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?😱).
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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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.
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.
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.
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 🙏🏼
I think the most important long term issue with this platform is, that it is only rewarding for bloggers and not so much for just casual viewers. It is just not as interesting as , for example, reddit to browse, because the vote of a casual viewer has no impact of the post being on the front page. So very few posts, a normie might upvote, are going to be there, only the ones that are being upvoted by Bots and Friends.
Edit: and yourself
I agree 100%, the voting distribution and incentives need to improve in someway in order to attract casual viewers that aren't content producers. I am truly optimistic this will happen in the future, just as we evolve the platform likewise will aim to adress its flaws 🙏🏼
Thank you for stopping by
Yes and something like official Rules and Moderators, would help alot aswell, so you can't exploit the reward pool and voting bots that much. Now the only people with power are the rich and they are getting more powerful by the minute.
I'm being myself, so I'm winning I guess! WOOT!
'Fuck you that's a great article!'
HAHA! xD Is that better? :P - Joking aside: I like your way to think about the whole situation, and I especially like it how you deal with the situations in life, where you have to contemplate something. The whole 'bar recap' is so much of a story I can relate to.
So thanks for sharing your words and I will look forward to your next posts. - As ever. :)
Haha love it! (if that's how you wanted to express you feelings 😉)
I actually never done it before, but it was quite amazing I must say, will do again 🙏🏼
Thank you for stopping by as usual brother 🤟🏼
Oh there ja nothing as resetting than a beer in a lonely bar with some good music. 😎
I really enjoyed your honesty here and in many ways you are spot on. I think we all get a bit stuck in this trap of censoring our writing here and I'm glad you worked through it and decided to be more true. Sounds like you had a truly awakening experience, that's always a good thing in my book.
Happy to hear you enjoyed it @jusipassetti, it is indeed a trap that is so ingrained to the platform in a sense that everyone regards it as normal, loosing perspective that it is a problem. Thank you for tuning in 🙏🏼
i disagree, it's not a circle jerk for me. i try and write authentically and 'explore' my real reality of day to day life. i enjoyed this post because you were open and vulnerable about unpacking everything. i suggest you start recording little sixty second videos on @dtube - the world needs more real! :)
Happy to hear we disagree 😉 And also that you seem to be doing what I hope more of us can do, being ourselves basically ✌🏼
Appreciate the suggestion, will definitely consider it🙏🏼
I think just being present, taking stock, iterating where possible. moment by moment, realizing that we are either being the genuine version of ourselves or one that's grabbing for short-term happiness until things come together for the long term. all we can do is keep turning up, checking the data and making a move.
remember we can always draw a square, we don't always have to keep making circle motions around things ;) even a triangle if you want. knock yaself out. MATHS!
Great article! (I had to :D )
Political correctness and false morals are the greatest threat to our society imo. People are afraid to say what they really think which is wrong.
I really don't know where it came from. Everyone gets offended so easily. Nobody can take any criticism anymore.
Apparently some people live too comfortable life so they create fake problems.
I really hope Steemit won't become too correct aswell.
Haha 😂🙌🏼
I agree it is a major issue, we're going towards this normalized society where no one dares to think or speak differently. A lot is due to our basic biological and psychological programming as humans combined with the information technology + globalization. Not easy for our primal brains to cope with.
Glad to have you around @goatman ✌🏼
Yeah it always makes me angry :D
I'm really curious if all the "correct" people really mean it or just pretend that they do.
People who go around SteemIt, "Walking On Eggshells," are just dumb. All of the downvotes on SteemIt will not decrease the value of your Steem Power. If you really turn your experience into a complete train-wreck, power-down, cash out, and move on.
If you're somehow equating your self-worth to your SteemIt reputation score - you have bigger problems than just a failed future on this social media platform.
Word brother 🙏🏼
"great article"! <<< Just messing!
I read the whole thing and agree! Fuck censorship and sucking up to the man. That's why i left my 9-5 so I didn't have to suck the D of my employer (figuratively) and get paid shit for it. Wasn't worth what I value my life "time" at. So I said "Fuck this place, I'm out" and left that day never to return!
