RE: The monetization aspect needs to take a backseat before it ruins steem!
I agree with you a lil bit. But here's another perspective. Here's my perspective. In regards to what you said about monetization mostly and people just trying to make money. I have noticed a bit of that, that is unpleasant. Though.. When I think about what people post on Facebook.. It's very similar, and there is no monetary gain. Unless perhaps you have some kind of small business or something. But in a general sense anyways.
So far, in regards to good conversations.. And just feedback in general.. I feel like it's a step up from Facebook in general as well. So I don't really have these complaints.
I mostly wish they'd fix the bugs that prevent me from posting a lot and add profile pictures and things like that, but I imagine that will come in time if steemit survives for a while.
Right now I'm just enjoying reaching a new audience, that tend to be a lil more anarchic minded as well, and.. I'm appreciating making the lil bit of whatever money I might make, even if it's barely nothing.. I never made even 1 cent posting on Facebook.. So.. Yeah..
I'm sure there are some things that can be done to make the system work better and hopefully crop out people who abuse it.. Though so far my experience has been pretty enjoyable outside of the bugs with the interface and such.
And yes.. I post some pretty terrible poetry and photography as well. :) ._.
I would wholeheartedly agree with you that steem, or at least the concept behind it, is a step up from Facebook, et al. This is mainly because I place high value on decentralization, crowd sourcing, spontaneous order, and the free exchange of ideas. I also did not intend to rag on anyone's creative products, but rather to point out that we can't all be rockstar artists, and some on here could stand to reflect on humility. I just think that the monetization aspect should not be the primary focus here. I was thinking last night however that the issue may sort itself out. The problem steem has been having with user retention may not actually be a problem, but rather the phenomenon of people coming here for the wrong reasons, and subsequently leaving after they realized that they came here for the wrong reasons. Only time will tell if this kind of attrition is taking place and what effect it will have on the community.
I also think that if I'm going to swipe-type posts from my mobile device, that I should probably take the time to proof read them before I tap that post button. ;)