hey @paulag,

i have stumbled onto this post through a few of your post.
You have really got some good stats up there
and i have to agree with you that upvoting is not really the same as commenting. I do in a sence appreciate the replies more then the upvotes since that creates interaction and validation.

(even though the financial validation from upvotes also matters but on a different emotional level)

I have been on steem a little over a week and have noticed my post going up in value slowly and seem to be getting more responses as well.

the only frustrating thing in a sense is when you get an article on a serious topic that you have spent a lot of time on and some thought get no returns what so ever
https://steemit.com/news/@felander/nagasaki-day-a-day-to-comtemplate-the-nuclear-lessons-with-north-korean-threats-in-mind
and a picture of my octopus tapa gets 6 Steem Dollars
https://steemit.com/food/@felander/pulpo-tapas-tintenfish

it tends to discourage and just want to post pictures of food, lol

still i will keep trying to bring own opinion pieces while posting nice pictures as well

STEEM ON