The Ones Who Count the Coins
He doesn’t need the earnings.
He posts for the joy of it: the craft, the community, the rhythm of words meeting appreciation. Sometimes he gives away his rewards. Sometimes he forgets to check them. For him, it’s a hobby. A meaningful one, no doubt. But not one tangled with the weight of utility bills or grocery runs.
He speaks often about integrity. About how shortcuts ruin the soul of a space like this. About how some people care more about squeezing out every drop of value than about adding any. And he’s right. His frustration is valid.
Not against him. Not against the values he holds dear.
Just a little further down the lane, where the air smells different.
Because some of them don’t see these small earnings as "bonus."
Some of them have built tiny hopes on them.
Not grand dreams. Just little ones.
A pizza after a tough week. An unexpected tub of ice cream. A new dress for the child who never asks...
She doesn’t cheat. She doesn’t fake.
She just tries. And she hopes.
She reads the rules twice. Spends more time on edits than she’d ever admit. Tries to do things right, even when her hands shake pressing "publish," not because of the content, but because of what it might mean if it lands well.
There are black sheep, yes.
She doesn’t speak for them.
She speaks for those who still count coins. Not greedily, but carefully.
So when someone says, "Why care about the profit? Just enjoy the process,"
She smiles. Because she wishes she could.
But sometimes, that little bar growing, slowly and painfully, is the difference between a heavy heart and a lighter day.
Not all of them are here to win.
Some, like her, are just here to breathe.
So maybe, just maybe, there’s space in this little world for both.
The ones who float in, heart first.
And the ones who arrive carrying quiet burdens, hoping to set a few down.
To be clear, I'm not the she or even the he in the story. Maybe somewhere in between...
What am I trying to say? I don’t know. These days feel a little heavy on the heart. It’s like everything I hold dear is diminishing, just like that.
I want to feel the thrill of posting again — for the engagement, the connection. But the people I loved talking to are slowly detaching from here.
Who’s responsible?
Could it have been prevented?
Or maybe the course has just run its course.
Was it the burnout?
Or was it those super shallow people who sucked the life out of this platform?
Why?
Why would they do it?
I understand there are still so many people doing good things here. But the lines are blurred now. The areas overlap. And it feels like there are just two big blocks left: right versus wrong.
When, in truth, there were so many people in between.
People who could bring — and had brought — the variety, the kaleidoscope, the depth... in their own way.
If you're reading this, I ask you. Not as a writer. Not as a stakeholder. But simply as someone who still cares. Please take a moment to reflect.
Don't let this platform be tainted like this. Not silently. Not passively.
Yes, there will always be fights. Yes, people will downvote, call out, push back. Especially when the black sheep, the opportunists, get out of hand. And maybe those actions feel justified in the moment. Maybe they are. But if that becomes the only rhythm here — attack, defend, isolate, repeat — what will be left in the end?
One day, there may be nothing left to mint.
No community to come home to.
No spark to reignite.
Because when all the energy goes into putting people down instead of lifting voices up, the heart of the platform fades.
This space was never meant to be perfect. It was meant to be alive. Diverse. Creative. Messy, maybe. But real.
So before we exhaust ourselves in trying to prove who is right and who is wrong, maybe we need to pause.
To ask, what are we even trying to protect?
And at what cost?
Because if the answer is “the platform,”
Then we must remember. A platform without its people is just empty code.
Pay attention: This picture is saying more than words can ever express. sr
It's strange, I've had this feeling very strongly since around March. And it's not because of Steemit, it's private circumstances that have changed. It's not just me, some friends have also reported similar things. Does it seem to me to be a quality of time or is it just my selective perception?
Yes, some of my good friends also left during the fork. However, I'm still in contact with those who were closest to my heart.
I had problems with that at first, I asked a lot of questions, which is normal here, because I didn't want to do anything wrong. It took me some time to realize that I could simply decide things for myself.
Oh, that's my concern too. Lately I've been seeing more and more accounts that post a lot but say little, probably AI, plus all the old familiar automated things.... All automatic, no soul.
Still, I think there are still enough interesting people here to interact with, it's just gotten quieter. That also has its advantages, there were times when it was too much for me.
