In the early Hive days there was a popular saying going around that you’d find in the comment sections…
Follow for follow?
I purposely put this in question form because that’s what it was. People were leaving comments on posts asking if they followed someone would they follow them back. It wasn’t a follow because the person was actually interested in the other’s content but it was a
if I help you help me back
type of agreement. It was a race to get as many followers as you could to make your account standout and appealing…as people are drawn to numbers.
You can imagine how many people took part in this. I admit I did as well. Back then when we were anxious for more support and interaction it was tempting to go with the trend (at least for the most part).
There were also follow for follow pyramid groups forming. You’d join a group and sign up to follow a certain amount of people in order for everyone in that group to also follow you. You can imagine how quickly the followings of said groups were rapidly increasing.
I never joined any of those groups but I had a handful or two of new followers because I agreed to follow them back. After so long you look at your feed and realize the people you are following rarely publish content you’d normally support or care to read.
About a year after this follow craze began people started getting frustrated with the follow for follow comments and started responding back
please don’t leave these comments on my post.
Or they would straight up say
no, I will not follow you for a follow.
These types of comments were even starting to be considered spam. There were posts showing up about how silly this was and stating that we should follow people because we choose to follow them and not for getting something in return. We should only support content we are interested in…this shouldn’t be forced.
I thought strongly about that and agreed. You can increase your following all day long but how many of those followers will stick around and truly support your work? How many would even leave a real genuine comment on your post?
I wanted an organic following; people following me because they truly wanted to. Follow me because you see potential in me and want to grow with me. Follow me because you enjoy reading what I put out there, not only just for you to gain one more follower.
This trend slowly but surely slowed down and eventually you barely saw any more comments about it. Those who tried to keep it alive got muted, downvoted and/or flagged.
The reason I shared that piece with you was to encourage you not to get down or blue when a mute or unfollow happens to you. The lesson I learned from that follow for follow event was that we should only want those who truly support us to stick around anyway.
Please understand that when one of these occasions happens it doesn’t mean your content is horrible or unliked by all. Each individual has their own opinion and one person doesn’t speak for the majority. The decision they made doesn’t mean everyone feels the same way.
We could come up with all the reasons in the world why that particular person decided they didn’t want to hear from you any more…but will we really ever know?
This is only speculation but from what I’ve experienced before I believe some people mute because they are just angry people. When they see someone being shown love they can’t stand it…especially if they feel they’ve been done wrong or been short ended in some way.
Some people don’t like observing or evaluating themselves so if they see posts that call for a self examination…MUTE…they don’t want to hear it.
If you post about or support an initiative that they dislike…MUTE it is!
So why torture ourselves worrying about it or trying to figure out why?
We all have a preferences of what type of content we want to run into and that’s okay.
Now I will admit this, it’s easier being muted or unfollowed by someone you barely interact with compared to someone you thought was your Hive ace boon coon. I was talking with @dandays about this at the end of last year as he felt the same way. It’s like
What? I thought we were tight? 😳🤯
I admit that once I picked up being a curator for multiple groups I had less time to visit my old friends to check in on them. I have gotten better with that and try to make time to visit and chat a bit. So trust me, I get that this type of situation may sting a little more.
Yet I still say…
Don’t Worry Be Happy
Be happy and appreciative for those that show you love and do follow because they want to listen to what you have to say.
Stay focused on the lovely comments of support and encouragement you receive on your posts.
Honestly, there’s so much love and interaction going around on Hive that we shouldn’t need to worry about this aspect. Really, don’t let a mute or unfollow get you down.
I would rather someone mute or unfollow me than to see them show up in my comment section wreaking havoc. I am actually grateful for these features as I think they help keep the peace around here. Instead of someone blatantly posting something mean or rude about a disagreement or opinion they can just use this option and be done with it…no need for harassment.
See? It’s all good and no need to feel bummed.
I hope you realize that these types of posts I share only comes from me experiencing the same situation. Oh yea, I took my first mutes and unfollows pretty hard but then I realized everything I just mentioned to you above.
Want to know what my face looks like now when I receive one?…
Okay okay…maybe not that happy but the point is I don’t let it dim my light or steal my joy. 😌
This post was mainly for newbies that might be struggling with this. I hope you continue moving forward, making quality content, interacting with the ones you enjoy and be happy to have people support you because they choose to. 😊😉
If you’re wondering how I got a hold of these awesome images to use it’s through our Stock Images Community. Hive photographers and graphic artists submit contributions for authors to use in their posts.
There are two ways to find these images. You can look through our Image Index or our more recently added Search Feature.
For more information on how to use contributed images in your post please read here.
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Thank you!
Great post! As you say, there are colors for every taste! We can't expect to satisfy everyone, and what attracts the most is authenticity, so, being yourself, for every follower that goes away 3 more will come!!!
