Why I Gave The Free Money ($26.087) From a Featured Author Post Back
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Alternate title: "A Funny Thing Happened This Morning - Or How I Was Paid $26.087 SD from an Author who was Featured on Someone Else's Blog"
I wrote a couple of posts yesterday expressing my concerns over the "Featured Author" trend and whether or not SteemIt.com was turning into some kind of "Federated Media" platform.
I was suprised to look in my wallet this morning and see a payment for 26.087 SBD from @poteshnik83. I checked it out and it looked like someone had linked to a previous post of mine from an article and then was nice enough to send me some SBD. So I thought, yay!
This was the shout out I was given in the article, and I do appreciate that.
1/5 of Steem Dollars For great post written by @nonlinearone Please rate the message. https://steemit.com/steemit/@nonlinearone/power-up-steemit-make-the-power-up-pledge-poweruppledge
So, I left a comment saying thanks.
Then ... I realized that the article I was replying to was written by @poteshnik83 but was posted on @dragonslayer109's blog! I didn't realize this at first. I was confused enough that I thanked @dragonslayer109 instead of @poteshnik83.
Here's a screenshot of my replies to the post
When I realized that the Steem Dollars originated from a Featured Author post ... I decided I couldn't keep them. Please don't get me wrong - not trying to be a jerk here. But ... well I just went out on a limb yesterday and said I don't really think the "Featured Author" thing is a good direction for the future of SteemIt.com This is an independent publisher platform (if you read between the lines, or the comments on those posts, that's what I was getting at). People should be able to publish under their own name and be successful through upvotes.
I have no problem with someone recommending posts however - so that part I'm fine with.
So, I was confused as heck on what to do! On the one hand I think it's admirable that they sent me some SBD because they linked to my article. On the other hand - the money really came from @poteshnik83's work which (in my opinion) should be posted at https://www.steemit.com/@poteshnik83
Perhaps I'll end up on the "wrong side" of history on this, but I can't shake the idea that having to put your content under someone else's name on this platform is just wrong. People should be able to publish their posts on their own account instead of having to "sell out" to someone else.
I think the current incentive structure has caused this "hack" to be perhaps necessary, but I don't think it's good and should be fixed through changes to the Steem source code. Perhaps by changing the payout back to 50% curation and 50% author rewards (as it was in the White Paper) instead of 25% curation and 75% author (change made on July 4th). I know that sounds backwards but think about it... it rewards good curation more which might mean less featured authors and more independent authors. If the change to 50/50 was supposed to help minnows and fish - it isn't working. They're becoming featured authors now and have to put their content on someone else's blog.
Peace out.
~Dr. Bryan~
p.s. Maybe I'm wrong on this so please share your thoughts. Thanks.
p.p.s. @dragonslayer109 and @poteshnik83 please don't be offended. I just have strong feelings about this issue.
Check out my other articles @nonlinearone
I agree. It's ok to highlight a post and quote some of it and link it. However I don't like posting entire articles under someone else's name. Good intentions but it dilutes the blog and the platform.
It might be a good idea to post the beginning under the promoting author then a "read the rest at [orginal author link]"
This is what most other sites do.
Agreed @dennygalindo. Adding to the irony of this situation, I actually did something like this yesterday/today https://steemit.com/recommended/@nonlinearone/recommended-post
I have done it too but I don't think I was quoting enough. It's good to strike the right balance.
You the man Dr. Bryan!
Thanks @klye
First off, I can highly respect giving back the SD on a principle, regardless of my own stance. I honestly think things that choose non-monetary gains need to be highlighted more often on here.
Personally, I am a fan of featured author posts that are being made currently, especially with the flood of posts and authors being mixed with current search limitations (like a multi-tag query or a tag filter in the feed.) I do however, expect to see the need for things like this to hit a peak (while more people are doing this) and then fall (as enhanced search developments are implemented.)