Thank you for such a detailed and heartfelt comment.
Your words made a lot of sense, because yes, life these days feels strangely paradoxical. It's moving so fast and yet so slow at the same time. We barely have time for anything, and yet somehow, we’re surrounded by moments we don’t know what to do with. Like a curve we’re all riding… As we say in our part of the world, "It feels like all the barkat (blessing, contentment, and quiet supplication) has gone, and with that, the connections, people..."
Especially the bit about what’s right and what’s wrong — so much of it is subjective, shaped by our own experiences and understanding. Though yes, a few shared netiquettes help keep things civil and meaningful.
As for the shift in tone here (platform), I get what you mean. Sometimes it does feel like there’s too much noise and too little soul. People are just writing for the sake of writing... But I still believe we’ll start seeing more heartfelt, thoughtful entries again… It’s just a matter of time. Cycles change, and so does the energy.
🤞
I try to think wisely in the direction that everything changes and nothing is permanent (or for ever). Of course, this brings with it all my fears, and all the hopes that I want to pursue. Someone said here that people are afraid of change, and now I realize that this is true. Yet, everything is dynamic and constantly changing. What the platform was like a year ago, it is logical that it cannot be today.
I've looked at posts from the dawn of this phenomenon and I've always been amazed at how they looked back then compared to how they look today. Back when people made a real fortune from the platform, they really squeezed it as much as possible, and I'm sure the current state is a result of that. But in today's uncertain world, can we even blame anyone for anything? The platform will go through many more ups and downs, periods of good and bad, but with constant changes.
I also feel sorry for all those people who disappeared. But... this is life. And nothing can be done about it. Not even any rules will be able to influence the course of events and developments...
Well, that's one way to look at it — and you're absolutely right. Life is constantly changing, evolving. I happened to read a few posts from seven years ago, and they had a completely different vibe — and dare I say, purpose. Most of the authors were talking about Steem prices, cryptocurrency, and things like that. There was little to no focus on freestyle blogging, on life, or on topics that are trending nowadays (albeit often crap, to be honest).
But yes — those topics do bring colour and diversity. I genuinely hope the platform pulls through this rather grim spell... and maybe, just maybe, people start putting real effort — and a little soul — back into their writing.
Having dealt with the previous type of writing, 😁 I think it will deal with the current one as well. I think it has a lot more soul right now than it did in the past (with cryptocurrencies, memes, jokes, etc.) and I think the platform is evolving in that regard for the better. But it is changing, with all the bad and good consequences that brings with it.
There is nothing wrong with posts about crypto as everyone here is interested in that, obviously, more or less.
Crypto could change lives similarly to everything else and is a subject of constant change too.
Oh yeah, I forgot that the main reason we're all here is actually crypto. There's no reason I want to say anything against it. We were just looking at the difference between the posts before and the posts now. And it's huge. I wonder who was setting the topics back then, who was saying what to post and what not to post, who was monitoring. Or no one did this, everything developed by itself, until it came to regulations, specific rules, bans, downvotes and curations. How did it get to this point? And can such a system self-regulate and self-develop? How has it survived over the years? Because it is obvious that it has survived over the years and has coped with everything so far.
Many and interesting questions.
One thing about it, it is entertaining to see how content changed through the years. For many it is the same old game.
Pay attention: This gif is saying more than words can ever express.
There's always changes with platforms like this. I've been writing elsewhere before this, still do. The new changes drove many away. Now the place 'feels' so different.
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@soulfuldreamer, this piece resonated deeply! You've captured a complex truth about the Steemit experience – the contrasting motivations and the quiet struggles that often go unseen. The way you've articulated the difference between those who create for passion versus those who rely on the platform for a little bit of breathing room is incredibly poignant.
I love how you challenge the "just enjoy the process" mantra without dismissing it entirely. You're right; there needs to be space for both perspectives, for the hobbyists and those who see it as a lifeline. It's a reminder to be compassionate and understanding of the diverse circumstances that bring people here.
Your question about what we're trying to protect is crucial. This isn't just about code; it's about the people, the connections, and the potential for something genuinely special. Thank you for sparking this important reflection. I hope others will join in the conversation! This post is a gem and deserves to be heard.