Thank you so much for using my images! It makes me super happy! I will be working on new ones soon :D Also thanks for adding me as a beneficiary, I appreciate it a lot!
Hey @nioberojas! Thank you! Great photos! 😄
I am truly grateful for your contributions because they really helped paint the picture for my post!
Yes! We surely can’t please everyone, I learned that the hard way years ago.
Love it! 👆🏽
Of course! I look forward to to seeing what you contribute next ~ 😘
Follow for follow never ends up well for the soul because people , offline in real life or online, want authenticity. Almost everyone will feel if they have build a community around them or just a big number of random followers. I look at this matter as being quite similar with real life : who likes you for your soul, creativity, personality and who genuinely respects you will stick with you on the long run. In the end we want that organic feeling of being understood rather than becoming another number on someone's followers list.
Where were you when I was writing this up? 😄
This is the truth and exactly how I feel...random numbers vs. organic feeling. You said it so well. Thank you for adding this valuable feedback to the conversation.
Love this 👆🏽👏🏽!
I'm not a newbie but must admit, I needed this post. Quite encouraging and insightful.
When I got a notification on my first mute (I was a newbie then) from an account I never engaged with, I ran into the Terminal discord looking for answers. I was encouraged to let it slide off my back because it's the first of some that I may get. Oh yes, I did get some more mutes.
It makes sense...not everyone will be interested in our ccontent.We have to move on and keep creating quality content. Nicely done! !PIZZA 🙂
Ps: I did not know we have a Stock Images Community! Thanks!
I appreciate your feedback and glad to know it was insightful to you.
I did the exact same thing you did. I was all over discord, researching comments and conversations from the persons who muted me (trying to figure out what I could have done wrong)…just in a frantic over it. It was so not worth all the worry and stress I put myself through. Though I have a few of both I’m still here and am still blessed to have many that support what I do.
Exactly, just keep it moving and shaking up this Hive space with what we have to offer. The ones who want to listen will. 😊
I’m glad I could make you aware of the Stock Image Community. I hope you take some time to check it out!
Thanks for your comment and also for the Pizza ~ 😉
it's always better to follow those how you think will increase your knowledge or are entertaining to read there blog
I agree wholeheartedly!
Thanks for adding your input ~
There will always be someone that follows for a few days or weeks the unfollows and/or mutes.
I used to let it bother me but it is just the way people are and how the blockchain works.
Never let it bother me anymore and I hope people get the idea from reading this post that it is really not a big deal if they do or don't, just be you and do what you do!
Very true, that’s just the way it is. I’m glad you realized it was nothing to get bothered over and you are able to continue doing what you do.
I hope the message here helps whoever has struggled with that. It bites at first but once you realize these truths it’s much easier to shake it off.
Thanks for adding your input :)
You didn't solve my problem! So my face is like the first one (by the way @crosheille, is that YOU??!!!!)
In the last few months I have had the matrix glitch my hive and mute a couple of my favourite peeps that I interact with! Bizarre. At first I thought it was certain little fingers pressing buttons. But after the last person contacted my brother (who was the first on hive) to get me to "fix it" or please explain why I was offended enough to mute I knew something was glitchy
Aww man. Well what must I do to get your face like the last one? 😄
Haha no, that’s not me. It’s actually @nioberojas, she’s a contributor for the Stock Images Community. Although I would love to do these types of photos myself. I don’t really show my face any more like I did in the beginning (my husband is all about safety and cyber security so he’d rather me not show photos of myself or our family any more).
Oh no! Good you found out about the glitch. I’ve accidentally unfollowed and muted people before from slippery fingers. 🤭
It wasn't accidental - just bizarre. As far as security I totally agree with your husband. That is why I never do photos, unless it is hands or feet
It took me awhile to be on the same page with him . I’ve always been that type of person to share my life and my family…it was a hard truth I had to take. Now, I’m all for it too and so glad he helped me realize it back then.
Lol me too. I try to get creative with it but I do show hands, feet and maybe an arm or two. 🤣
I really appreciate this post because it speaks a lot going on in the blockchain. I am very sure most people think the same especially when someone follow you means that they appreciate what you do or contribute in the blockchain but when the upvotes are not coming from them it weighs one down.
At the same time it doesn't stop one from not socializing with others with the aspect of commenting on people's post and making yours as well, it is also a way of growing oneself in the platform. You cannot satisfy everybody because we are all entitled to our own opinion so the best thing is to keep the good work going and never give up in pursuing success.
Very well said ~
I remember when I used to get those type of comments, I would get so happy! But after a while I figured out they where not even voting my posts when they commented, and where just bots. Oh have times have changed!
That's right! I forgot about the bots. Yes, some of those comments did start coming from bots. I’m glad you brought that up. Times sure have changed ~
Hakunamatata :)
Exactly ;D
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Keet it up good work
Following ;)