Intro post-- I'm brand new here :) Steemit seems like something special

Hello! My name is Kelly, I'm a techno-optimist, teacher, and student of life. I live in New England (US) and love warm weather-- so I think I should move. :)  

I believe in the power of people and the web as a collaborative positive space and I think I just found where this belief became a reality...Steemit!  

This is me-- I'm real.

In grad school, I studied what it means to be human in an age of advancing technology and I love to research how philosophy applies to new and emerging technologies. I teach Humanities, Technology and Culture, Ethics and Business Communications course at a few different universities.  

I am madly in love with my husband of 14 years and I’m an amateur gardener.    

I am so intrigued by Steemit because it just seems so positive! 

I know it’s naïve and I have been told that on a number of occasions—but I still maintain that the web is a prosocial space and Steemit seems to be the manifestation of online prosocial action.  

At my dissertation defense a faculty member challenged me on my theory that the web resembles a “Contagion of Kindness,” where prosocial actors contribute and benefit others as they develop a penchant for altruistic behavior. Granted the title seems a little UniKitty from the Lego Movie but that’s just how my brain works.  "Stay positive!" Ha ha--

The professor pointed to online bullying and I know he’s right to a certain extent but I also know for every online bully there is at least one person who is contributing to the value of the web rather than trying to do damage.

I think of how many times I have searched for an answer to a question online-- already dozens of times on Steemit for example. What do I find—a bunch of answers offering helpful strategies for solving that exact problem. 

Why would someone spend their time providing help to a bunch of strangers? Because I think that is what the internet is a decentralized prosocial space.  Anyway—more on that later.  

I have been poking around on Steemit to try and figure things out and there are so many helpful posts for beginners and so many encouraging comments! Thank you so much for all of the posts that have made this post possible! 

I am totally inspired to contribute to the community in any way I can—I’ll probably start with some philosophical musings on technology and the like.  

I am new to cryptocurrency so I look forward to learning more about that here, also I love reading about philosophy and emerging technology so if anyone is into either too let me know, as I would love to read your stuff.    

Thank you everyone for all of the amazing content you are putting out there—looking forward to delving in!