I felt liberated! No more chemicals and exposure to unknown substances in the lab! Probably extended my life 10 years just by leaving that god forsaken hell hole another 5 years just for my general happiness. It was where we literally take the drugs produced by all the evil pharma companies and test them for purity, stability, efficacy you name it. No more working for the devil! Feeding America all those pills, nope. Smoke pot, does a lot of the same things as pharma drugs, except with minimal side effects. Lol
I know and see what you mean by everyone kissing ass for followers.. well sure, you gotta play nice sometimes, but yea it is kind of lame to take a look at the trending page to see that... and to receive tons of spam with the same one liner shit.
I work hard to produce my original content everyday, like many others. I speak from my mind and heart, and in real life I do the same. I am not afraid to disagree with anyone on this platform.. since my rewards are usually 4 cents anyways lol if they feel the need to downvote me go ahead pal, feel vindicated.
But yea, I am guilty of buying votes from some bots here and there. But in my defense, the votes I get don't land me anywhere near the trending page lol. I would like to increase my SP faster, and since the Market ratio for SBD to Steem isnt that favorable at the moment, that is how I was gaining SP faster than 0.004 a post. It is called resourcefulness and understanding how to turn 1 SBD into 2 SBD. and it does take "work". My 1 SBD took me a whole lot longer to gather than most y'all bigger players, so if I want to buy a vote with it, so be it.
With you on this one though, be yourself.
Boom 💣 Love your comment my friend. Seems like you're quite on track with your values and life overall.
As you say, in a sense it is understanding how to make 1SBD into 2SBD, as long as you provide value doing that I don't see the issue with it. ✌🏼
Thanks for stopping by 🙏🏼
It's funny the progression we all go through… Especially here. Sounds very similar to my past experience and the article I wrote a few days ago. I think your new path will be interesting :) as you said, at the very least, it's about the relationships we have made here. All the best brother!
Yeah, you have needless to say been through a phase of evolution yourself 🙏🏼 Have missed that article of yours, intrigued to read it, brb;)
I think Steemit works on different levels of your personality, and different players will take different routes through it. some people are presented with incentives, but continue eventually to create the content that they enjoy putting out. Some folks are 'strategic' when it comes to the platform. the negative incentive worries me to. I understand the need to prevent abuse in a non-censorship way. But it forms anxiety. HOWEVER- the risk of financial harm is evident and true in real life for a creator. it's reasonable in my mind to assume you'll have to face that risk in some form here to. I'm just not sure that downvotes serves that purpose. I wouldn't want to sell my freedom of speech for SBD or anything else.
Yeah I like your pattern of thought, especially I think you're on point with the fact that "the risk of financial harm is evident and true in real life for a creator." It is an important note.
As you say, a few SBD shouldn't be worth your freedom of speech 🙏🏼
Great article. I did read it though. I'm just a wise ass. I agree with your post here about acting the way you are, be yourself. Self expression is hindered in society to a point where most people imo don't express there true self at all or only around certain people there comfortable with. Besides the normal being polite, the kiss ass nature isn't whats needed. Building friendships and bonds with a purpose or goal in mind is different, thats networking. All and all though business will be business since money is the biggest part of Steemit that will always be the case. I still think though that Steemit was one of the best creations in the last few years for the simple fact it allows people no matter where your on earth to join, post and make some cash. It opens doors for people who sometimes don't have those chances. All it takes is a cheap computer, cell phone, tablet hell anything with an internet connection and a browser your in. That to me is truly special thing about Steemit. Again great article, now I mean it with sincerity & and Steem on!!
This^ Seems like some people didn't grasp this part, but this is spot on.
Thumbs up for a great comment brother, see you around here🙏🏼
Thank you and best of luck with your future Steemit content!
This is my apology for the comment I left on @sandrastarud post.
Sorry, @williamwest. I truly am. I didn't know you were busy preparing for exams, I didn't know you were sick, I didn’t know you were experiencing anxiety attack and more than anything I didn't want to sound rude or upset you on purpose in any possible way.
First of all, I wish you fast recovery from your illness. Secondly, I hope that you have passed your exam. Thirdly, it wasn’t my goal to sound judgmental and rude. You haven’t been posting for four days and I was simply glad to see you in Sandra’s video. Sorry, that my comment upset you so much. I though, it was playful and innocent. Unfortunately it wasn’t and I did cross a line.
