Vote Luke Stokes for Witness as lukestokes.mhth!
I've decided to step up my community involvement and personal commitment by setting up a witness node.
Server Specs
- 1gbit/s network
- 200 GB HDD
- 8GB DDR3 ECC RAM
- 4 cores of an Intel Xeon E3
I'm starting off with the basic server recommendation from @someguy123. I'm going with @privex hosting because I like the idea of supporting a fellow Steemian, and I can pay with STEEM or SBD. See their intro post here and check them out for your hosting needs. This node is hosted in Germany.
Depending on the level of support I get, I will also add a seed node. I'll be closely monitoring this initial setup and expand it as needed.
Why lukestokes.mhth?
I want a separate account from my blog for automated activities, such as this witness node. The MHTM stands for More Human Than Human with a nod to Blade Runner.
You can vote for me here:
"Why Should I Vote For You?"
Good question.
- I've been successfully running an online business, FoxyCart.com, with my business partner and team for over 10 years now.
- I've been programming since 1996 with a degree in Computer Science Engineering from UPENN, an Ivy League university.
- I'm passionate about the Steemit community and have been an active member since July of 2016.
- I have a high reputation score (currently 71.2, ranked #62 on SteemWhales), over 1,500 followers, and over 5,400 posts and comments.
You can learn more about me personally from my introduction post.
"What Do You Contribute To Steemit?"
- For over 40 weeks, I've consistently produced the Exchange Transfer Report because I believe in transparency and in understanding how value transfers in the system impact those who are vested in the platform and the price of STEEM and SBD over time.
- I try to be an active communicator. My Steemit blog aims to be thought-provoking (some might say occasionally controversial), encouraging, educational, and interesting. I truly value the excellent relationships and conversations here and will continue to stay even more engaged as a witness.
- As a developer, I aim to be actively involved in evaluating hardfork code change proposals. As a witness, I'll be even more motivated to do so and to actively work with the community of witnesses to maintain reliable consensus.
- I've been actively involved in the economic discussions related to STEEM and SBD since I first joined. As a witness, I'll be even more involved.
- I value non-violent communication to understand myself and others. Witnesses need to be comfortable wth conflict while still working together for consensus and I feel my communication here so far demonstrates my willingness and ability to do that effectively.
- I believe in the long-term value and success of STEEM and Steemit and will continue to promote it and educate others on why this is all so awesome!
Thank you for your consideration. If you have the ear of those with high Steem Power, I would really appreciate you suggesting my witness for their vote.
To vote, visit https://steemit.com/~witnesses and add lukestokes.mhth to the box, click Vote, and use your Active key.
Update: Thank you to those who've already given me you support! I greatly appreciate it. I also put together a more detailed post about the importance of witnesses and why you should vote for them or proxy your vote to others. I hope you find it useful.
You just got my vote @lukestokes :)
Thank you, Charles!
No problem, i know you will be a boss witness :)
Non-violent communication + your latest post about Gridcoin certainly make you someone I'd like to see have more influence in the community. Voting for you and following you from now on.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your support.
Glad to see you onboard and happy to support! :)
Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.
Had to vote for you too @lukestokes
:P
Thanks! :)
I have found your posts to be some of the best and educational ones out there! I have voted for you to be a witness and also set you as my proxy. I actually feel guilty because I removed someone from that position but I just feel like you're a much better candidate and qualified for the job, good luck!
I really appreciate your support. Witness voting can be a tricky, and I understand the feelings there. I try not to take it personally when people move their support around. I'll keep working to earn the support I get. Thank you.
Good luck!
Glad to see ya jumping on the witness train - I feel we need a bunch more and glad to see you being one of em!
Thanks so much, Aaron! I really appreciate your support.
VERY silly question.
I wonder what do we, as users, get for supporting a witness?
I don't think that's silly at all. It's healthy to have a "What's in it for me?" understanding of something since we're all driven by our motivations (intrinsically and extrinsically) whether or not we acknowledge them.
Witnesses need votes in order to perform their job as a witness. The top 19 create new blocks every round while the others are rotated in based on the weight of support they get. We all get to control who holds those important positions. If, for example, someone was running a node which missed blocks or if their actions weren't in the best interests of the community, the users can (and should) remove their support. In essence, by voting for trustworthy witnesses, you get to ensure the Steemit network you enjoy continues running smoothly which protects your investment.
Luke, I didn't want to beat around the bush. Just wanted to ask it bluntly. And I am glad I did. I only voted for one Witness - which was today - and the website said I can vote for 30.
Looks like it's similar to electing a president - we vote for the candidate we believe will do justice to our country, yes?
Except witnesses don't send drones around the world to kill people, so that's a major plus. ;)
I have yet to vote for a witness. I am going to figure out to give you the vote. Good luck, if you could could you explain or point me to a good explanation of what a witness node and what a seed node is. Sorry if it's too noob of a question, I am kinda new here. Following now and I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!
No, that's a great question!
@pfunk put together an excellent guide here explaining what a witness is: https://steemit.com/steemit-guides/@pfunk/a-full-steemit-user-s-guide-to-steem-witnesses
Essentially witnesses create new blocks for the Steemit blockchain and ensure the system continues to run smoothly. They make decisions about future code changes to Steemit as well as parameters which impact the economics and signup fees.
In other blockchain systems, the miners have all the control and sometimes they don't act in the best interests of the users. Also, they can't be voted out of their position of influence. The Steem blockchain is different and uses delegated proof of stake which @dantheman recently explained in this white paper. Witnesses are part of that system and they can only hold that position if the network votes to give them that role.
Thanks for getting back to me. That helps me understand tremendously. I will be voting for you today. Best of luck. Let me know if I can help in any way!!
Awesome. I think you'll enjoy it.
Thanks @bacchist! I've learned a bunch already, and I know I will continue to learn more as I go.
You have my vote for witness. I've seen the humility you bear come through in your language, and I've seen your commitments to quality and a broad sense of value. I've seen that you have a life partner that guides your emotional state along an arrow of order, and that you have a mindset of growth.
Steemit has become a sufficiently complex human affair such that we will see all the best and worst of who we are here. There will be givers and takers, leaders and tyrants, and you seem to me to be a strong example for the side of that fight I want to be on.
It would be nice to think that we can all just join in creativity and mutual social support, and many of us will, but there is always the pull of entropy... always the cost of being haunting us across domains and at all scales.
It is this existential suffering that drives us to become creators, and it is awareness of and and engagement with this transcendental process that makes us great. That awareness is called faith, and you seem to be a man made of that.
My first impressions are pretty good these days, but please tell me if I'm wrong. :D
Take care!
Wow, thank you for such an encouraging message, especially coming from the “worst critic” :)
I do my best to be my own worst critic. It is a handle I choose more than 10 years ago for use on creative writing forums. :)
I have voted for you as my witness @lukestokes