Why I'm Tapping Out
Steemit was a great idea. Creating a blockchain-based content-oriented platform just made sense two years ago. I have been creating content on this website steadily since that time. However, I feel it is time to cut-and-run. I am not happy about it. In fact, it makes me sad. I like the idea of Steemit. But the execution is severely lacking. Much of it has been thoroughly documented already. But I will add my observations to the pile.
The first issue is the interface. Steemit never built in a meaningful system for users to interact. You really can't consider this a "social media" platform as much as a content platform if you don't encourage interaction. Yes, there is a comments section. But it is clunky. People want to interact without their thoughts confined to a single post.
The biggest failure of Steemit is its failure to deliver the altruistic, utopian dream of decentralized power. Rather than being a democratized social network, Steemit has become a plutocracy. You can post shit content, but make 100.00 per post if a.) your score is 70 or above, b.) you have great wealth or c.) you were an early user of the platform. Generally, there is a convergence of all three.
There were democratized attempts to create power for the powerless on this website. Kudos to all the minnow projects and other groups that attempted to level the playing field. But it just is/was not enough. The plutocracy rules. Much of the value was milked out of the system by abusers and miners. Those who wanted to play fairly suffered for it, but kudos to those miners (witnesses) as well.
But in the end. Even with the advertising, this website sucks the life out of content creators. Some (myself included) create content because we enjoy it. But I am frankly sick of seeing garbage content sucking up the entire rewards pool. If that is what Steemit is, I don't want any part of it. Good luck to all the good people here. But I am powering down. I am tired of competing for rewards against the plutocracy. The big guys win. The small guys lose. I'm out.
Sorry to see you go. I still really enjoy the platform. Love it's censorship resistance, active development, open source and the good people I've met on here. I also like how it's not fueled by hate clicks like facebook and twitter. I see the platform as still being ver nascent and hopefully development continues to improve it. Best of luck out there... but come back soon! :)
Sorry to see you leave @coldsteem, I loved your consistency and dedication. Hope to you see back one day.
Good luck buddy!
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Congratulations @coldsteem! You received a personal award!
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I've been pretty busy in the last few months so there's a few things I've managed to miss, this being one of them. I hope you can read this at some point, if you for some reason decide to return or just scan through things every so often.
I can't say I blame you, there were numerous times way back when I felt a bit too overwhelmed on the creation side of things, and underwhelmed by the productivity of the platform's side of things.
Steem itself has had an incredibly rough time since the bull market that took Bitcoin up to 20k. We had many issues arise from it that have never been fixed or really even acknowledged. It definitely opened people's eyes to the flaws of cryptocurrency when the money is always the reason, and even then the money is so volatile and unexpected, it fucks with your emotions.
I enjoyed reading your posts, and I have to admit that they helped me keep going at many points. Seeing you going at it with film reviews daily like some kind of machine reminded me that I could, myself, keep up the pace of posting a bit more frequently. It definitely, although partially, resulted in my decision to return back to college. So, thank you.
Take it easy, and I hope you continue watching films and travelling the world.
Your level lowered and you are now a Red Fish!
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Hey @coldsteem - You left a bit before the new hardfork brought in the changes it did. I wanted to see if you'd be interested in giving a new opinion on Steem and all of the changes that have happened since. Hope to see you back again!