why I think BUYING UPVOTES is ruining Steemit for the rest of us

This is opinion, but I do present my reasoning, and it's all open for debate. I think it's an important topic that's affecting all Steemians, and hope you'll read with an open mind.

Note: If you're offended and feel attacked by what you read, but can't find any error in what I'm saying, consider your intentions here and the reason you reacted that way.

What's the problem?

In all systems, there are those who get an edge through their unique skills and hard work, and those who prefer other methods. I want to talk about one particular method some Steemians use to "make money" here, which harms the community and benefits only those who take part.

If you take any action that benefits you in some way, and does not benefit (or harms) the blockchain, this may be directed to you. The action itself may be small, but a pattern of such behaviour almost ensures you're a problem for the rest of us.

One example: buying upvotes

Steemit only works sustainably if users upvote quality content, finding hidden gems and getting them noticed, elevating voices that resonate, while downvoting spam and ignoring distractions. If I pay another user to upvote my content, I'm taking away from that process that finds quality content and hides spam. In return, I'm gaining visibility for my content, regardless of its quality. I'm also gaining reputation and money. I'm gaming the system - manipulating it to benefit personally. I'm like a vampire, a mosquito, a bedbug, or a leech.

"If you don't do it, you won't be seen here. We used to be able to get by with content alone. Nowadays, you need to join curation trails and use votebots!"

I hear that ALL the time, and I can't disagree with any part of it. Yes, it's becoming necessary to 'play the game' to make it from scratch, unless you're already a celebrity, or you've got really special content. 'The Grind' from nothing, which used to take months, now takes years... if it's even possible anymore.

But I disagree with the "if you can't beat em join em" strategy. We can't ALL win by buying votes. It's simply not possible that all of us can get rich here if nobody's actually providing high quality unique content. Period. No amount of gaming things will make that happen. So those who choose to do that are putting their needs before EVERYBODY else's, and contributing to the problem. Imagine a line of leeches, all sucking the blood out of the leech in front, eventually coming back in a circle. The system won't last.

Okay, you got me, his exact quote was something slightly different - "making excuses" - but it's still true. If users put their effort into self promotion, they're not putting it into increasing the value of their posts and comments. Over time, they come to rely on their self promotion and vote buying to maintain their income. They become good for little else.

And every time they do it, they're degrading the potential of this code and the people contributing content to it. That isn't WHY they do it, but it's a consequence on their actions.

A few months ago, other Steemians were telling me using votebots is "like investing 2 today, and getting 3 back tomorrow". I guess the scheme is losing potency the more people jump aboard, because nowadays the question is more like "if you could pay 10 to get 11 tomorrow, why wouldn't you?"

If it's only a financial question, then I probably would. But if consideration of others is part of the discussion - and for me it is - then no, I wouldn't pay 10 to get 11 tomorrow.

Would you? DO you?

Can we learn to 'play nicely together' in order to increase Steemit's quality, size, utility, and value? Long-term, that's how we ALL do the best.

That's MY vote.

DRutter