Personally I see the featured posts as being mutually beneficial. Those that have a bit more of an established following and get the SP (usually dispersing the SD to those featured) from the post, and the featured authors ideally get enhanced exposure (and usually the SD.) I do see your side of things and can respect that, I think this is just where we differ. I would probably change my views if these featured posts were being done by huge whales or companies, but right now most I see are from minnows or dolphins that I am happy to give the benefit of the doubt of having good intentions for all.
The other side of this is for some, the exposure of their message is their primary concern, so SD or not they find a great benefit being able to establish a bit more of their own 'network.'
Being the optimist, I'll admit I give the benefit of the doubt until shown/forced to think otherwise. But I do see the potential pitfalls that you highlighted.
Anyhoo, just my take :)
Thanks. I'm thinking long term. I think, in the long term, if you write the best post you have ever written, and the original place it was posted is someone else's blog you wont be so happy about that. I think the dolphins could get the same benefit by posting an intro to the author, an intro to the article and a link. It will still get upvoted a lot because of their followers. However, more people wil click and follow the author, and upvote their article and follow them. This means their reputation and followers increases. Also, @theoretical and others are already discussing the possibility of SD and SP rewards (maybe) continuing for longer than 24 hours or 31 days ... possibly for much longer. Now, lets say your featured article doesn't make much now, but in a month or two it is making more and more because people are telling their friends, it is getting found in Google, etc. What happens then? The deal probably was that you would be paid on that nice SD earned in the first 24 hours. Well, maybe the article made 1k and you are happy at first. Then, over the course of the next year it earns another 500, then 250, etc (though it would not necessarily go down). Now, you have missed out on that and also on the google traffic hitting your blog. It is not a good thing if you are thinking long term. Own your content.
And I can follow and agree with that.
It's very different when an entire article is featured versus a brief intro/teaser with the link so the traffic still gets to your full content.
that's right. it's the long game...
As already mentioned, I have mixed feelings about this. In a way, the "featured author" system looks like the real world, where . as a junior you need support from senior people if you want a fast track to success. If you go through this and build your reputation, then eventually you no longer need mentoring.
The advantage of a blockchain-based system with respect to deals in the real world is TRANSPARENCY. ..deals are visible to anybody, and the community can express opinions, etc.
Real-world stuff plus transparency looks good to me, overall. Just imagine for one second that politicians had to write all their formerly secret deals on a blockchain. ..we would live in a much better world, probably :)
I think we have a chance to do better here. To empower the individual author instead of disempowering them yet again.
I wouldn't have done what you did but massive respect for taking a stand for what you believe in here!
Great article as always, Dr. Bryan!
I'm also concerned with the featured article thing creating a sort of federated media environment, and with the rise of any hierarchies in general.
Keep it steemy, @nonlinearone :)
The more you give the more you receive. You'll make up the difference.
Thank you for the sincerity and firmness of your convictions. I appreciate them and express to you my respect. My project ESTEEM just created in order to draw people's attention to the issues of responsibility and awareness. So I fully recognize your right to return the prize money. And I'm not offended. On the contrary. This proves that by choosing you, I have not made a mistake. Presentation of project by @dragonslayer109 was chosen by me in order to talk about the project for a wide range of people. In addition, he is a good guy and in my opinion makes valuable things. Now my project will only go under my name and I hope you will not refuse to accept the following award from me personally, if it will awarded to you. Please keep continue the power of your spirit. We all need it! Good luck!
Thanks @poteshnik83. I can tell, especially from the content of your recent post, that you also care about how this platform develops. I'm following you now and look forward to reading your future articles.
They changed original solution because they saw that top accounts are making most of the curation rewards anyways. Here are 3 links that I found but they should be posted to your yesterday's blog. Sorry about that:
https://steemit.com/steemit/@steemitblog/overhaul-of-curation-rewards
https://steemit.com/steem/@steemitblog/latest-curation-reward-solution
https://steemit.com/steem/@dantheman/proposed-changes-curation-rewards
Thanks @leksimus. Maybe that change had nothing to do with this trend... maybe this was an unintended consequence or totally unrelated. It just seems like it could be related.