BEWARE OF DANGERS IN THE SEA OF STEEMIT
Much like the real ocean, steemit can be both a beautiful and dangerous place.
I was hoping to share a word of caution with my fellow steemians, with a focus being on younger minnows and dolphins. I've created a lot of images in my time here on steemit, and as I was looking at some of them this morning, I realized that they could be used to illustrate a story quite effectively, so here it goes.
I simply share this to show one potential outcome of certain activities, and while I am not trying to necessarily influence how other steemians use their freedom here, I did not want anyone to be unaware of this possible outcome. To gain further insight into things like this, you may want to read my post on STEEMICIDE.
DANGER IN THE STEEMIT SEA
The marvelous sea of steemit is an incredible ecosystem. It's made up of minnows, dolphins, and whales. Sometimes, it is important to remember exactly which position you are currently in.
When you first arrive on steemit, you will most likely just be a little baby minnow. The only way to arrive as a baby dolphin or a baby whale is to purchase STEEM to power up immediately upon arrival, which is why so many steemians are just baby minnows when they start.
While minnows may be small and basically powerless, they do have a lot of potential and an incredible ability to grow. Don't let these humble beginnings discourage you, many of us were also once just baby minnows.
Eventually, even minnows will notice certain disturbances in the steemit ecosystem. Battles that began long before their arrival can be found raging in certain parts of the steemit sea, and these can have a potential to draw even the youngest of minnows in.
At this point certain minnows can already have begun to really care about steemit. They can see that certain wars may not be good or the ecosystem and they may even think that they can help restore peace. This is where many minnows must be careful.
Even dolphins may want to be careful at this stage of the game. The power that some whales have is incredible, and that can be a dangerous thing if that power is applied to you in a negative way.
I've seen those rise up in their time in an attempt to fight a whale. While this may seem like a valiant effort, they say that there is a fine line between courage and foolishness.
When provoked, a whale may lash out, which can potentially destroy a smaller steemian. While I am not trying to tell others what to do, please realize that this is a potential outcome.
In the end, minnows and dolphins are simply not equipped to stand alone, toe to toe, against a whale. It is like bringing a knife to a gun fight. When they pull their knife, then they get shot to death.
As sad as this may be, it has happened in times past, and certainly has the potential to happen once again.
At this point, some incredibly caring and talented steemians decide to jump ship and leave our ecosystem altogether. It is heartbreaking to watch, and I've lost some friends in my time here this way.
Others choose to transform themselves from a minnow into a troll. This is even worse for the ecosystem and further pollutes the seas of steemit.
At this point, any potential for "success" on steemit is usually over. It has happened time and time again, and it never gets any easier to see.
PAPA'S POINT
Steemit, like life, is not all fun and games. Not everyone is a friend and not everyone cares about you. Many will even try to exploit you, use you, or rob from you. We are all free to either interact kindly or cruelly. We can make friends, or we can make enemies.
In an ecosystem with very few actual rules, there is a lot of freedom. People will choose to use this freedom in different ways and often differences of opinions will surface. No one can really force someone else to do anything, but attempting to have rational discussion doesn't always work either. Here on steemit, there can be a lot of difficult situations and it seems that no one may even have the answer that we are looking for.
Despite all of the shortcoming of this platform and community, I still think that we all still have an amazing opportunity and that steemit is still the best thing going on online right now. Ultimately, actions have consequences and we may have to suffer depending on what we choose to do. Hopefully, the more positive, encouraging, and honest that we all are, the more that it will inspire others to do the same.
Additionally, please remember that just because you have less power does not mean that you are powerless. I hope that you at least enjoyed the images that I made. Steem on.
Until next time…
Don’t waste your time online, invest it with steemit.com
FOR MORE PAPA-PEPPER CONTENT, CHECK ME OUT ON SOLA
This is incredible and the best advice a steemit noob can get from a wise adult like @papa-pepper.
One thing I noticed and like so much about you sir is the fact that I have not witness you in a fight or abusive troll with another steemian over anything.
