I'm still on the fence about it. I've seen numerous arguments for and against it. It just seems like one way to at least get something for the post.
I've also seen evidence that the developers are finding ways to flatten the distribution of the reward pool. I'm not exactly sure how they're doing that, but a couple of months ago, I saw an article that demonstrated the effect of the programming on Steemit.
Now I see that Ned is introducing a new token just for the purpose of allowing people to use an entirely different token and distribution system for voting. One account, one vote, same weight regardless of SP. Not sure how that is going to turn out, but it is clear that Steemit is still in beta. :)
Where did you see that about a new token Ned was talking about?
As far as buying votes I'm not into that at all. I'm not against it, per se, but it's like drugs. Once you go down that path you get hooked and still are not really building a loyal following. The only way to build a good following, in the long run, is to do the work and build it.
I think it was the Smart Media Token that Ned was talking about, but I did a search and found that it's pretty old story, so perhaps not news.
Anyway, I've been experimenting with bidbots and I've had mixed results with them. On the other hand, I have been building community and spending more time on Steemit, just commenting and curating. I've even happened upon some other ways to make Steem and SBD through curation as a service. BTW, I do try to work with bidbots that do curation to stamp plagiarists. I want manual curation when I work with them.
So I agree with your final point: building a good following requires working with people. People naturally vote for someone who is familiar, and I guess I have to accept that instead of calling it "nepotism".
There really is no shortcut to just doing the work.
I did a post about this about a year ago that seems to have helped a lot of people if you're interested.
The Most Valuable Steemit Post Begins In Your Head - Tips To Maximize Your Social Currency On Steemit --- by @luzcypher
As soon as my kids are asleep, I'll be reading it. I've actually been working on my attitude, mostly with determination. In a sense, I'm turning this into a puzzle.
I'm not sure how it's going to turn out. I'm just going to do the best I can and see what happens. Thanks.
@luzcypher, thanks for sending me that link. I read it. Then I found the link you put in your article to another article by @stellabelle. In the last 24 hours, I've received a crash course in how a gift economy works. I am in the process of rethinking my approach to Steemit and my attitude about Steemit.
I am son to a capitalist who owns a successful business that is now more than 48 years old. I have been immersed in the "commodity economy", as Stellabelle described it in her article. I paid special attention to her story about @papa-pepper. Everything I have learned from you and her, turns my thinking upside down, and I like what I see. I am now working on changing my style and subject matter choices to better suit a gift economy.
For some perspective, I offer this link to a very long comment I wrote long ago:
href=https://busy.org/@digitalfirehose/re-sweetsssj-re-walden-sweetsssj-sixth-day-eleventh-hour-selfvoting-via-a-13-account-content-farm-20180214t161837467z
I wrote all of that while thinking that Steemit works as a commodity economy. I am clearly wrong about that. With some time, I may write an apology to @sweetsssj, once I've made this change in my thinking. I want to be in the right place before I write it. I like to seek equilibrium, so I'll very likely write it, in the same thread.
So, I wanted to thank you all for this education. I wanted something different than what I was getting anywhere else when I started with Steemit. I just didn't know what it was that I was going to get here. I also didn't understand what is valued here.
I'm a writer and I really enjoy writing. But if people don't see value in what I write, I either have to find my audience somewhere else, or adjust my content to the audience and still find something I enjoy writing about while making that change. I have some ideas of what direction I will take, but I have not fully formed a plan yet. All I know is that a change is coming.
Have a fine day. All of you.