My Reawakening and Why Steemit is Fucking Flawed

in #blog7 years ago

Ever broke through a wall of anxiety only to find yourself reawakened and transformed at the other side? And before you ask - no - I didn't spend my weekend high on shrooms finding the answers to all the mysteries of life (or did I?😱).


Random image to make the article look nicer. Image Source

Jokes aside, if you would look up my last weekend in a dictionary it would be a direct translation of utter shit. I spent the majority of my Friday and Saturday walking around in the swamps of anxiety, only to find myself sitting at a south-western rock bar with a large beer in my hand and a plate of nachos in front of me. I thought to myself:

Is this what I've gotten myself into? Drinking my sorrows away while being consumed by the depths of despair?

Perhaps, but that didn't stop me from ordering another beer though, and speaking to Rob, the owner of the bar who seemed to like me. Maybe I reminded him of a long-lost son of his, that had finally reappeared this forlorn night.

For three hours I sat at that bar, contemplating my current direction in life and what goals I'm pursuing. I scribbled my notes onto a notepad while Rob served me a another drink.

And I don't know what he put in that drink but that night I had a spiritual purge. Something I only experienced a couple of times in the past, last time that I recall having a similar experience was when I were living with monks in India, but that's another story.

For hours I was in a state that I would most closely compare to a ego-dissolving experience, and I realised that in front of me was an invitation to take my spiritual growth to the next level, to unlearn and let go of my ego a little bit more and to evolve.

While I sadly don't sit here today with all the answer's to my problems I came to a profound realization that I need to change my approach to some things in life. The most important being: my overall social media presence and my direction here on Steemit.

Because the thing is, the William you see here on Steemit is indeed 100% real and true to himself. Although, it isn't the whole spectrum of who he is.

While I truly love self-development and writing long, serious articles on how to become a better you; that isn't everything I am, and I do no longer want to live with this fucking strait-jacket imposed by society and social norms.

Soon enough we all be dead anyway, and to spend time and energy worrying about what other people think, or trying to "portray" yourself in a perfect manner to people you never met is fucking retarded. And I'm not saying you should be rude (or maybe you should be?) and just say fuck it to everything, but I'm saying that you should be you, and step away from the social programming that I truly believe drains your soul.

Steemit in particular in the way it's built doesn't really encourage people to be themselves fully. Let's admit guys, this whole place in many ways is a just a big circle-jerk where everyone is nice to everybody in order to gain some extra followers, earn more money and to avoid the scary.. DOWNVOTE 😱

And also, have you seen the trending page? It's almost embarrassing to show new people the platform and reveal the posts that get the most upvotes. And NO, I'm not being one of those pessimistic motherfuckers saying to hell with everything, what I'm saying is that this platform as it is in its current state supports a community where people are walking on glass, trying not to step on anybody's toes.

So what am I suggesting?

Fuck trying to be something your not or censoring yourself for others to like you. Instead focus on what truly matters in the long-run; meaning 1) your well-being and enjoyment and 2) the true relationships you build here.

A question you could ask yourself is WHAT you would write about and HOW you would write it if money wasn't an integral part of this platform. At least that's what I will be doing from this time and on.

Likely (and hopefully) some people will feel indignant by this and tell me to go fuck myself since I don't know what I'm talking about. And likely, some people out there will strongly resonate with what I'm saying, allowing for deeper and more fruitful relationships to flourish.

This whole experience we call life is just a trip anyways.

From here on you'll still see me writing my articles and producing my videos. Just without any censorship.

And please don't leave a comment that says "Great article!", we both know you didn't read it..

Talk to you soon.

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And also, have you seen the trending page? It's almost embarrassing to show new people the platform and reveal the posts that get the most upvotes. And NO, I'm not being one of those pessimistic motherfuckers saying to hell with everything, what I'm saying is that this platform as it is in its current state supports a community where people are walking on glass, trying not to step on anybody's toes.

You're on the fucking trending page. You're telling people not to be fake as fuck.

You bought your fucking votes to get here.

That tells me you don't even believe in your own bullshit enough to be satisfied with where it leads.

Does it look like I'm worried about stepping on your toes!?

:)

Yes I did buy votes the get here 🙏🏼 While I see the long-term consequences of this it was still a decision I wanted to make, and with the the large amount of positive responses I still stand by that decision and the fact that a lot of people resonated with this.

Appreciate your honesty as well, I really do, and thank you for dropping by the post and leaving your thoughts. ✌🏼

I just felt like giving you a hard time. I said what I said with a smile.

I'll tell you this right now. If you act plastic, you'll attract plastic.