Finally, I want you to know, that I do value both of you: you and Sandra. I don't comment your posts on a regular basis, but I try to read and watch everything you both create, because I genuinely enjoy it. I am not here for your upvotes, attention or anything else. I am here for you and your posts. Even if you will take your blog in totally opposite direction, even if you will be showing us another “you”, I will still stick around.
Have a nice day, @williamwest.
I thank you deeply for your apology @moviebuff, I truly believe that wasn't your intention either, miscommunication in its purest sense. 🙏🏼
Especially over the web when you're writing in text format it's sometimes hard to tell nuances that are so much easier to pick up in speech.
And as I said in my last comment to you in a previous post, I truly appreciate you on the blog brother, and while it might sound "cheesy" this "event" only deepens my respect for you and enhances our brotherhood.
I talk to you soon 🙏🏼
Some powerful words there @williamwest!
You humans are funny, always trying to manipulate your surroundings and yourselves to suit something you're never quite sure what is but somehow you "know" that your lives will magically become better if you get "there."
The irony, of course, is that there really is no there.
Watch a cat. It is always "itself." Yes, I am sure we can go into a long semantic and philosophical discussion over humans, cats, animals and what "higher consciousness" might be. But the cat metaphor stands. The cat is simply "the cat."
Steemit is a funny place. It speaks of "freedom" and it speaks of "no censorship." That truth exists — on paper. But as you allude to, Humans censor themselves, for any number of self-imposed reasons from "What if people think I'm just a bigoted jackhead?" to "If I'm not nice, my rewards might be lower because people won't like me!"
What is "authenticity" to you, @williamwest?
Most often, a leap of faith is involved. Instead of waffling around and "adjusting the formula," we move into simple BE-ingness. What is the TRUE "leap?" We expose ourselves. That is, the self we show is the self we are.
With that comes a risk: People will see us as we truly are. And when someone rejects that? We experience how it feels to have our essential self rejected. Which can sting. But would you rather be stung for truth than for fakery?
Thank you for creating thoughtful and interesting content on Steemit!
=^..^=
Firstly, big thank you for your - I would say profound, comment 🙏🏼
Authenticity to me: thoughts, words and action aligned.
Oh god I'm rereading your comment to decide where I'd like to delve further but it's all so well written haha.
Spot on, bravo. In order for spiritual growth to truly flourish I think we need to be stung at times. We need to get rejected by some and loved by others. Otherwise, you're probably not challenging anything and probably just waddles around with the rest of the herd.
🙏🏼
Hahaha. The ending is the best. Might use that sometimes.
And your right. Kissing ass is the main flaw here.
Wait! Was i just kissing ass?
Haha go ahead my friend 🙏🏼
You would only kiss ass if you didn't truly enjoy it 😉
I agree with your main point. Most of the comments on my posts are pointless "good job please follow" type comments fishing for votes, where it is clear that the poster never read my post. I have intentionally refrained from criticising posts that I know are spewing false information to avoid a flag (a very bad anti-flouride post I saw months ago comes to mind). The result is a very positive but somewhat fake environment where people don't criticize enough. Don't get me wrong, this is still way better than cancerous Facebook, but I'd like to see us reach a happy middle ground between current Steemit (where there is almost nothing negative even when it is desparetly needed) and Reddit (where more opinions are present but the top comments are always low effort sarcasm or jokes).
I mean just see the ridiculous Haejin posts for an example. His 'analysis' of drawing random lines of graphs is almost always either wrong or so vague that it can't be wrong ("it could go up or down" but not in those words). It should be obvious by now that following his advice is as good as following the advice of a first grader coloring inside the lines on a Bitcoin plot with a crayon. And yet, with the exception of the angry individuals flagging him, most of his comment pages are full of people praising his 'analysis' and thanking him for his work. And why do these masses do this? To get upvotes, and maybe a follower for their positivity. But by supporting someone who encourages people to essentially gamble on worthless predictions, we make Steem look bad as a whole and clutter the Trending page with more garbage.
And then we have the ridiculous low effort posts upvoted to hundreds of dollars (or worse during the bull run) by bots with hundreds of worthless comments refusing to call out the author, because they want tiny amounts of money from a vote. This is exacerbated by the endless "How to succeed on Steem" posts that encourage commenting on every post, resulting in hoards of people writing stupid but vaguely positive comments on posts they never even read.
