I'm a shill for blockchain
The word shill has started to be used a lot lately in cryptocurrency communities, sometimes even too much in my opinion.
If you google the word it will give you a definition such as "an accomplice of a confidence trickster or swindler who poses as a genuine customer to entice or encourage others." with an example like "I used to be a shill in a Reno gambling club". Nowadays though they seem to call anyone a shill that merely dares to bring up an alternative solution to a problem they may be facing or discussing at the time.
If I had a Steem for each time I've been called a shill on various chats or social media platforms, I'd probably be shilling a lot more for Steem.
Over the years I've been involved in blockchain technology, my focus has drifted from Bitcoin, to Litecoin, Dogecoin, Dash, Ethereum, Expanse, Lisk, Waves, Decred and finally landed on Steem. Its not even as if I've always only had skin in one of them at the time to be shilling for the my own interest, at some point you get annoyed when you're in a discussion with random internet users and just cause you happen to bring up one of those currencies you are instantly called a shill and downvoted by the hivemind of that community.
There are a few different shills out there as well. The most common ones are probably those with self-interest, shilling & marketing their own assets for attention and with them increasing in value in mind. Then there are paid shills who directly through cryptocurrency get paid to mention and attract potential investors to their currency. One thing they have in common though is that the technology backing their projects never matters when they are actively shilling it. They choose the timing of bringing these up when it seems best to fit their agenda.
If I had an Ether for every comment and direct message on Reddit I received not to invest in Ethereum cause it was only a scam/pump&dump, etc, I'd probably be able to buy a horde of cryptokitties right now.
The worst of it all is that platforms such as Reddit make shilling effective. Having anonymous upvotes and downvotes they can use them for their agenda and work in groups to change the outcome of a discussion for their own favor. Not to mention the shady sites that offer clever ways to game Reddit upvotes and downvotes for a low sum of money.
I admit I have been shilling for Bitcoin back in 2013-2014, I visited subreddits such as r/investing and other similar ones to discuss Bitcoin and Blockchain technology - the outcome was always negative. Still to this day when Bitcoin is above $10k I only get downvoted there and Bitcoin gets called a Ponzi scheme or some sort of "HYIP" high-yield investment program and kept bringing up common negative aspects of it such as drug deals and ransom payments. Often completely ignoring the innovative technology behind it and the decentralized freedom of payment it offers.
When I moved away from Bitcoin and started seeing the improved technology in projects like Ethereum I was instead called an Eth shill. Its like these communities form into bubbles where anyone discussing any potential competitors brings risk of bursting that bubble so they silence them and group up on that user to shut them off.
Same thing with Steem the past 1.5 years since I've been introduced to it, doesn't matter if you bring up the technological advantages, the censorship resistance, the limitless possibilites, etc. You are labeled a shill instantly. This feels really weird to me, especially in a time where people should be more open to other possibilities and solutions, especially after Bitcoin started it all with the blockchain innovation - it should've opened their eyes that change is a good thing. Freed them from the chains of the economy pre-blockchain and compared to the beginnings of the internet they should know that we are still at the infancy of technology. It seems like they instead get comfortable with what they already know and own a stake of, and anything else that attacks their blissful existence they don't want to hear nothing of, as if trading fees are ridiculously high.
I find it a bit hypocritical to be honest, people who only want to follow one project alone and want to stay ignorant toward other solutions out there are not far off from those who didn't want to hear or research the blockchain innovation to begin with.
Considering my history, I don't want to be called a shill when I mention Steem on a platform that's discussing their problems of fake news and censorship. I don't want to be called a shill when I offer people other ways to monetize their content than ad-revenue that's constantly dropping or a platform that demonetizes them. I don't want to be called a shill when I tell people they need not worry about trading or transaction fees on this blockchain.
I don't want to be called a shill just cause I happen to follow the most promising blockchain solutions to date.
I'm a shill for the overall innovation that blockchain technology offers.
I just wrote an article that said STEEM was the solution to forthcoming worldwide problem of technological unemployment and that, at some point, an account with 500 STEEM will be considered a large one.
If that makes me a shill, then I am a mega one.
By the way, judging from the time frames you mentioned, it seems you were a shill who was right...numerous times.
hi. nice comment. i see your article about steem. great work. well done.
Thank you...I am glad you liked it.
I am one of STEEM's biggest cheerleaders on here.
My belief in this blockchain and what is going to happen in 2018 is through the roof.
Existentially we all are shills
Think of it as contributing to "social momentum".
Very nice acidyo. But you know cloud of skepticism is always there when it comes to crypto. No matter how good it is.
True, its kind of sad though. Then again I remember how people used to think about the internet in the beginning as well...