I don't have this problem of self censoring. I've met some of the greatest people on this platform because of it. What you say is true. Walking the walk and talking the talk are two different things though. Some of your message today was lost in your actions. It set off a few bullshit detectors. The real ones can smell it. LOL.

Don't worry brother really, no hard feelings at all. 👍🏼

Yeah and I agree, not much to add really, I understand and respect your perspective. I see how I made a few errors that I would correct to not create that gap of congruency you're referring to if I were to rewrite the article.

Anyways, have a good weekend 🙏🏼

I'm not worried. I knew there wouldn't be any hard feelings.

Making mistakes is a good thing.

Later.

"honesty" is not always the best policy. Part of "telling it like it is" is being accurate and effective - unless you don't care if people read what you post. And you can become more famous by being "infamous".

Best of look with this new path.

I remember Dave Chappelle's Show When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong -
http://www.cc.com/video-clips/67hgjb/chappelle-s-show-when-keeping-it-real-goes-wrong---brenda-johnson---uncensored

I am thinking for days to make a presentation post and you just gave me the motivation. Telling what you think rarelly pay short term but if you believe what truly believe what your say, it will pay long term. I am new on Steemit and maybe a bit enthusiast but "Hope is what makes us live" ps : No I did not invest money in bitconnect X)

I felt the same way after I read his post, kind contradictory...I am glad you @nonameslefttouse point out...

lol I do agree with some of the things he's said. However, if you want a douchebag platform to post on try twitter. I mean at the end of the day I kind of like the community being nice and helpful. I remember a time when people used to be nice to each other. Not just for something in return. If you have the patience and put in the work, I don't see why you can't be successful too. That also goes for anything in life not just steemit.

He may be confused or a hypocrite even,, buying his way to the trending page, but what is the other way of getting to the trending page for someone like him?? All real estate on the trending page is whale property, isn't it?? How do you get a house in a posh neighborhood?? By paying of course. Is that hypocrisy??

Don't ask me. Ask the thousands of people who worked hard to get their house how it feels to have their home bulldozed and pushed aside by someone who thought their house was better and more deserving of that land.

So all posts on the trending page are results of hard work?? No one else bought their way in??

If you want to get high, buy some crack cocaine. Everyone else is doing it, right? Get everyone hooked. Great idea, right?

How does the neighborhood you speak of look now, after crack cocaine? Worth investing in?

What does that even mean?? Without being offensive to each other, can we have a conversation around who deserves to be on the trending page?? The current system is absolutely biased towards anyone who has the ability to spend money to buy a spot irrespective of content quality. That's exactly what has been done with this post. Then why do you disagree?? If you disagree with vote buying then all other posts here should also offend you, if you disagree with someone new buying his place here then I don't know how and what to respond.

If you disagree with vote buying then all other posts here should also offend you...

I'm not offended. I just thought it was humorous to watch someone say one thing but do the opposite. My response was lighthearted. You just missed that part.

I was hoping he'd come along and shoot the shit with me but instead I got you.

You started talking about houses so I started talking about crack.

Not everyone buys votes. That's for people who see what they think is success and want to emulate it without putting in the work. Much like buying a car you can't really afford. Everyone knows that type of person exists and around here they put themselves on display. Whatever. It's not offensive. They're the ones who have to live with their decisions. Thousands of people lost money trying to get ahead by purchasing those votes. That doesn't offend me. That's their problem. It does become annoying if I find a new member with an outstanding post, I vote for it, and some asshole comes along and pushes them off the ladder because they think their shit post is better. Whatever though. People remember that kind of stuff. Not many will want to support them later on. That's life.

I agree with you completely. I really didn't see the humor, my reaction really was the result of not seeing good posts on trending. Posts which deserve to be there. I don't say I deserve to be there but there are others. All this talk about decentralization of power and here again it's centralised among a few massive Steem holders. I agree, that's life.

thank you for speaking truth against abuse of power. now everyone with a shred of conscience should bounce from this stupid fuck blog never to return... then at very least least go & check out nonames blog... and that is the least we can be doing here in order to try to do whats good and right. and you know it

I actually look for the most obscure and creative artwork and try to upvote it here on Steemit!

A lot of the action here reminds me of the quid-pro-quo one hand washes the other approach to business, so, for a platform that aims to smash the corruption and censorhsip paradigm it is failing.

I like the cut of your jib.

Ha ha ha. You are right.

Beautiful .. I liked your work
steemit is now a place for creativity .. wonderful words
Thanks for sharing

Thank you 🙏🏼

Downvoting is somehow good for steemit if it is used RIGHTFULLY but if someone will abuse it esp those whales that downvotes without enough reason then it will lead steemit into trouble, many will be discouraged esp to those minnows who struggle to survive in steemit world.