On the other hand, you yourself used upvote bots to reach the front page. I get it, they're tempting. I've used them a few times myself on a much smaller scale (although I regret that). But being able to upvote a post to hundreds of dollars is the reason that the trending page is mostly trash. So I see that as a bit of hypocrisy on your part - you are contributing to the problem. And it's my fault, too, for using them in the past and more recently delegating Steem for dividends to one.
But overall I think this post is a good thing. There is a little too much of a circlejerk on Steem - at least on the trending page that is, it gets better in smaller communities.
First of all, thank you for your thoughtful comment, I can't say other than that I agree totally. At the same time just as you mention, it is better than Facebook, and I guess that's why we're still here right.
Yes I did use upvote bots, something I definitely do not deny. I understand people who might see me as a hypocrite although that would be missing the point of the problem I have, shit posts on the trending page. And no, I by no means suggest that I'm helping resolving the issue using them for this post. On the other hand, this was a message I wanted to get out there, and reading the comments, I think most people would agree that this isn't the typical trash post on the trending page. Do I hope they will go away? Yes. Will I play the game meanwhile? At times.
Thank you for your comment again my friend ✌🏼
You make a good point about the importance of being genuine. That is actually one of values that draws me in. While I am new to Steemit, I can already see that some users are calling out the posts of one person who purchased trending spots. (I might be getting my verbiage confused -- as I said, I just joined.) That said, there is a flight now to value, so my hope is that the Steemit community will reward those who write from a place of authenticity and genuinely provide value to the community.
First of all welcome to Steemit Laura. Secondly, to make it clear I "purchased" this trending spot, not anything I'm hiding or denying. The platform has it drawbacks currently and I wanted to reach this post to the masses, hence I used a tool available to do so. Reading the comments my wishes with this post came true, reaching people on a deeper, more genuine level and to open peoples eyes. Hence, personally the rewards reaped I would suggest exceeds the "damage" done. And to clarify, I am optimistic of this platform, enjoy your time here and good luck!🙌🏼
Thank you, @williamwest! I think it's fine to purchase a trending spot. Nothing wrong with that, especially if you are transparent. To your point, yes, there is some shady activity here, but I am muting those folks. I think that will allow me to create the community I'd like to contribute to here. Hope that makes sense. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts on the platform. As a newbie, I appreciate knowing about the potential pitfalls of the platform and what to watch out for. I look forward to more of your posts.
@williamwest. I just joined this platform pretty recently, and found your post interesting. I don't really talk about myself directly in my posts but express myself through writing about topics that are deeply profound to me. But, something that has happened lately is that I am a college student who doesn't really resonate with college anymore, and my parents are perturbed by this fact. And for the first time in my life, I am starting to be true to myself and although my parents tell me to be happy, they fear that I am heading down a path that won't bode well. It makes me sad, not that I don't have their approval, but that they think I am unhappy, because for once in a long time am I really being honest and true to myself and I'm pretty fucking happy for that. I have more passion and energy and don't have it sucked up by trying to veil my true self. I think although you have some valid points about how Steemit has monetary incentives for the circle-jerk, I would argue that Steemit is great because unlike in traditional social media channels no one really knows who the fuck each other is on here. And because of that, we are much more honest and transparent with unveiling who we really are like you have just done in this post.
Yeah it is a funny situation you're in. With regards to your parents, their thoughts about you are irrelevant in terms of your path and decisions in life, just stay true to yourself and keep that transparent dialogue with your parents if possible - it will all be good.
I agree with your point on Steemit, there are many perks, hence I'm still here, so yes you're right. 🙏🏼
Thank you for stopping by brother
I appreciate this. This will hopefully wake people up and allow us to build a strong community here, rather than a shallow lifeless one.
This^ my vision spot on 🙏🏼
HAAA!!!!HAA!HAA!!..OMG! It looks like people are WAKING THE FUCK UP!! I love it! Keep on keeping it real @williamwest! :0. You know, Steemit is a great community but you quickly realise people are like sheep here, they follow obediently. Steemit helps me in ways where I can empty my junk that friends and family are not always receptive to, and also I hope what I have to say is supportive and inspirational to other Steemians.
I would say keep it 100% real, from this post I somehow don't think you'll have downvotes in the future. Peace.
