My excitement for Steemit is currently drained.
I’m not going to say we should all move elsewhere. I’m not going to say it’s tough luck “that’s just how it is”. I want to stick around and try to do whatever I can. But right now I just don’t feel much excitement. I always said that if steemit started to feel like just a means of making money I wouldn’t put nearly as much effort. That’s kind of how it’s starting to feel. The connections I’ve made are valuable and I’m keeping them alive through discord. But a few things are draining my excitement.
The BS
The BS has always been part of steemit. For so long everywhere you looked was just blind manic praise for Steem and blockchain, as if our new culture hadn’t carried over all the problem started from the old one. Right now the BS feels knee deep. If we don’t come up with a solution to counter bid bots, self voting and manipulation by large accounts, the large percentage of inactive accounts is only going to get bigger. I personally feel that there are fundamental problems with steemit and all blockchain, the same inherent in capitalism. But I do believe we can make it better than it is with a change of culture, and as long as there ar people who want to try, I’ll be here sharing ideas and trying to bring people together, even if I have less excitement than before.
People are Jumping Ship
Many people are quick to give up and find something that looks better. Maybe something better WILL come along, but I personally feel that if we don’t try our best here, the same problems will eventually follow us, or we will run into some new, equally debilitating problems. In order to counter the abuse at steemit, many are putting their faith in new platforms that have less freedoms. I’m not saying we should stick around if we aren’t happy but I think there is so much more we could do to fix things and I want those new platforms to really earn our trust, not just win our support by default.
Lack of enthusiasm for projects that aim to make Steem better.
I have presented a variety of ideas for improving steemit, ideas that are community driven and don’t require any support from steemitinc, witnesses or even whales. It’s been hard to maintain excitement and support over these projects. It seems most people want to put their effort into projects which promise them some kind of direct gains rather than building something from the ground up. It seems my desire for equality is met with laziness. Do not tell me this is just human nature, I know that it is not. But it is becoming very clear that one person isn’t enough to create an atmosphere of cooperation when we are all spread so thin. I’m not giving up but I feel at a loss for how to build interest in #steemitzombies, #nobidbot and the Deadpost Initiative. If I had a lot of SP to upvote everyone, I’m sure things would be different. I could probably put on contests but I wanted this to be built out of a desire to improve the community, not a desire to benefit personally. It’s all set up so that you can benefit personally but mostly for those who contribute and not any immediate benefit. So far there have only been a few. I will keep at it. Deadpost Initiative has its lowest payout ever this week. $1 prize pool.... the post will be out later, I’m no longer feeling excited about it.
3D calling
Because things aren’t feeling that great here these days, I’m trying to remember my main goal here which is to build a community that is sincere about helping each other without sacrificing their own wellbeing and without scheming. Be Awesome is that. I feel great talking to all the friends I’ve made there. I’m also trying to focus more on my physical life, get my music back together and put on some performances, heal my body and keep my mind at peace.
This post is not meant to be a downer. I’m just trying to express how I feel right now and explain why i haven’t been as active as usual. If you feel I’ve neglected you, please feel free to leave a link to your best recent posts in the comments (only if we have spoken and interacted before, otherwise I will ignore the link). Also feel free to come find me in discord, I want to build real friendships that can outlast any platform with the great people I’ve met here.
And go upvote and delegate to @transparencybot who is also doing something great for the platform.
Let's assume Steem is now just a means of making money. A thought experiment: what would you do here if personal blog posts were banned?
Call me a spammer, but I feel energized by this challenge. I spent this weekend thinking about what kind of easy-to-produce content people would want to read. It's rather self-centered to expect to be paid for random ramblings about life, the universe and everything, isn't it?
Good point! Many proposed anti-spam solutions, like limiting the number of accounts per person or going back to an exponential reward distribution, are worse than the problem.
What do you propose we write? There are so many “articles” about every topic, I sometimes feel we are all writing newpapers for ourselves until we get just about as big as I am now where we start to have a real audience. I would rather really get to know people through blogs then have them present some kind of material. I really learning about people’s creative processes too.
People ar paid for all kinds of things, I think ramblings about life are more valuable than a lot of other things. Expectations always leave you feeling crappy though.
