The Value of Steemit as a Place

in #community7 years ago (edited)

On the Topic of Community

One thing I’ve learned about Steemit is that the number one rule of Steemit is to talk about Steemit.

Okay, I can do this, as long as I keep the threshold of knowledge low. Like everyone else, apparently, I already have a lot to say about Steemit and I’ve only been around a few weeks. Actually, this is the first thing I should mention: I could have been on Steemit a long time ago, long before a few weeks ago. I first heard about Steemit all the way back in June 2016, and even started to sign up, but I changed my mind. After scrolling through a few posts (random) and reading a few articles (incomprehensible talk of digital currency that would not materialize for weeks, if it happened at all on the initial July 4 payout), I decided against joining Steemit. Not only was I sick of bloggers rattling on (who wasn’t sick of bloggers by 2016?), but I was sick of the whole Internet. The whole place – but especially social media – seemed like a giant corporate cesspool, made even more horrible with a constant stream of freakouts about politics and, worse, lots of groupthink. I had very little faith that this platform would be different.

Facebook is Gross

Everyone knows this. In using Facebook, I’ve had to learn to dodge the constant invasions of privacy (the incessant demands to “finish filling out your profile” the condescending “what’s on your mind?” as an invitation to post), and nannying of Facebook through its every-varying algorithms controlling the manner in which I was spoon-fed.

Since the beginning of my time on Facebook, I have never shared a single thing about myself that was not absolutely necessary to function there: not my favorite movies, or books, or pop stars, where I went to school, who is in my family – none of that stuff. It has helped minimize the intensity of Facebook’s intervention in my feed, for starters. What was really the saving grace of Facebook for me – why I stuck around – was its “Groups” feature. The ability to sort myself into a group (or multiple groups) of my choice and carry on a curated experience in a community I valued was fantastic. The best part was the fact that this happened with no advertising (at least in the feed) and no oversight from Facebook over the content itself.

In the last few years, however, the like-minded nature of the communities in my various Facebook groups began to morph into a creepy sort of groupthink, in which considering a counter point of view – no matter how innocuous – became unacceptable. At the same time American politics had reached a hysterical pitch leading up to and following the 2016 election, which, of course, is no coincidence.

I soon learned that a dissenting opinion threatened the hive mind and my FB groups began to look a lot less attractive. It make sense, then, that the only FB group I’m still even nominally active in is the one formed by citizens of the town I live in. This group functions primarily as a town square where someone stands on a soap box to rant, only to have tomatoes thrown at him before being yanked off by the elbow, or whatever the virtual equivalent is, and replaced by another person ranting. While this negativity is exhausting, at least it contains multiple points of view, and closely parallels the reality of a real place, an actual small town, and what it means to co-exist with a bunch of people you don’t agree with.

On to Steemit

I revisited Steemit after a few people in my family came to the platform and managed to find a real sense of community. There’s a lot of junk to wade through, of course. Spammy comments and money-hungry hopefuls (which includes all of us, at some level) and all the rest. But at least I make the choice to wade through the content and find a strategy for making the most of my time here. Which doesn’t just mean figuring out the currency aspect; it means working to create real content that reflects my real values and point of view, one that connects with other people, but on their own terms and according to their own tastes.

I’m hoping to head to Boston for a Steemit meetup this weekend, to make real in flesh-and-blood what has only been virtual, up to this point. But I know I don’t have to meet the people on Steemit to meet the people on Steemit. It is possible to find community on this platform, and I look forward to the experience, knowing it is unmediated, that no one is governing the process, and the experience is mine, for good or for ill. The best part is, it is all up to me.

2015-10-05 18.25.50.jpgThe sky outside my front door. Limitless, now that I'm not languishing on legacy social media platforms.

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Your post is one that could almost be me. I've been here since Oct and still believe moving to the Steemit platform was the wisest choice I could have made. FB is no longer serving the purpose I'd intended. I still must jump over there as admin of one group and still active member of several, but it is always with a sickening feeling that I must ever re-visit that platform.

