I agree, education is key. This has been a learning experience for us all. We could not know the damage vote-buying posts could do until we experienced it. The larger stake-holders used to take responsibility for this for us and we were very grateful when they explained how vote buying would manipulate the market and make the experience for other bloggers less worth their time. But then this became a bear market and they had a "change of heart". Unfortunately it is now up to the smaller stakeholders - you and I - and those of us who really want steem(it) to succeed, not just for the next 3 months, but to become the next generation social media platform and cryptocurrency.

I see a bright future for STEEM as a gaming currency. That will not be possible as long as votes become the currency.