I will say it and say it again. . For those of us ole enough to remember the start of the internet, Blockchain=Internet 2017 Blockchain = 1997 Internet. . . We have a long way to go! :) BTC is AMZN in 1999 at $107, it then traded down to sub $10 before it went to $1000+ in 2017. . Keep that in mind when looking at crypto. Sometimes markets have to crash and correct before making the move to the moon.
Yeah only the beginnings are a struggle. Every revolution and revolutionary idea was bizarre in the beginning, we are in that dilemma again. To emerge as a dark horse.
There's no fighting against the bell curve of adoption it seems, seems like a natural phenomena.
Even if everyone in the world would be told about some upcoming tech and how it could change the world at the same time, not everyone will act upon it. It's just what it is.
STEEM become the solution to coming near near global problem of technological unemployment and that, in some unspecified time in the future, an account with 500 STEEM can be considered a large one.if that makes me a shill, then i'm a mega one.by means of the manner, judging from the time frames you noted, it appears you had been a shill who turned into right...severa time
You are not just a shill, you are a paid shill lol
Don't pay attention to those negative comments, those come from people that regret missing out on this great oportunitys, and don't have the balls to get in now. Or to research what it is.
I read a comment on Facebook, of someone saying "Bitcoin was just something a guy created on the internet, and that it had nothing backing it, and it was only used to buy drugs." This people are narrow minded, their uninformed preception of any subject it's the absolute truth for them. And if someone, like you, who knows what hes talking about tryed to argue and explain it to them, then absolutely you are a shill. Not worth wasting anytime talking to them.
Great post. I have some reflections from my experience in life and crypto world.
First, I believe that when we look at crypto we also have to admit that there is a lot of material for shillers. An investment sector with returns year-to-year in last 12 months of about 1000-2000% in something that attracts shillers like a cake attracts ants. And people usually, before speaking with you, enters in contact with this category of people. Internet ads, guys that say "i will made you rich with BTC, just give me your money", shittin ICO's promoters, etc. So, in my opinion, you don't have to wonder for these episodes
Maybe, the average user will easier distinguish shillers from genuine adopter if there was a bigger risk disclousure. What are the risk of adopting an unregulated tecnology? My crypto has a good project, but what is daily volatility? I am not saying that anyone who promotes a new thing without a risk disclousure is a shiller.
But I had some experience in pseudo-shilling activities: I have done more than 3 years of political activism. I storngly believed in what I was doing, it was all gratis, no money, only ideas and great people. When we went to public events, to make flash mob or "informative" actions, the most important thing was think like the person you were talking with. I really believe in the aims of my organization, so i everytime started admitting that "yes, there are some problems but..".
Simply, when you talk with people that are out of your ideas, they start with their interpretations and their prejudices. It is not bad or good, it is simply natural. You have to change their mind, but maybe give some space to "counterindication" can be an useful way to approach people.
Most people are either close minded or dont like change. And the thing is, even if you have more knowledge regarding a certain topic, they on the other hand even if they never did any research about it or only heard one negative news from god knows where that says its a scam or doesnt work, they act as seem they know better than you about it. I dont know i just dont like dealing with these sorts of people. Great post by the way acid!
This was an interesting read for me, because while I had been vaguely aware of the idea of cryptocurrencies before, this is the first time I've ever really set foot in their domain. Truth be told, I ended up coming here more because of the content creator aspect of it than the cryptocurrency aspect of it.
This article was eye opening in a way not just in talking about how shilling is done or why people might call you a shill, but the alternate reasons someone might even bother talking about a cryptocurrency. Considering the term 'currency', it's easy to jump to the idea that the only interest anyone could have in such a prospect is a monetary one. You, however, seem more drawn to the technological and cultural aspect of it and motivated by a curiosity on that than anything. That's very interesting to see. A part of that is due to the fact that most currencies alone are, as far as I can tell, rather arbitrary themselves and a social construction, as is the idea of 'worth' on a grander scale. It honestly simply makes sense that as technology has gone on, a sense of currency should emerge from that as a weird match for the development of the culture that has grown due to technology.
You know I think it is possible to over-do it... I try to be self-conscious of my own "True Believer" status to recognize that I could be wrong - about steemit, bitcoin, blockchain, or anything in life - even if it seems very unlikely.
But in the end most people will think we are crazy... that is the nature of being an early adopter. They laugh at us until they are joining us. I think the nature of steem is so good that it's hard for people to remain too skeptical for too long - I'm actually surprised at how easy it is to explain this website and get people interested. I figure it would be harder.
You're also a shill for CS:GO, you can't fool me.
On a more serious note, I think it's a bit ridiculous people just write off discussions like that on Reddit. It really is an absolute joke to call someone a shill for wanting to discuss new technologies and opportunities. People are so god damn closed minded these days. Jeez.