I think. You know how I feel about it I guess.
Agreed.
It is all very interesting how much can be learned here about society and ourselves. It represents the real world quite closely except, the top is slightly more transparent here which might mean, it gives us a view few normally get to see.
Yes, makes sense. I’ve learned to lower my expectations of people I guess. Assume (expect) the worst and when they deliver it I’m not surprised or disappointed. If they over achieve then I get a pleasant surprise. A cynical view point maybe.
Hope for the best, expect the worst.
You may feel that your efforts have not got the reception you expected and as your follower and mostly commentator, I can tell you that your lyrics have filled my thoughts with a lot of strength, many times without thinking about it you get to the heart of people, bringing with your experience solutions to their own experiences, when you change the wrong way of seeing things of a person, then you influence their life and that is when you get a victory, I understand that we want a platform with good content and not bought votes, but many times we can't cover everything from people with the same idea, that's when we see and receive all kinds of people on the platform, I congratulate you because your work is great and helps me and many others and may not ensure that the platform is free of bad habits, but I can tell you that there are many who want things in a good way and prepare for it, thank you for always sharing with us good words.
Excuse my English, I use the translator.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
For the first time, i stand to disagree with you on this one. I dont think you've failed, except you think steemit has failed too. And i say this because in your own capacity, you have created an avenue for your followers to engage in meaningful intelligent conversations and contribution. You have used your skills and thoughts to bring people to reason together, to communicate. When you pour out your thoughts undiluted, you pave way for your followers to do the same.
You have helped me learn and earn from your posts, this is steemit in you. Im sure others can say this too, and there is still so much more
I guess as long as they finish well, as far as this race is concerned
The pictures are a blast as always
You haven't failed your self at all. What you have achieved is remarkable. You have respect and it has been earned the hard way. We all love your posts and I know how long it takes but you reply to everyone so they are part of it. You do a complete job. What I mean is you don't just post (half job) but you interact with your replies. Imagine if you didn't respond how many posts you could have done. That isn't you though as you get as much enjoyment responding as you do writing the post. Shit lol, I am getting good at this. Going to bed now late and also rambling.
Steemit is one of the most capitalistic-opportunistic environments I've ever encountered. It provides rewards for content and behavior whether it's good or bad, selfish or selfless, damaging or constructive - and it does it practically immediately. Dangerous, disgusting, beautiful and wonderful all at the same time. Yikes!
Forgot to mention the only hope for the platform is onboarding as many human users as possible. Crazy as it may sound, I feel we need more good folks like you and more people with abusive profit-driven intentions, as long as they're just that - people.
This has been @holsturr, thank you for reading!
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No I would not join a circle jerk or any other of the scems . I am not alone . There is a whole new generation coming up . Sure some will be in the same mold as before but some things take time . and change takes a long long time .
we hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.
You will never change the behavior of the top . It has alway been my experience that most of them at the top will never change . That's OK because the strength lies with those at the middle and bottom .
This is an open information platform and yet the ignorance is abundant . That amazes me . when the pacifists do pick up a gun its best to be on the right side .
I am hoping that the next HF, SMTs and hivemind will have an effect on adjusting behaviour but until then, there is little to do other than try to build what one can and help where one can.
I think my gun is Death by TL:DR
Hahahaha just tell me about it!! :o)
I agree with @melvadg @mistakili @cryptoandcoffee @olumideolowoyeye (phewww what a long ass name xD) and @willymac on that you do add value to this platform with your writings and in that way haven't failed.
Your experience and dedication shows in your texts and you have definitely been able to share us what you have learned. Of course there is this financial side but as you say there's also so much more and your writings are one thing that have given me something valuable -new points of views and information about different phenomenas and things that have been previously unfamiliar to me. Since I found you in here, you have probably been the most interesting user, who's texts I wait for (luckily I don't have to wait too long since you write a lot) and which I always read from the beginning to the end and learn something.
Thank you for being such a committed user and writer, always having the bar high when it comes to quality of the posts.
Yeah I’ve invested so much time over the last few months I joined steemit. I agree with you , it has helped me earn while I learn at the same pace. I try to add value to the platform and I believe I’m doing that to the best of my power. I’m not surprised that you said all your stay on here has been original content... you’re an intelligent person and a great writer. Thanks for adding value, keep steeming and touching lives
In my country the color purple is referred to as the widow's mean color
"Actual" content improves the foundation for the platform, and you add actual content, so you do help improve Steemit. There are so many empty, nonsensical postings filled with space filling words that are produced purely to be "crowd upvoted", that it is getting difficult to find thise worth reading. Time is very limited for many of us and it is a waste to use that time filtering through the effluvia produced in the scramble for automated upvotes.
Keep on keepin' on doing it right!
You surely are making an impact. I really enjoy your pieces as I have said before, very stimulating and thought provoking. People can be informed, but you know the story about taking the horse to water. Sadly the pacifists are running further away from the gun they need to really make a difference in a world of endless failures created by them especially. Your previous pieces come to mind. Never mind Haejin mate. Keep doing what you're doing.