My, What a Social Place We Have Here - Countdown to Communities

So a few nights ago I was at our local fair. Some close friends and I took all the kids to ride the rides while us parents yawned and acted like the old farts we are.. as it was past dark. While we were waiting for the rides we were chatting of all the recent things happening and of course Steem came up. It's not shocking, I talk to them about it often and had been waiting for communities to onboard them.. as well, I think it will completely change the user experience for the better.

Well since they asked I told them to just give it a go. Go check out some of the people I'm following, some of the interactions etc and gave them an account to just explore with. That way they could just see what it was all about and get an idea of why it took up so much of my time.

Little did I know that this would be one of those times on Steem that I was embarrassed to invite people over. Yep, there have been a few. Those times where I said - Shoot, I don't want to onboard my friends to this mess. I can't be the only one who has had these moments. Can I?

Well who knew that this would be one of those times...

They spent two days here, and well maybe if I hadn't given them my account name at all their experience would have been different, but I did.. and it is what it is.

In those two day they witnessed an artist I follow being accused of plagiarism, where I commented. They watched that artist be harassed repeatedly in the comments even though it was clear that the majority of the community taking notice did not agree with the accusations or the way they were being dealt with. I said - It happens sometimes. The shared reward pool makes fighting abuse important, but some people take it too far. They witnessed rampant downvoting for nothing more than difference of opinion, as well as many other things that we are probably used to seeing.

They also witnessed someone I had onboarded be harassed and attacked until they left. They witnessed those attacks continue on me, with no way of stopping them. Even if they broke TOS repeatedly and there was a request sent in for constant harassment from this specific person who has done so over multiple accounts for months. Even with all of that, there is no stopping it. I guess that's the double edge sword of the ecosystem we are creating. Trying to explain this to them was impossible.. they were so shocked and appalled that they didn't understand why anyone would choose to hangout in a place like this.

I tried to explain - Well you see months ago there was this woman using her kids photos to attract men, and I said something.. and well they freaked out and then found more crazy people to hangout with and they sort of do crazy stuff. I seem to be on their radar due to that and then.. well there is this guy and they hate him.. and they think I am him.. or him in drag.. or sleeping with him.. or I guess they think I am sleeping with everyone.. I'm really not sure what they think, but it's just a few crazies. The rest of the place is really great!!

Blank Stares and silence.

They thought I was crazy and wanted no part of it.. they lasted two days.

I have to admit that while this specific person, as well as a few others, have harassed me repeatedly over the last 6 months or so (including threats in DM) this one took the cake.. as I got to see it through an outsiders eyes. And I realized that this is not a place I want to bring my friends right now and that makes me pretty sad as I have been actively trying to promote Steem to outsiders.

That sort of thing is hard to explain I guess, and that's understandable considering in every social aspect of our lives we get to choose who we interact with.

But not on Steem.

We are all in this giant room together and have no true way to limit who we interact with. Sure we can mute people, and that helps.. but that doesn't protect you from some vulgar troll replying to everyone who has commented on your posts with some of the worst things possible. It doesn't stop the harassment of the artist, or anything else for the matter... we are all just here in the same room trying to do our best to find what we like and ignore what we don't. But when things get dirty, there is no escaping it. And I don't think that is something that the masses really want to sign up for, just my personal opinion.

Countdown To Communities

I have been excited about communities for awhile. I remember hearing about them and not really getting it. Then I read something and it clicked - this is what steem was vastly missing. The ability to not only find what interests us easily but a way for us to interact with who and what we wanted.

The ability to have a community that is moderated and therefore it's members are easily protected from harassment. A community that embraces those from all walks of lives that have the same interests. The sub-reddits or facebook "groups" we all desperately want so bad.

Currently most "communities" happen on discord and while much of that may still have to continue until we have integrated forums or chats, that ability that we have to protect our own within our server as well as interact with those we want to will now be available on Steem. That's huge, and something that I think will totally transform the way we experience Steem.

We can of course be apart of as many communities as we want, and these communities will have the option to self moderate to make the user experience what they want it to be.

While no one likes the word "moderation" I think everyone can agree that for a social platform, a bit is needed. The great part of communities is that it's not one group deciding.. anyone can make a community and therefore there hopefully will be all sorts of level of moderation to choose from.

Hell even the trolls can make their own community where they can discuss all their conspiracies as that is the topic they seem to enjoy.. and we don't have to look at them! too far?

Yes while I am excited about how communities will help me find what I like, I am also really excited for the option to no longer see what I don't like, and not have to be forced to interact with people I have no desire to. Maybe that makes me antisocial or perhaps it the essence of social as we know it, as this is how things work in the real world.

I feel communities will also be very attractive for businesses and well know groups as well. Honestly I think they will change Steem as we know it, and maybe that is a post I need to make for another day (when it's not 2am) as I truly think they will be a game changer.


For tonight I am just focusing on the social (or anti social) aspects of this place that could be greatly improved in just a few short months, and I find that pretty exciting.


So while my on boarding attempt failed miserably.. and my friends think I am crazy for spending time in such a hostile place, I truly believe communities are going to change all of this for the better and, I am seriously counting down the days.


Do you think any of this will help with user retention, onboarding, or user experience over all? What aspects are you looking forward to?

Much Love and Steem On,

Justine

_{All opinions are my own, and I apologize in advance for any vulgar replies you get if you comment on this post. I don't have the tools to stop the harassing trolls but I am damn sure not going to let them stop me from engaging as I don't like bullies.}

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