Back on Steemit After 5 Years: Exploring the Power of Communities

in STEEM FOR BETTERLIFE29 days ago (edited)

Good day Fellow Steemians,

Today I am writing my second post in the last 5 years and it really feels good to be back.

Yesterday was the first time in two years that I visited the Steemit website and at first glance, it looks like there's a lot of activity on the platform. Thousands of new users and vibrant communities have emerged.

I really enjoyed the Steemit platform because so many people engaged with my posts in the comments section. Currently, I don't have enough SP to answer all the questions, but as they say (or actually Guinness says, LOL), "Good things come to those who wait."

I'm still getting to grips with the new way things are working. During my last stint on Steemit, Communities were still in development and hadn't been implemented yet. So, let's chat a bit about the Communities feature.

In short, my opinion is that it has made a massive difference to the platform. If used correctly, Steemit has the potential to surpass Reddit over time. My question remains: Why would people post on Reddit when they can make the same posts on Steemit and get paid for their efforts? It's a mindset shift that Reddit users need to make. However, for this to happen, Communities must be implemented correctly, and most importantly, the Steemit platform must be trusted.

Similar to Steemit Communities, Reddit is structured around user-generated communities known as "subreddits." These subreddits focus on various topics, ranging from technology and science to humor, hobbies, and niche interests. Each subreddit operates as its own forum with specific rules, moderators, and cultural norms, fostering unique environments that cater to the specific interests and preferences of its members.

Communities on Reddit are highly dynamic, driven by user engagement through posts and comments. Users can submit links, text posts, images, and videos, which other members can upvote or downvote based on the content's quality, relevance, and interest. The most upvoted content rises to the top, making it more visible to others, while downvoted content becomes less prominent. This democratic voting system allows the community to collectively curate content, ensuring that the most valued contributions are highlighted.

Moderation is a key aspect of how communities function on Reddit. Each subreddit is managed by a team of volunteer moderators who enforce the community's rules and guidelines. These moderators have the authority to remove posts and comments that violate subreddit policies, ban users who repeatedly break the rules, and create sticky posts to provide important information or updates to the community. This self-moderation model helps maintain the quality and relevance of discussions, creating a space that aligns with the community's values and goals.

The difference with Steemit, however, is that moderation is decentralized, relying on the community's collective judgment rather than appointed moderators. Users can flag content they believe violates community standards or is of low quality, which can result in reduced visibility and rewards for the flagged posts. This community-driven approach to moderation empowers users to maintain the platform's quality and integrity.

Interaction and engagement are crucial components of Steemit's communities. Users can comment on posts, engage in discussions, and build networks with other members. The platform also supports initiatives like contests, collaborative projects, and challenges, encouraging users to participate and contribute actively. Additionally, Steemit's built-in wallet allows users to manage their cryptocurrency earnings directly on the platform, providing a seamless experience for those involved in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space.

I'm still on the lookout for the community where I would fit in best, but for now, I need to get back into my usual schedule of posting on Steemit. More importantly, I need to build up some SteemPower to engage regularly.

My Last Post

Hello again to the Steemit Community!

I sincerely hope to make a few more friends around the globe. Please engage in the comment section below. I would love to understand the lay of the land these days.

Happy Steeming!


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Welcome back. Yes, a lot will be different now and perhaps more significant than communities is the way people interact.

There aren’t as many people who “just browse” any more and those that do are generally in possession of one of the steemcurator0x accounts. So don’t expect many comments without putting a lot of effort into searching out the talkers.

I saw you mentioned contests in your other post and yes, they’re everywhere. You can find a link on @steemitblog to their Engagement Challenges which is another type of contest where comments are taken into consideration. Reading between the lines - yes - things got so bad that the only way to get more people commenting were artificial contests generating artificial comments.

If you look at my recent post about where to start as a Newcomer, you might find something that didn’t exist when you were last here.

I looked through your old replies and @crypo.piotr is still around and has his own community - Prohect Hope

Elsewhere, @patjewell is another South African who’s made Steemit her 2nd home.

 29 days ago 

Oh yes! I know our friend, @jacor. In fact after all these years I still follow him. I just couldn't get it over my heart to unfollow the South Africans.

image.png

We met at the Steemit conference we had here in South Africa. (•ิ‿•ิ)

If only we hadn't left! If only...

Hi @patjewell,

It's wonderful to hear from you again and know that you still follow me after all these years! Apologies for the delayed response, but as I mentioned to the @the-gorilla, I first needed to build up my RC Status due to my long absence and low SP.

Those Steemit conferences were truly memorable, and it's great to reconnect with someone who attended. South Africans have a special bond, and I'm glad to see it still holds strong here on Steemit.

If only we hadn't left! But it's never too late to re-engage and bring back that sense of community and camaraderie. I'm looking forward to catching up and contributing to this amazing platform once again.

Thank you for the warm welcome back!

 27 days ago 

Well give me call and I will give you a few tips on where to begin.
Best wishes!

I will give you a call over the weekend thanks a lot

Hi @the-gorilla,

I really appreciate your comment and apologies for the late reply. I first needed to get some power to be able to respond due to my VERY low RC Status. This platform has always been a place for me to meet new people globally with a similar mindset. If you look at my post from yesterday - Hello again to the Steemit Community, you'll see that I've previously put my words into action by arranging Steemit Saturday conferences back in 2016 and 2017. These conferences were amazing, and we even had a few people fly in. Although it cost a lot of money out of our own pockets, it was well worth it. I still regularly communicate with friends I made globally during my previous stint on Steemit.

I can see how the interaction dynamics have changed, and it's helpful to know about the shift towards more structured engagement like contests and challenges. I will definitely check out your recent post about where to start as a Newcomer and look into the @steemitblog Engagement Challenges.

