RE: Do we have the best witnesses? Questions for the witnesses.
When I read this I can't help but feel that you are attacking witnesses using Privex and Privex itself. I suppose thats because I read when Ned stated a few months ago those witnesses that use Privex should be voted out. And implied that Privex was a threat to the network.
I read this statement and hear a tone that somehow Privex and Privex users have judgement that is wrong or misguided. That these top 20 witnesses that missed blocks should be cast out.
Well I don't know for sure but @roelandp, @good-karma, and @blocktrades seemed to have missed the most blocks this week. I'm guessing they were the ones that had a server in Germany with Privex. You seem to be implying that those witnesses aren't good for the platform or are acting out of turn. The primary job of the witness is to assemble the chain and run a steady box. Yep they missed some blocks, but if you look at percent of blocks missed someone like @roelandp is still under a fraction of 1% missed. Is he doing a terrible job? Does he not give a fuck? Is he bad for Steem?
Witnessing is more than the box too. @roelandp founded Steemfest one of the largest events this community hosts all year. @good-karma made an app that gets three times the volume of tx as cryptokitties. Blocktrades has been here since day one and runs a business that allows folks in other chains access to steem easily. Which of these three witnesses do you think we should cast out for a problem at a common data center?
I've been using Privex for more than a year. Someguy helped me get my witness up and running when i had zero idea of what i was doing. Someguy provides a docker image that makes getting witnesses started a breeze. Someguy has a ton of experience and can help troubleshoot. Someguy has been updating the docker image with each hardfork change that comes through. Someguy has figured out a way to deliver inexpensive servers to help this community in multiple continents. Someguy has has figured out access to 512gig ram servers to run full rpc nodes. Someguy accepts Steem and SBD for his business. Someguy helped me a ton when I lost my uncle. I stand and will continue to stand with someguy123 and privex.
What does this look like for me? Well, I have 2 servers in two regions with Privex and a third with another company in a third continent. No missed blocks...
If you think more needs to be done to diversify servers then setup a data center and compete with Privex and do a better job. Don't simply complain. Getting rid of Privex would narrow witness choices to mega corps many folks may not actually want to support with their business rather than somehow make this issue magically go away. You'll concentrate the problem in fewer locations... how exactly is that good for Steem?
I get as a new witness you want attention, and there is something to be said regarding making sure that failover scripts are working, blocks are going smoothly, and servers are in multiple regions. You can say that without implying bad shit about Privex or witnesses that use the service.
As a clarification, we don't use privex.
I am work having busy day but walked out to leave a short comment for you. I have no intension to attack anyone. Furthermore, Blocktrades said it is not Privex. You know what that mean. If you are guessing around, please dont.
Also never known Ned said that. Privex has their data centre in two regions. You can distribute without leaving Privex. Not sure what sentences or phrases in my posting made you think in this way? Feels like you are just trying to disagree. I never said we should judge the top witnesses only by their block producing and feeding. Their other contributions are out of tis debation.
Will come back after work for leaving replies to the other guys. Lets do more discussion using the time if you want.
I as well am a big believer in voting for people that do awesome and unique services for the community so I'm with you on that one.
I also think that specially if they hit the top 20 and become very integral for our platform they should also run an extremely professional service to make sure Steem/Steemit is running at TOP performance. I don't think they should be removed but just maybe not top 20 if they're not ready for what that entails, they now have a job.
I know little about the specific witnesses on the top 20 so this is all just generic theory.
I for one am intrigued if they hire someone to do that job for them? Seems they can keep up the awesome projects that put them into the limelight to get to that position and a really experienced person can work part time making sure it's set up and running perfectly and available dependably if needed. That seems like a great trade-off and helps avoid "amateurism" and then we all are happy. haha
I think the point is that there will always be those who favor witnesses who run their own boxes and do not outsource this important aspect of the job to a company that also hosts other witness boxes, because the mere attitude towards this being okay makes the blockchain vulnerable and overly centralized in case there are any malicious hacks, ddos attacks, or state-level action taken against the company. It's not so much that privex or any other hosting service are bad in and of themselves, but rather that a main selling point of dpos and multiple witnesses is to at least maintain some level of decentralization and resistance to attacks on the network that are only made easier by putting all of your eggs in one basket.
If all 20 top witnesses use one company that runs boxes out of seven continents, it still won't matter how geographically dispersed that company's hosting services are if, for example, a nation has the ability and authority to confiscate all of that company's servers in one fell swoop.
I am of the opinion that witnesses be changed regularly by voters. Power corrupts and longer it stays with same set of people kr chances are they may collude and undermine the honest decentralisation.
So voters have to everymonth change their vote to bottom 30th position.