Fantastically thoughtful post as always @denmarkguy. I really do agree with you that some of us need to stop looking at the short term gains and concern ourselves more with the longevity of the platform and I also agree with you that some of us, like myself, need to realise that this isn't just a content creation platform.
I've read the post by @stellabelle and some other related posts and I think it's a step in the right direction as you suggest. I look forward to seeing how it goes and what other initiatives spring up as a consequence.
Thanks again mate. Hope your day is going well.
Appreciate the input and encouraging words, Tony. One of my biggest concerns here-- perhaps because I have seen it a dozen times, elsewhere-- is that excessive focus on short term rewards will turn out akin to the fable of "Killing the goose that lays golden eggs."
Steemit is no good to ANYone if it turns itself into a cesspool of spam, bots, "programs" and other automation that makes the "next marginal new user" take one look at this and think "This is a complete effing waste of time!" and not sign up. If we reach that point, we're dead in the water...
I think this happens a lot, tbh.
This was exactly my thought process, and I have lots of free time.
Putting myself in the place of someone (90% of people), who's time is in demand, - to be totally honest - I wouldn't bother with steemit.
This is not an attractive platform for those just joining and wishing to make a long term 'living/ just a few dollars to help the budget', out of it.
If it promoted as such, (which it is), and doesn't deliver, it is bound to fail. People feel cheated.
And there in lies is the problem. It needs to be more attractive initially.
Thousand of potential new members are lost because of this, I think...
Totally agree with that.
The front end user interface needs a LOT of work to make it a feature rich environment that would make potential newcomers-- and not-so-newcomers-- think "Well, this is a cool site so I'll hang around anyways" even if they don't make more than a few cents. Right now... the allure isn't there. The "money first" marketing approach that has been used a lot has NOT helped, either... it sets up a sense of entitlement that leads to loss of members when the site doesn't live up to expectations.
The statistic you gave in an earlier post regarding the average number of comments per post is quite frightening, when you consider that the 2.2 number could be halved again if you discount the spam and automation.
I fear it's the ability to more or less print your own money here that will attract more users but it will be the wrong kind of users in my opinion in terms of trying to foster an actual 'community' on the platform. It felt like a real community of like minded men and women here when I first joined but that small group now seems to be being overshadowed by the growing number of mercenaries joining the site simply looking to increase their return.
I'm hoping that @stellabelle's plan is successful and the redistribution of voting power helps foster a better community atmosphere and leads to toher positive changes. If those with the 'power' now want the goose to keep laying the golden egg then they definitely need to start thinking long term or the goose will give up the ghost. :)
Thanks for the response mate. Hope you're having a great day.