Honestly this is your first post that I read all the way through. The previous ones I came across just seemed like boiler plate self help talk. This was very relate able and I agree with everything you said. I have been wanting to dis steemit in many ways ever since I joined but I keep my mouth shut for the reasons you stated. I know it's not the best strategy however, I really believe that if no one disagrees with what your saying than it's not a very interesting or compelling thing to say. Good job making this post, I can imagine it was not an easy one to submit.

Happy to hear my friend 🙏🏼

Haha, and yes, a lot of emotional resistance had to be overcome to publish the post 🤟🏼

You need to have some haters to have some lovers, agree 100%💯

@williamwest

"Social programming that i believe drains the soul!"

I got this. Few months ago, this reality struck me and it was through an unlikely source. i was opening a facebook account for my business and i found myself spending more than 5 hrs trying to come up with a simple bio for myself.

Is it that I have forgotten about myself that I know not a scinitilla of my entirety again? Is it that i have lost touch with myself?

No. I could easily describe myself. But i discovered that the struggle was trying to fit myself into "something" people will like and hail, "something" not necessarily the real me, all in the name of branding.

The greatest we can be is ourselves. We should desist from projection ourselves in a perfect manner to those we may never even meet.

Boom 💣

Spot on @pulchritude, I have experienced very similar experiences in the past, and I think you really put words on it 🙏🏼 +1 on the well-written comment btw.

But i discovered that the struggle was trying to fit myself into "something" people will like and hail, "something" not necessarily the real me, all in the name of branding.

So good.

I agree. I am a massage therapist and I fucking hate marketing. I do massage. My website says I do massage with my rates and my contact info, so great, can I get some clients now?! Why would I want to circle jerk at the keyboard telling people I do massage, and write about why it is good, when they can Google it? I do honestly want to write good content...I just wish it weren't such chore.

I can relate to that bio part of things, in my opinion, it stems from insecurities from our social programming, this is the way something is supposed​ to look and feel, hence the growth rate of consumerism.

Interesting post! Steemit has many flaws, but it could change the world!

I am of the view that a person should withstand with himself and try to be pure and not to be in different disguises.But you seems to be too much dejected and having pessimistic approach But I must say that one should have to be otimistic most of the time.

I don’t like the upvotes bought really ever tbh. And everyone knows there’s a lot of circle jerking and Bullshit money “spending” to “promote” yourself.

One thing that does is bury poor smart people who come here.

It’d be Great If there were a legitimate system of true curation and voting of course, but we don’t have it.

We are sucking a great blockchain to perhaps almost death eventually, “making nothing”.

I’ll follow to see what else you have to say [that I see - I can’t stand going into the blogs]

I wish this were a place to DO something real.

As far as I can tell there not one big SMT plan which even offers to make us “all” owners, with the goal of PRODUCING something that we could sell to the 99.99% of the world that otherwise won’t give a SHIT.

Maybe I’ll write something tonight for the first time in weeeeks though.

Alx

Agreed 🙏🏼 While this article may seem to have a pessimistic tone, I am fundamentally optimistic on where I think this platform is going ✌🏼 Stay positive my friend

Oh I am only guessing from ur saddestic tone...

Yes, I read it and it really is a great article, hehe. You know, I just keep it very simple: photos with a short story.

I keep all the other stuff out like; WTF is wrong with this country?!!! Why in hell are the swamp creatures and clowns running this county?! Ok, I think you got the point. Aloha!

If upvote bots are banned the trending page will be better

Upvote bots are indeed a problem (not saying I'm not using them), and also the extreme distribution between a minnows genuine upvote vs a whale that's just having the same old voting list upvoting the same un-stimulating authors.

the whale paradox is a big problem and steemit team focusing on smart media tokens and tokenising the web so we can't expect them to help.
The promoted page is a joke and trending page has content that should not belong there.
There is no hope for a good author to grow

How in any way or using bots going to promote a community of truth and the spread of meaningful information when it is being propagated by nonusers? Notably that is where I see some of your frustration coming from is the fact that they system is not perfect nor will it ever be perfected. Take opinions for example everyone has one and is allowed to express it but in that same respect they are not forced to give it. It is in that same light that you wrote this article under the guise that someone was forcing you and/or dissuading you from expressing your own true feelings by setting guidelines on which we should post.

The system will never be perfect but the biggest problem is that people are afraid to give there opinion as they have a fear of being flagged and everyone here is having a fake internet personality

Wololo!

(RandoHealer has healed this post because you have been randomly selected from the whitelist. Lucky!)

No social media platform is perfect, they all have their strengths and flaws

Agreed 🙏🏼

Steemit is flawed but it can be fixed, we need to keep pushing for it to be fixed

Agreed 🙏🏼