While doing my "rounds" this morning and trying to catch up with some of my favorite Steemians, I started noticing something.
I noticed "the absence of."
What Happens to People?
What I noticed wasn't who was in my feed, but who wasn't in my feed, and who it seemed like I had not seen in a long time.
Calendula
Was it just an illusion, or is it the result of different time zones and me not being online during the same hours as before?
Not so much.
As I ran through some 50-odd profiles-- quite a few of which belong to pretty "high profile" people-- I was surprised by how many hadn't been active in a while; weeks, months. I also noticed that a fair number were no longer publishing much actual original content, but were instead dedicating their efforts to running contests and community development.
Which, of course, is a positive thing; the more community building we see around here, the better off we all are.
People Come, People Go... EVERYWHERE
Of course, this sort of "disappearance" thing isn't a Steemit thing. It's a life thing.
Thistle
I have seen the same thing happen on Farcebook and other social media platforms: Someone spends months and years being super active and one day their activity just stops.
And it's not because they died or experienced a tragic event... most likely it's just because they suddenly "changed direction."
Way back in the Way Back, I would see the same thing happen when we were all busy interacting via online message boards, before "social media" had really been invented.
As often as anything, people just get new hobbies and interests. And very often these sudden disappearances also revolve around changes in "relationship status." Which is also perfectly natural.
The Only Constant in Life is CHANGE
California Poppy
Looking at those activities (or lack of) of people I haven't "seen" in a while served as a poignant reminder that life tends to be all about change.
We all change. Lives change; we move; we have breakups and marriages; we change jobs; we retire; we have kids, we have grandkids; our dogs have puppies, our cats have kittens.
We know this... but perhaps what we tend to lose sight of is that everyone is on their own unique "cycle" in life.
For some, starting a new job might mean "barely skipping a beat," for someone else? It could mean they don't "feel like themselves" for six months or more.
There's no "right" or "wrong," we just tend to forget that our schedule isn't everyone else's.
Anyway, here's a shoutout to all of those who are not here as often as they once were! I hope your paths are taking you exactly where you were hoping to go!
How about you? Have you noticed any "favorite people" suddenly disappear without explanation? Or have you ever been one of the "disappeared ones?" What do YOU think happens in people's lives to make them suddenly lose interest in projects? Do you consider yourself more of a "dabbler" or a "stick to it" person in life's opportunities? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- be part of the conversation!
created by @zord189
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Created at 180208 14:45 PDT
I was very active until I went oo a vacation in the last September and then my life changed its direction.
Now I'm preparing to return to my homeland from the US and I'm solving my personal and work problems before would go out.
It's nice to see you online with questions and ideas
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Just this morning I was checking out people who commented on my first posts 19 months ago and most of them have disappeared - around the middle of last year seems to be a popular time to disappear.
I am obsessed with Steemit and look at it every day - and I'm also obsessed with cryto currencies - but it all takes time to keep up with.
People who do a post or more a day usually burn out after a while - I do about one a week, and although I could easily come up with at least one a day, it would wear me out to actually do them all - and commenting is probably more important too but again, it all takes time.
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I remember being all day into late evening and sometimes all night on Twitter in 2016. Really felt so close to people I never met in person from all over the world who were heavily involved in the 2016 primary and afterwards the elections. I helped people to vote and helped connect info and lawyers to voters dealing with election fraud. Many of us agreed that we became AWAKE to how the world, our country, our government, corporations, military really worked. And what it was doing to the world, environment and nations... Heartbreaking. And exhausting. Discovering cryptocurrencies, blockchains, and Steemians gives me hope that we might survive. It is cleaner, clearer, refreshing (for the most part). But the Twitter experience taught me that I don't want to be so intense on a social medium again. I want to enjoy it as a touch, a connection, beyond my little world, but I want to also experience my little world as fully and as present as possible, while I am still alive. That means I don't care if I make much money on Steemit. Whatever happens, happens. It is worth coming on to just read articles like what you write. And I write my occasional article to share my life (like I did this evening). But I do not want to repeat the intense exhausting emotional turmoil that I had with Twitter.
Thank you for your goodness of heart and thank goodness for all those like you here in Steemit...
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Hi, I guess you'll enjoy the challenge I've just started: Where Is This challenge
guess the location and win 0.1 SBD.
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The ever changing paths of life. So true, it happens in the real world as well. We lived next to our neighbours for years, embarrassingly not knowing their names even though we often took them excess eggs and they would bring us food and scraps for the chickens. Then weeks after I finally asked their names, they moved! It turns out they were struggling with the size of the house and garden. It was rather sad to see them go.
