RE: Adding "Value:" How Your Actions and Contributions Today... Represent the Steemit of Tomorrow
I hear you @bigskykilroy and I'll add that there are "soap boxish issues" for me, as well.
For me, this all boils down to "short term" vs. "long term" motivations... the approach and strategy to "short term rape" something for all you can... is very different from the approach to nurturing and building something for the long term. That applies regardless of whether this is an "investment forum" OR "a community of thinkers and content creators."
It boils down to a simple question: "DO YOU CARE whether this (whatever "this" may be) is still going to be here, in five years from now? And if the answer is YES, are you willing to put the lid on your own desire for short term gains to secure potential LONG term gains?"
But that's my personal perspective... when I look at myself as an investor, I work the same. I don't "day trade" I do extensive research on fundamentals, with intent of getting in on the ground level of an eBay or a Google. I don't look for stocks that "might triple in value next month." To me, that's not investing, that's playing the lottery. But that's just my PERSONAL approach to life.
I used to "rail against the system" and found that it never accomplished anything much more than getting the "haves" to build stronger walls to keep out the "have nots." It doesn't work. As you suggest, nothing changes. So that leaves (to my view) only one other option... go inside the system and-- like termites in a wall-- tear down the systems we don't like "from within."
It is my nature to examine things with a resolution outcome filter. That resolution is with a "Solve for today and tomorrow in perpetuity" mindset. I have a thermodynamics background and longevity of functionality is paramount in my systems' engineering and analysis of end-of-life expectation. Unfortunately for others within my sphere of influence, this mindset often conflicts with the current "Just Do IT" mentality. (The double entendre was purposeful)
All that said, I believe in micro steams of income that show flexibility to societal and market fluctuations. I believe in taking responsibility for ones actions and therefore am glacially slow in my reactions to eternal stimuli. Investing for me has always been long term although I do occasionally purchase that golden lotto ticket.
Steemit, and blogging in general, is new to me as I do not have a copious amount of "free" time to devote to "journaling". I "work for a living" and invest for the future. Steemit appeared to be an interesting addiction to the micro streams and I am attempting to endeavor organically en lieu of Spam and Slam with the F4F BS I currently see when I engage with this community. Definitely not a "get rich" process and I accept with great appreciation the opportunity to be involved in a forum that encourages creative thinking and original content.
This does not, however, divert us from the topic of concerns regarding the aforementioned "Adding Value" original post. Steemit is a self-governing community that has very affluent residents that manage to absorb the Lion's Share of the rewards and in turn have become the ruling class applying the Golden Rule. Not in the Biblical sense. There are many gray areas here but the reflections of the real world are quite apparent and the mob is growing. My hope is the "flash in the pan" and "fly by night" crowd are merely passing through and we can continue to build a long term organic community for all those here for the right reasons, whatever they may be.
If you ever do those maze puzzles, do you start at the beginning or at the end and work your way back? The answer speaks volumes about an analytical mind. Thank you for your continued participation, partnership, and stewardship of our ever growing community! Steem On Brother!