A lot is going on in this ecosystem that can send a steemit account with massive potential to early grave.
Wisdom is the principal thing here and very profitable to direct.
Thank you PaPa for sharing this great insight with us all.
And thank you for checking it out and encouraging me.
Good advice for us newbies. Thanks
@papa-pepper you really are an "Encourager"! I haven't been around long enough to notice any wars, but this is something I'll keep in mind. Though based on whatever I've seen of Steemit, I already think it's got less trolls than most social media!
I remember how we first became acquainted, @papa-pepper. I had a somewhat embarrassing run-in with one or two members who were also your friends as it turned out. Over religion. Judaism, I believe (but I hardly understand all the religions in the world that well so I might have that part wrong for all I know). And you mediated. Now, I'm locked in a battle of wits unfortunately with a young American who for some reason hates jews. And I'm trying to help him see the error of his ways, ironically enough. (It didn't start over religion. It started over a damned meme I made and him downvoting it because he had more SP than me. And then I found some very nasty posts he'd made blaming jews for just about everything and it kind of escalated from there.)
I should of course turn the other cheek (I'm probably twice his age), but I can not let a kid think he can push people - me, here - around. I despise bullies. It'd be nice if he left the site or at least went on a long holiday. I did once ask him why he'd flagged me instead of challenging me to a debate on my meme. He just fobbed me off so I had to give up on that approach. It might get worse before it gets better, but what the hell. I'm all out of ideas as to how it can be ended peacefully. So be it, I guess. Sometimes, there's just no alternative to war?
Love your graphics! :D
Edit: I wouldn't dare stand up to a whale! ;) I'd probably run with my tail between my legs - the sensible option, after all.
Some days it never ends, but at least there are those of us who understand that there are better ways! Thanks man!
Thank you for sharing good-text images @ papa-pepper
This information you give, I hope many bring along
so I re-steemed this post
Yep - I have witnessed minnows doing very stupid things.
Ending in their demise, but not accepting the truth.
And then spamming the entire platform, like a child.
Thanks for advising others not to go this route.
I think some dolphins envision that an army of dolphins and minnows can prevail, provided the army is big enough. I've seen the recruitment efforts and understand where they're coming from. On the other hand, my desire to swim far around the disturbance wins out! Loved all the pictures, I laughed at the "goodbye cruel Steemit" one :)
Thanks! I had fun putting this one together.
Sad but true! There are a couple ongoing topics for a while which I tend to stay out for exactly this reason. Flagging and downvoting could really kill my hard work from the last couple of months.
Its not that I dont have an opinion about it, but sometimes you just have to choose your battles and let the big boys fight it out
Yep, choose your battles wisely.
appreciate your words
Dear papa, sorry for writing but something wrong is going on ? 😣 This text inspired me to write a questions. I'm grateful for Your attention.
My Steemit Power has fallen from 10 to 3.5 SBD, my husband's has fallen from 20 to 8.50 SBD. I see 800000 and some signed on Steemit and only around 16000 active users. Please, forgive me I see that new people don't get upvotes from big guys and big guys only vote among each others with FEW VERY PRECIOUS EXCEPTIONS...??? Why SP has fallen so much ?
We are worried about Steemit future...Users need Education to succeed on Steemit as well to invest...?
How can we proceed further in new Steemit wins if we have no chance to advance ?
The value of steam fluctuates with the market, so when the value drops, so to the account values. I'm not sure if this was your question, but it is one that many new or users have.
Thanks for answering me...That part I know...Still I'm very worried for Steemit future. It dropped today even more 🤔
It’s dropping in relation to the value of the US dollar. Ultimately the value will go up because the US dollar is only going to go down long term. Take heart and don’t give up.
That's right! Don't give up!
Thanks for the wise words. I’ll remember this story just like your illustration of owning a business and running into another business and yelling buy from me and running out. You should retell that story too.
That was a good illustration, but I had forgotten about it!