Right, Steemit is great way to get to know people. But I don't agree that there's a large variety of topics here. It's all about crypto, photography, lifeblogs, politics, travel, food and philosophy - including my blog.
Can't tell you about my plans at this stage, sorry. The first step is posting other people's comics on @polenbal. Polandball comics are a bit of a moral loophole with regard to plagiarism, since they're anonymous and supposed to be shared on the internet anyway.
What kind of topics would you like to see that you can’t find here? I think a lot of stuff just doesn’t get as much attention as crypto photography, travel blogs and vlogging. Fiction for example has a really hard time.
Hmm, I have just started 6 days ago writing my introduction post. I am still trying to understand how steemit works. I was excited to find out that people can actually make some money here. But now after reading your post, I decided to suppress my excitement, so that I will not feel so disappointed in case I don't make money. In other words, I try to be realistic and not having so much dream.
Don't get me wrong, i don't feel this as a downer, but more like a warning. So, thank you.
It’s a good idea to manage expectations but it’s not a simple if it’s impos#ivle to do well relatively quickly, it’s just not easy and there are some issues which you are probably better off not getting too involved in.
If you just treat it like any social media and just accept the money that comes as an added bonus you will be sure to have a much better time here than if you plan on making easy money. If that’s what you want, there are better ways. Steemit is really whatever you make it though. For me it’s a way to build community and share ideas and be rewarded for it, but it takes time.
Yup. Thanks for your recommendation, @whatamidoing I think I'll try to keep it simple. Just treat steemit like any other social media and think the money as added bonus. And enjoy the process.
You mirror my experience here to the day, literally every day now that I check your blog.
I decided yesterday before going to bed to focus more on some other avenues that lead me to where I wanna go and still post about them and my path. But a new season is coming up here fast now, and god knows I really need my time on the dancefloor after a long computer-ruled grey season indoors. Recharging is essential for all of us, or we will lose our breath.
Should Steemit ever sink beyond repair we can be certain that the other side of the polarity will magic some alternative into existence and we can simply migrate and leave some signs for those that find steemit later.
I used to think it would be the end of Steemit then, but now Ifind it probable that Steemit's momentum will continue even if the first jump ship. Took me months to find the messed up things about Steemit the way it currently is, and it will take months for many others after us.
I will continue my work on here with an attitude of "every connection, breakthrough or gain to be made on here is only a bonus, and not a given". And suddenly I feel compelled to continue my work with the old threads I have started, which I will do now.
Always glad to read about your pain man - it puts mine into a relative position so I can worry less and do more simply because I know my critique of this place is seen similarly by others whose work means a lot. cheers
Haha yeah, I’ve had a lot of that mirroring with some of my favorite steemians. The BS goes deeper and deeper the more you ask around...
A change in perspective is sometimes greatly needed, and a change of priorities as well. this week I’ve had a chance to get more ontonguitar and start writing my first two new songs in a year. And I was just rewarded with SP right after writing this! Summer has arrived! The bullshit will be there but we can create a little corner of utopia here despite everything else that goes on elsewhere on the platform.
That little corner of utopia is totally how I chose to see it lately.
Will you take part in the music league or beatbattle? We still need more people taking part, and it might be a nice detour without fully leaving Steemit out of the picture.
https://steemit.com/beatbattle/@chiefmappster/beat-battle-league-s2-r8-announcement-or-a-dsound-community-initiative
Ever since I joined the contests my writing articles has become less, but I follow my passions more and gain a huge amount of mileage and fun out of music again. Which is already making me happier than 'just focussing' on the daily writeup with worries in the back of my mind as to how long it will be relevant on this platform.
It's amazing to see how music has repeatedly saved me from myself ahahah. And now after my last track and your post here, I am almost done with my next writeup as well.
Click. Click. Awesome. Universe clicking again ;)
Aside from starting to stop upvoting posts that I notice have bidbots for them, I'm continuing to studiously ignore the drama (at least on this level). Taking a step or several back for a break isn't the worst thing :)
You’ve always been good at that. I always look to you for what attitude I should take about this place, you are a model steemian in a lot of ways, you are really here for the fun of it. Even if money isn’t a factor, you don’t let it change you.
