I wrote a post, based on an even older post I had written about 2 years ago, talking about reducing the number of witness votes to 7, in order to protect against the advent of a hostile takeover through stake acquisition.

https://steemit.com/steem/@tarazkp/reducing-the-number-of-witness-votes

Doesn't seem so far fetched now, does it?

Well, live and learn.

I wasn't going to write anything else tonight and instead just go to bed, but I figure, why not? I used to spend 6-10 hours writing 4-6 post a day and then the comments on top for less than I am earning (in Steem) than now. These days, I spend the same amount of time on less posts, as I am one of those deluded people who still feel there should be some level of quality if I am trying to earn from an audience - treat people with respect at least. Though respect is earned and there aren't too many in the world these days who invest themselves into earning it.

I have never really understood how some people consistently aim for easy, the low hanging fruit. Work smarter - do what everyone else is doing. How's that working out for people on average? Well... averagely of course.

There is nothing wrong with being average is there? Of course not, and since most people are, one need never be lonely in the group of average. I think most of social media these days is so successful because it aims for the lowest common denominator, the low hanging fruit people, who in many other areas of life, do not have much of a say about anything. Give powerless people a mask to hide behind and the opportunity to inflict pain, and they will. In the case of social media, the mask is of course the screen.

Digital mob mentality driven by average minds and directed by those much smarter than themselves. It is easy to control the digital mobs as they tend to group themselves around the same kinds of crusades, no matter how ridiculous - how the hell do we have a world where there are millions of flat-earthers in 2020?

Only on the internet.

It is like the old, "only in America" saying that the rest of the world uses when they see the batshit crazy people there, acting batshit crazy. Yeah, this was pre-Trump - this was from at least when my age wasn't in double figures, and I would assume that it is older than that again.

Only on the internet.

It is funny, as while people are constantly complaining about the state of the world, they are simultaneously tearing down anything and anyone that is trying to make it a little bit better. The batshit crazy just can't help themselves, even if it s in their best interest to support change, they will fight for the status quo. But, what can one expect from average people, but average behaviors? And those averages are going to be influenced by the average that those people were raised in - conditions of the batshit crazy internet.

It is even more batshittier online than in America, because so many of the people who spend their time there and are the loudest can only do so because of their inability to hold down a normal job. For example, I always find it interesting how many people on Steem living in expensive western countries can't find any income to invest directly into crypto. Really, zero?

But of course - fuck working hard and putting out some decent content to earn for free online. Too much trouble, Steem sucks ass - I would much rather go and scream at people on Twitter about the lack of job opportunities and how oppressed poor people are....

Opportunity, opportunity everywhere

But average people are blind.

Average. Are you average?

I know that I am. At least at most things. I am pretty good at some things however, and it is through these things that I try to make sure that I have some financial security. I think this is actually something that most people do not consider very well. Financial security doesn't come from a job or even having value in a bank of some kind, like Steem in a wallet.

Financial security is knowing that you can lose it all and still survive. Chase low hanging fruit when developing skills and that is not the case as, anyone can do it, which means, it is an average skill, plentiful and valueless. Perhaps this is why so many people spend so much time online, as from behind the screen, they can pretend to be someone they are not, someone better than they are, someone with power.

Is that what you are doing on Steem? Trying to feel powerful? People look at power as if it has to be controlling and harmful, but it does not. Power also comes from being able to be useful, being able to provide service that satisfies a need - which is why the internet s so powerful itself. It isn't all of the information available at fingertips and the possibility to develop nearly any skill freely. It is because it fills a need that people are missing in the world, it gives them a voice, a fist and a friend. Regardless of the reality, people shout into the void and feel that someone is listening, hearing their concerns, considering their ideas -like Morpheus of Neo -

Anybody out there?

There are many bodies, but none are listening - as they are all talking at the same time.

The digital song of the batshit crazy

 

Taraz
[ a Steem original ]