It took me a bit of time to feel my way around here on Steemit, but putting my focus on the things that are important to me I was able to find what I was looking for. I am sure you will as well.

The word around the Steemit community is that we may have an option for "groups" in the near future. I think that will very beneficial for many of us that are like minded.

Welcome the world of Steemians!

Thanks for the affirmation of my experience in moving over to this platform! And I also appreciate the encouragement to keep at it here; thanks so much, again, for your comment. (And Steemit groups would be awesome).

Legacy Platforms - thats great.

This platform is such an amazing change of pace from what the legacies had issued. I love your optimism and i think right now is the best time to be a steemian! Much love. As the future unfolds i believe steemit will remember it all forever! @sdkelly

The article had a good contents to read @sdkelly to have strength to revive ignite me to have the vision on what to do... all sort of political issues may burden be..I'm glad it didn't bugging me much..Thanks

Ya, strongest article. Good luck Mr. @sdkelly

Nice boos 😀

My thoughts exactly.

why are ya same.

I'm still gauging it here on Steemit. I can't ignore it though because it's so new, and it's nowhere near maturity nor it will be the sole blog / social media platform on a blockchain fuelled by it's own money and economy (a virtual country at that point). Community wise though, still dominated by super niche topics, like crypto, which I don't mind, but still thin in quality content. Which in a positive sense, could be an opportunity.

That's the perspective I'm taking: I hope to create strong content and find like-minded people on here to drown out the noise, together. Taking the long view, it definitely is an opportunity – just have to overcome the learning curve (and the spam ;). Thanks for your comment.

excellent post dear @sdkelly

Great post. Agree about FB... I have always maintained just the minimum needed, but the constant nagging to share more is irritating.

Thanks and it's nice to know we're not alone in our frustration with FB!

Beatifull picture my friend!

Life is funny

Steem/Steemit is by no means perfect but it is far superior to all other social media platform I have ever heard of and is very worth the investment. You may not get rich but you WILL find cool people and you will have the freedom to post whatever you want without getting banned.
So basically even if you make $1 its far better than FB will ever be.

∞§∞Full Steem Ahead∞§∞

Man, what a great spirit and you are exactly right. It can't be totally about the money here (though that's no small thing), when the experience is so much better even without compensation.

I still try learn about steemit

Great ...nice post . Yes, it is possible to find more peoples on steemit . Please follow US Community @rokeya1988 and vote comments..
united-states-1184974__340.jpg

Nice sharing post

great ! I find myself in it.

good post.👍👍👍👍👍

Was so lovely to hang and chat with you!!! I hope to see you on discord soon

TGP_Light_Banner.jpg

^^^ click that ;)

Oh thank YOU for bringing us all together! Love your spirit and generosity in helping us make the most of this platform. Just joined discord and will track you down (in the best sense). 🦉<---random owl for your steemit wisdom.

I dont mind being tracked down but i hope you dont mind our little trouble right now. That image has a lonk fir our server

I dont mind being tracked down but i hope you dont mind our little trouble right now. That image has a lonk fir our server

So, to sum it up:
you left Facebook, because of all the group thinking, to enter steem/steemit.. With all its group thinking.
:)))

Oh man I hope not. Let me believe in the platform for a while longer at least.

At least currently one gets more Upvotes shilling steem, than pointing at its flaws...
The trending page has the same topics and users all the time.
It is not really that diverse.

People are definitely incentivized to be more positive here – and to post endlessly about Steemit itself. As to the former, I don't know that this is a bad thing – boosterism always gets upvotes, so to speak. As to the latter, I can definitely see how it could be a bad thing. All the Steemit talk gets old fast, in terms of dominating content, and it also undermines the goal of bringing people to the platform, as it encourages the sense that this is a closed system with little correlation to world outside.