That's a change, my attitude towards money usually infuriates people XD
It is unfortunately.
Dont give up.
I won’t!
Please come visit whaleshares again some day. We have some pretty exciting things to look forward to, and always enjoy your company. Perhaps you can find a way to express your concerns in a way that will allow us all to do better together in the future :)
That’s a wonderful idea. I’ve been so tied up in trying to mod two chat rooms and run three initiatives and still write every day, but whaleshares is my roots and I love the people there. I’ve got to get used to speaking on discord rather than typing
I took a break this weekend and I needed it. Now I feel like I can contribute through commenting again, which is great. But I needed the break. The blockchain isn't going anywhere. It will still be here when I get back, I reasoned. And then I took fiction book in hand and swayed gently in my hammock.
And that is also how I feel. If I feel like I'm just "having to" be here -- I remind myself why I'm here. As soon as I feel "agenda" creeping in...I have to step back. The authenticity is more important to me than that.
Plus, that requires RECHARGING your batteries. The blockchain isn't going anywhere. :)
Good point. I guess I’ve just invested a lot of time and energy into this place and Some things I see are pretty disheartening, the deeper you go, the worse it gets, but there is so much good here too be found too.
Do you think money plays a bigger role in our life than enthusiasm, willpower and determination?
I thought you were making things different bit by bit.
Of course, things would speed up if you had power/influence here, but there are more than 100 people who have power and influence.
And if you think that only they can do something on steemit, you are wrong.
You know what's the worst thing to see in the world, watching people lose hope who always talked about hope.
Anyways, whatever you do, all the best.
I never really lose hope, I just get frustrated sometimes. I am making things difference bit by bit. I don’t think money plays a bigger role than enthusiasm willpower or determination, but sometimes you do hit a brick wall where you realize your effort isn’t having he results you thought it was. Then everything can change in a second.
As soon as I wasn’t honest with my feelings here things turned around, literally in an instant.
Well, I hope you do find a way around the brick wall.
I'm obviously just one baby dolphin, but when I'm looking for projects to support, it's not things that set out with ambitious plans to fix everything they think is wrong with Steemit, but things that are about building community and quality work on a smaller scale. Right now I'm supporting one aspect of a project that's much bigger than me (original songs in open mic) and one small startup where I can have a significant impact (the webcomics contest). Both of those thankfully are being run by other people but my votes can meaningfully contribute.
Maybe think about whether there are subjects that excite you and how you can bring that excitement into what's already happening in that subject on the platform.
I understand. I started these initiatives to solve a problem that I wasn’t having, that I didn’t feel excited about writing new posts when no one was reading them. Deadposts and zombieposts took the pressure off. It resonated with so many people but since I didn't have the sp backing me up, and everyone is spread so thin, the posts about it weren’t always noticed. Not many people notice everything on their feed so in order for something to get consistent attention it needs to get a fair amount of resteems or get into hot for a fair amount of time. I really appreciate the support these projects have gotten, I’m just trying to find some consistency so they can hold their own.
I’ll have to join the open mic some time!
I have only been on here for about a month but I still see potential for this platform. I do not expect to make any real money anytime soon. I am in it for the long haul and hope to build up a following organically by posting quality content, as well as by supporting other people's quality content with upvotes and thoughtful comments. I definitely see that there are a lot of issues to be addressed on Steemit, especially the bots, but I do think there is hope they can be fixed in the future. As I continue to learn how everything works on Steemit, I want to be apart of and help build the community here.
You have a good attitude. I’m sure you will do well over time. It’s the same attitude I had and it’s just starting to pay off now. I’m not sure if we can fix all that’s wrong with steemit but I know we can change many lives while there are still opportunities here and make a lot of great friends so I’m trying to do what I can.
Thank you, I really appreciate that. Are there any chat communities you could suggest I check out on Steemit chat? I finally just recently got it to allow me to set up an account so I am not really sure where to start on there.
The general chat is hectic but has a lot of good people. We have a discord called Be Awesome for making friends and another called Community Catalyst which is for working on casual projects which help turn minnows into dolphins through quality content and community contribution rather than bots and other money grubbing means. Links are in my recent post about The Deadpost Initiative which is one of our projects.