Haha your reaction is priceless, love it! 😍And I agree with what your saying, also, glad you hear you found a solid use case for Steemit in your life 🙏🏼
Right back at ya, keep it real my friend 🔥
Is it a circle jerk, or are people just nicer when there's money at stake? Much of the interaction on here (not counting bot spam) seems fairly in line with how people interact in person. If you're a dick in real life, you can lose your money, health, and career. So most people are nice in person and save their dickish behavior for online. Here there's money at stake so they act more like they would in real life.
A lot of the niceness is fake, just like how we act nice to coworkers and neighbors that we don't like. I think I prefer it to the anonymous venting and raging that is normal on most of the internet. That said, I still use Reddit to argue and vent. It's better to be disagreeable on a platform with no real-life consequences.
I agree that the trending pages are an embarrassment when trying to show the awesomeness of Steemit to others. How many pictures of a dude with a guitar do we really need on the front page?
I agree with what you're saying to a certain degree, although I'm not saying you should stop being nice and start being a dick. Rather I'm saying that if this platform is to truly flourish and real relationships are to be made we can't act like a homogenous soup not daring to be themselves. 🙏🏼
I am optimistic though, both with the overall progression of the platform and also I believe we will see less people with a guitar on the front page ✌🏼
Homogenous soup! Yeah that. Love it.
I've been reading down the comments and wondering if i would comment. I do less reading here than i used to. Why? Well i'm tired of hearing about quality content and being told what that is and isn't and what i can say and shouldn't say. I'm a terrible writer and often think that spending money buying steem here was a huge mistake.
Ok? what just happened? There's a slide bar on my comment... Sorry. Have no idea why that happened. I think i better go before i get kicked out of steemit! ; )
For me steemit is an experiment in self control.A social experiment on the responsibities attached to power(steeempower),reputation score and how money affects our psyche.We are more attuned to the sensibilities of the whales cos when they sneeze every fish in the ocean catches a cold.
Nice to read this amazing artical about fact of life @williamwest. Sometimes we could not find some hidden answers about life.
Happy to hear you liked it 🙏🏼
Thanks for your reply @williamwest
Greetings. Your post struck a chord with me. I'm pretty new here and was actually looking around to see if I could find a group or persons who aren't trying to kiss each others butts, and found you. I know it is human survival strategy (mostly unconscious) that drives us to fit into a group or community, but it seems to be magnified here where $$$ is the primary reason most of us are here. I mean, really, if money was not in the equation most of us would still be over on Facebook. I look at some of the people on Trending and see that they have bought their way to success by climbing over the bodies of others. My delima is I like to write, I'm kind of at the end of my rainbow (just retired due to illness and yes, age) but yet I want meaning and purpose in my life. I want expression and community. But I don't like chapstick and it seems that one may get really chapped lips around here from kissing so much ass. Oh, well, there, I've had my little rant. But really, if I cant be appreciated for who and what I am, and what I contribute then...? I do love Steemit but it's kind of like when you meet a new friend and really get excited you found a cool person only to discover he/she is phony or using you. Such disappointment. So, for now, it seems I will keep looking. I must share also that I have formed some good relationships here and have found some small groups to associate with, but looking for more. I trust I will find it. blessings. PS: Hey! Look at that payout! It seems you've struck a chord with way more than just a few. Gosh, maybe I should make a similar post in my circle of followers, and then use all my SBD's to self promote...reaching for the chapstick.
First of all, thank you for such a well-written comment brother 🙏🏼
This^ Couldn't be more spot on brother. And yes, this whole thing definitely seem to struck a chord with many people on the platform. Stopped by your page also, keep doing you brother 🙏🏼
What you've said is how I've felt about social media in general for a while.
With Youtube, it was hard for me to know what sort of content to make. I was able to get views, but not with the stuff I was most passionate about. But that also could be because, like you said, I was holding back in some way, worried about what others think. Worried about money. I started changing this a while ago, and I'm slowly making progress toward the "fuck it" mentality. The only path forward is the one where I'm authentic.
Yeah I agree fully, I think that long-term it is the only way to go if you really want to be happy and enjoy what you're doing. It might be a rougher road but I'm confident it leads to a more fulfilled life 🙏🏼
I have to say about this comment in your post"I do no longer want to live with this fucking strait-jacket imposed by society and social norms." Yeah don't wear the Strait-jacket!
