Got up this morning, put the kettle on, made coffee, turn on the PC, and got steeming.
Checked my wallet, hmmmm a trickle, checked another wallet, OK that's better, dived into the SteemIt feed...ahhhh...that looks interesting!
Read a post from @shaka he planted on @dpoll today: What keeps you from using your daily free downvotes?
In case you missed that one, here's the link: https://steemit.com/dpoll/@shaka/what-keeps-you-from-using-your-daily-free-downvotes
Wow, what a great response that post has drawn. Comments for and against, valid reasons every one of them. Thank you Shaka for stirring up commentary on one of the most ticklish issues we have here on SteemIt. With Steemfest fast approaching as well, perhaps some discussion at that forum will bed-in a consensus going forward on downvoting.
Sadly, I cannot attend this conference for many reasons. I would love to go, I just have real-life commitments. So fellow steemians, if you are attending @Steemfest in Thailand, please do share.
My comment to Shaka:
"Hi Shaka, an interesting concept, thanks for asking this curly question!
If people go out of their way to take the time to write a blog and post that, or they comment on another blog, we downvote? I upvote regardless of a person's stature here on Steem.
There is already too much negativity in the world. I like to remain positive and I hope by at least not downvoting, I remain neutral. I hope readers will see my upvote as a way of rewarding engagement.
When you paddle out to surf, and get ready to jump on to the best wave, then someone says "my wave get off", time to sell your board and walk away. Do we really want that disengagement here, on Steem?
Maybe we need a new Steem tribe: depressme!"
The reason I am writing this post is simply because I needed more space to explain my message.
My internet marketing journey began in social media, back in May '09. I am still passionate about engaging on social media platforms; I have joined dozens over the years. That passion lead me to ClickTrackProfit, and from there to here.
Steem: where social media meets cryptocurrency.
Sounds like an anthem, a call to action. Yet, social media demands etiquette, a customary code of polite behaviour.
Here on Steem, you have the right to decide how to cast your vote: upvote, downvote, or novote. From Amazon.com: "NOVOTE is committed to providing each customer with the highest standard of customer service." Hey, how about that, someone's made a business out of no action! Wow, they must be rich!
Guess that means we now only have two choices: up or down. If you read a post on SteemIt, then please decide, and cast your vote.
Remember, you have rights here, we all do. Let's respect those rights and allow steemians to live with their own decisions.
A great man once wrote a song about rights. He got up and stood up for his own beliefs. You may or may not share those beliefs. Just respect his rights, and ours too.
Perhaps the time has come for all steemians to embrace an anthem, our own call to action. How about this:
Get up stand up, stand up for your rights...
Ian Ballantine
Wellington, New Zealand
October 18, 2019.
Playlist:
Cook Islands traditional tivaevae, 'onu or sea turtle, on display at Cannons Creek, Porirua, New Zealand in December 2018.
If you swim with sharks, make sure you have a hard shell.