Ahhh. So THIS is the learning curve on Steemit...

Commenter: "Hey, Nice comics work! Welcome to Steemit"

Me (thinking): "Aw! Thanks for taking a moment to welcome a newbie like myself! I'm going to upvote that comment to show my appreciation!"

... huh. What just happened? The little counter next to that person's user name just increased from zero to one cent. What's up with that? Is that, like, actual money..? Did I pay for that? I don't think I paid for that..."

Hmm...

Rinse and repeat a few times. Then...

"Huh. The little counter isn't going up on people's posts by one cent anymore. Does that mean I'm not feeling one penny's worth of thankful? (har har!) -But seriously, did I just spend a limited bunch of "Thumbs Up" coinage which came free with this account or something? Ugh. I really need to explore that long document which explains how this cryptocurrency stuff works... This isn't just a blog site, after all. I knew that going in..! Due Diligence, dude! And what's with those thoroughly alarming money notations next to my posts? Are people giving ME their pennies? Am I 'getting rich quick' in some scheme? That NEVER works! Just WHAT is going on here????"

(Reads and explores and rubs chin and nods to self and makes old bearded man sounds which might be a bit like wise old Gandalf, but not having a beard or the wise old man thing going for me, probably just make me sound silly.)

However I have figured out this much....

I think I was curating improperly. Ugh. Newbie mistakes. Sorry! -I'll spend my coins more wisely in the future. When I build up some more! (But I really do appreciate the kind comments from people!)

All of which brings me to A Nice Illustrative Story:

This reminds me of being a child and trying to work out how "Change" worked in the candy store. -I remember being given a big coin, (one big and shiny silver disk), by somebody much taller than me. I can't recall who. But I was told I could pick out some candy. So I excitedly explored the racks of candy with the other kids and I picked out some gum or something. -I was maybe three or four years old-

I handed the gum up to the shop proprietor and he examined it, and reached for my coin.

I was shocked! I'd just been given that coin! I'd been thrilled with the gift. I didn't want to give it away again! I loved that coin! (This isn't meant to be a heavy handed parable, btw. This shit really happened to me.)

The adults seemed amused, and a lady physically took the coin from my little fist and gave it to the candy store proprietor. On the verge of tears, I watched as he clacked some keys on a big mechanical cash register on the counter and then.., returned both the gum to me.., and a whole BUNCH of other coins! My one coin had turned into gum AND four or five new coins! Whaaaaat???

It was like winning the lottery. (Which I also didn't know about. Being four means knowing very little).

Delighted with my sudden good fortune and fistful of new wealth, I eagerly went and got another piece of candy and repeated the exchange. -I got another handful of coins. Different ones this time! Joy!

The whole thing seemed to operate utterly at random. Finally, after several repetitions of this mysterious process, I was told that it was over. No more coins. My luck had run its course and the ride was finished.

I wandered out with the other kids and their mum, my hands full of candy, feeling both delighted and utterly bewildered -and a little bit frightened by the whole peculiar event.

Today I feel like I am wise in the ways of Money. -I can narrow my eyes and pontificate on the nature of debt and taxes and fiat currencies and such. It would probably sound impressive if I also had a big white beard to go along with it.

But throw me into the blockchain world and, evidently, I'm four years old again.

Psh.

Though, it's good to have an unknown to push against. It's like having a handful of candy and a flutter in my heart which recognizes that something big and weird and wonderful is going on and that if I'm careful, I might not be swallowed up by it. But you never know. The world is a marvelous and terrible place when you're just learning.