It's great to hear that @crypo.piotr and @patjewell are still active. I'll reach out and reconnect with them. Thank you for the tips and insights!

Looking forward to more discussions and rediscovering this vibrant community.

Happy Steeming!

Whilst this is still somewhere you can make friends, it’s very different now. On the plus sides, you’ve got to do a lot to get a downvote! On the down side though, a large portion of the community spends its time chasing steemcurator votes and rarely explores for new content. So you’ll probably have to search out the commenters, rather than expecting them to come to you. That old culture largely left for Hive but they also took their downvotes with them 🥳

I’m hoping that you’ll be bouncing around and adding some extra character and enthusiasm!

When I get home, I’ll give you a small delegation so you can stop worrying about resource credits. If @patjewell gives you the thumbs up, that’s good enough for me 👍🏼

In sincerely appreciate @the-gorilla. Let's see if we can bring some of the old culture back. I really love Steemit, it is really a pity that all the things happened which did to the platform. That was the only reason I left.

The potential's still there and there's a good foundation to build on - with no egos fighting for supremacy. We just need more people looking beyond themselves.

Delegation Complete 👍

Sincerely appreciate the delegation @the-gorilla. This delegation will make a world of difference in my activity on Steemit.

I have invested considerable personal funds in promoting the platform and successfully organized two Steemit Saturday events in South Africa as mentioned in my first post after all the years here. I aim to revive these events globally. The idea is to host Steemit Saturday events around the world, where we can spread the word about Steemit while enjoying engaging speakers and discussions. However, to make this successful, we must first build the platform's reputation and ensure that community leaders enforce strict policies for fair remuneration of quality posts.

I firmly believe that a platform like Steemit has the potential to surpass others like Medium and Reddit. As I mentioned in my previous post, why would people post on Reddit or Medium when they can share their content on Steemit and get rewarded for their efforts?

We have a long journey ahead to re-establish Steemit's reputation, but as Einstein wisely said, "Worry more about your conscience than your reputation. Your conscience is what you are, your reputation is only what others think of you."

You're welcome. Hopefully I'll find some time to read more of what you share and I also hope that you enjoy the platform as much as you did when you were here last.

 24 days ago 

Welcome back dear friend! It feels good to have you back after 5 years. I have learned how Reddit works from your welcome back post. You really describe it well

You have also described how Steemit communities work and you are right about that.

As one of the community managers who is also from Africa, I am glad to learn from @patjewell that you are from Africa too. This good news to me and others.

I'm still on the lookout for the community where I would fit in best, but for now, I need to get back into my usual schedule of posting on Steemit. More importantly, I need to build up some SteemPower to engage regularly.

You are free to explore! I am waiting to read your articles and engage. I am on the lookout. I will follow you as soon I drop this comment

Hi @ngoenyi, it is great to meet you and thank your for the comment. It is always welcome to meet fellow Africans. Where are you from?

 24 days ago 

I am from Nigeria

Great to meet you @ngoenyi I spent some time in Abuja last year. I really enjoyed the experience ! It wa a very long flight as we need to transfer in Ethipoia, which is an experience in itself!

 23 days ago 

Wow! Really? I wish it was this year, I would have loved to come see you. That was a wonderful experience. When do you plan to visit again?

It really was a great experience.
If all goes well it should be in the next 2-3 months.

 23 days ago 

Please inform me so that I can come for a visit or otherwise, you will come to my own city of residence. It will be great! And that should be by either July or August, right?

It should be yes, I don't want to make promises before all is confirmed. I usually stay at Transcorp, and would love to meet up.

Welcome Back!!!
Thanks for sharing such awesome content
@jacor!
It has been featured in
THIS BLOG SPOTLIGHT POST!

You will receive 10% of the rewards
earned on that curation post.

We have also given you an upvote and a resteem!

steemitbloggers gif 1.gif
An initiative by @jaynie

Please feel free to show your support to this initiative as well as to the authors featured within!

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY!

 28 days ago 

Welcome back @jacor, it nice to have you around again, have a nice day while exploring the new atmosphere around the community

Thank you very much for publishing your post in Steem For Betterlife Community. We encourage you to keep posting your quality content and support each other in the community

comment

DescriptionInformation
Verified User
Plagiarism Free
#steemexclusive
Bot Free
Beneficiary
burnsteem25
Status Club
AI Article✅ Original (Human text!)
I invite you to support @pennsif.witness to grow across the platform through robust communication at all levels and targeted high-yield developments with the available resources.

Click Here

Thanks for the comment @el-nailul. I just added my vote to pensiff.witness.
How do I get the Correct Checkmarks instead if the XXX?
Beneficiary ❌
burnsteem25 ❌
Status Club❌
Ps: I also used to run a witness many moons ago.

 28 days ago (edited)

Hi, thank you for asking:

Beneficiary means you set a certain amount of payout to our charity account: @worlsmile account, our charity has implemented various charity programs across the country and community.

Burnsteem25 means you need to set 25% to null as a form of burning steem 25% of your payout

Club status means: If 50% of your payout is always used to power up your account for a full month then you will be eligible for club5050
If 75% of your payout is always used to power up for 2 consecutive months then you will be eligible for club75, and if 100% of your payout is used to power up for 3 consecutive months then you will be eligible for club100

Of course, those things are not mandatory for anyone, but only an initiative to support charity or the steem ecosystem as a whole.

hope this explanation will give you some general understanding @jacor, steeming on

Thank you for the detailed explanation, @el-nailul. I truly appreciate the insights provided. Each point mentioned seems practical and could indeed enhance the network's value over time, given proper management. Your efforts are commendable and valued. Thank you once again for shedding light on these aspects.

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