About this part of your post " I do no longer want to live with this fucking strait-jacket imposed by society and social norms." Fuck you. I as part of society had no part in putting the strait-jacket on your ass and really no one is responsible for that but you. Want to be you then you have to be responsible for what you have done to yourself. Then you can make any changes you want. Blame me or anyone else and those changes won't happen.
Boom💣 Agree totally, it is my responsibility fully, no one else to blame for your own inner mental construction.
See you around brother
Yes you will see me around. Mostly because I want to see how you grow. Doing so is a relief from living in my own growth. LOL
I love the honesty in here!! Life is too short for censorship. Fuck how people say things about us 😉
Boom 💣
Glad it resonated with you!
I try to post for myself, in the sense that I'm not actively creating a post intending to get highest possible payout. I write and create to respond to incite interesting debate, expand myself. Eventually I like knowing that I could spent my steem on a burger or a slice of pizza. Build business with SMT and look to the moon.
I do agree steem is in a state of confusion, frought with early adopters and a modest front end. Having a Fiat on/off ramp would help a lot.
Yeah that is key. If you write something that truly develops you as a person there will be much easier to focus on what truly matters instead of the rewards pool.
Keep doing you ✌🏼
I very much enjoyed your story, thank you :) It's mindblowing to think in how our own pain can point us in the right direction.
Good writing, but seriously I am convinced that someone who truly knows himself, does not waste his time or the time of others on steemit.
He has nothing to write or to say because there is nothing what hasn't been already written or said. Communication is circle-jerking of ideas and beliefs and the attempt of assimilation of the most profitable ones at any given moment.
Why to pretend that money isn't an integral part of steemit? Why write at all? There is no you on steemit, just a projection of accumulated prejudices, beliefs and accepted lies and the only meaning is to find some unsatisfactory confirmation, a mere approximation of your programming, but still not your true self, which is silence.
Agree with some parts of what you're saying, although someone who truly knows himself and doesn't have any interest in shedding knowledge and important thoughts with his fellow humans misses that he's an integral part of the universe and might fall into the trap of individualism.
Agreed, the rest respectfully disagree while I understand your belief and where you're coming from 🙏🏼
good post
I appreciate your honesty. I am new to steemit, but I have found many posts that are honest, authentic, and enlightening. It seems to me motivation is key here, and I appreciate content that seeks to inform rather than appease the masses for an upvote.
Welcome @ghostsinahatbox -- I am new here, too.
One of the most refreshing posts I have read on this platform! Thank You William!
Sadly - not the best post for a tweet where we hope to entice others to come here.
And thank you 🙏🏼
Your article has good points and yes, sometimes it just feels unreal when a network tries to be a park for unicorns. But for example Germany, they start censoring whatever they claim "hatespeech" or "discrimination" and we all know the lines from useful to useless are pretty thin. So in the long run, we might have even more unicorn parks and maybe some kind of a evil-twin steemit (maybe skeemhit), where the meanest troll earns most and nice comments get a down vote... :O
Dude, this would have been a great post if you didn't buy your votes for it. Now it's an awful post because you're criticizing certain aspects yet utilizing one of the major flaws in the system that there is to date, all while saying that from now on you're not taking money into consideration....? I'm all for being real, I love everyone on here who doesn't give a shit what people think, but if you're going to be righteous you've gotta do it all the way.
An interesting article, for sure. I'm relatively new here and appreciate what you write. I've become increasingly irritated by the number of money grubbers on this site who add very little redeeming content and then are rude enough too ask for an upvote. It's hard to find good content with all the junk plugging things up.
Its so good in steemit blog
Thank you 🙏🏼
It's Interesting & amazing weekend passing idea.Thanks for your sharing.I want to be also like you.But I have no ability.So, I pass my weekend to play carrom.Carrom is my favorite game.I like it so much.
You got a 21.67% upvote from @postpromoter courtesy of @williamwest!
Want to promote your posts too? Check out the Steem Bot Tracker website for more info. If you would like to support the development of @postpromoter and the bot tracker please vote for @yabapmatt for witness!
I'm not totally sure what steemit is or where it's going but I do believe truth and authenticity will win in the end. I just finished a post about personal branding in regards to authenticity: https://steemit.com/steemit/@tressareid/how-to-brand-yourself-an-important-aspect-here-on-steemit
I enjoyed reading your post! :)
Agreed @tressareid 🙏🏼
Happy to hear you enjoyed it ✌🏼