@luzcypher, thanks for sending me that link. I read it. Then I found the link you put in your article to another article by @stellabelle. In the last 24 hours, I've received a crash course in how a gift economy works. I am in the process of rethinking my approach to Steemit and my attitude about Steemit.
I am son to a capitalist who owns a successful business that is now more than 48 years old. I have been immersed in the "commodity economy", as Stellabelle described it in her article. I paid special attention to her story about @papa-pepper. Everything I have learned from you and her, turns my thinking upside down, and I like what I see. I am now working on changing my style and subject matter choices to better suit a gift economy.
For some perspective, I offer this link to a very long comment I wrote long ago:
I wrote all of that while thinking that Steemit works as a commodity economy. I am clearly wrong about that. With some time, I may write an apology to @sweetsssj, once I've made this change in my thinking. I want to be in the right place before I write it. I like to seek equilibrium, so I'll very likely write it, in the same thread.
So, I wanted to thank you all for this education. I wanted something different than what I was getting anywhere else when I started with Steemit. I just didn't know what it was that I was going to get here. I also didn't understand what is valued here.
I'm a writer and I really enjoy writing. But if people don't see value in what I write, I either have to find my audience somewhere else, or adjust my content to the audience and still find something I enjoy writing about while making that change. I have some ideas of what direction I will take, but I have not fully formed a plan yet. All I know is that a change is coming.
Have a fine day. All of you.