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I am not on Steemit long enough, but I have noticed this many times in life. Some people were going out to my favorite disco every Saturday night for years and than suddenly stopped (myself included). Some people were dancing the Argentinian tango almost every day (like I still do) and then just puff - they completely give up. I agree that this is perfectly normal - we are changeable individuals and our life circumstances (including relationships, as you pointed out) are easily changeable too. Sometimes we get disappointed, sometimes we had enough, sometimes we just don't have the time or energy any more. Cheers to your somewhat nostalgic article, I especially liked the shoutout. : )
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My feed has been getting rather dead as late. I always just got to go out and find more!
I have also not been around as much either. Just not in the mood. Along with some IRL stuff going on.
I am however curious on how the spring/summer cycle will affect activity on Steemit. That is when people tend to take vacations, and go outside and enjoy other activates. It starts to get nice warm and wonderful outside no need to be trapped inside next to a keyboard longer then you need to be.
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I believe life can sometimes get in the way, maybe a big change, or real life projects can become more important than online interaction for some people.
I only have been in steemit for like 2 months, and the only big user I saw that stopped his posting was @lexiconical , but he just returned a few days ago btw.
I think sometimes people simply need a break from things, especially if they are time intensive.
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wow excellent pick.
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People come and go. Some of my favorite people are still posting but some of my favorite whales left a long time ago. I think they're probably delegating SP and taking profits that way.
Some of my favorite people are still here though and posting right now and in fact I'm replying to one as I type this.
The world keeps moving forward whether we like it or not and nothing can stop the march of time...... except for the time stopping device that I've been working on but it's a prototype at this point.
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@denmarkguy, I have noticed that life cycles on Steemit mirror life cycles in life. People come and go!
I had a 2-month break from Steemit a while back to focus on offline life needs. And as we grow on Steemit, we learn about new ways to give back and grow the community.
Appreciate this article!
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Hey thanks for the post @denmarkguy. I haven't been here long but I have noticed a few Steemians who were here when I first joined but are no longer here.
I think a few of them just got tired of the 'grind'. And I know one for example got tired of the 'grind' and NEVER getting paid his real value.
This has been a popular topic for many. Seeing this Disparity of payout between comparable content. To many, it gets old
So I think in some cases this is the reason for people "disappearing"
I am sure there are other different reasons as well.
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First off I would like to commend you for all of the quality posts you bring to this community. I have only been on for a short while and so appreciate the steadfast people I've found that continuously produce quality content.
As a newer member I know that since I've been here I constantly have new ideas going through my head as to content I want to share. Finding the time is a another story. I have the times I dedicate to exploring and contributing and then somehow when I am her I get lost in my feed. There is so much great content that I seem to use up all of my time sponging it all up and forego posting anything.
I guess I just need to practice better time management.
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I've only been here a couple of months so I can't speak to longer term coming and going but I have definitely noticed a big drop in the number of posts most people I follow are posting. When I joined in December there were many, many more.
I am still posting every day and, when I feel inspired up to 4 times a day.
I could happily keep that up if my posts were actually being seen and I felt I was receiving a decent return (compared to what I see spammers and meme posters, e.g. getting) but I'm finding it harder and harder not to get totally disillusioned.
Sorry for the moan. That wasn't what you asked. But your post triggered my question to myself of how long I can keep going here.
As you've said before patience is the key. It's just so very hard when you spend all day commenting, replying and writing 4 posts that almost no-one sees.
Hopefully this is just a bad patch I'm going through and soon I'll be able to see a different perspective. 😊
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Yeah my deat friend @denmarkguy. I've also noticed this recent trend on my feed. And consequently, this circumstance made me write a post five days ago, in which among many other things, I also touch tangentially the very same subject you are talking about here.
I suspect you will like to read it. Since if you do it, you probably will discover that the real substance & signals to check in order to know for sure if someone is still breathing and alive around us. It is by reading the comments tab section on their profiles actually visiting them. That way, same like me, you'll find the great pleasure that represents making click on that blissful TAB }:)
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Great question!!
I was one who stopped posting.
I started Steemit in October 2016 and was posting until January 2017. I lost interest. It wasn't anyone or anything that did it, well maybe a bit of bad advice. So I had a hiatus of about 8 months.
I even completely powered down to zero.
It was extremely difficult starting again. I had to reconnect with some people I hadn't spoken to in 8 months. Some weren't interested but a few were, thankfully.
What I found most difficult was starting with a high rep but having no voting slide bar and no voting power. I may as well have been 25 and new.
It was slow going but I am doing okay now and have learned a valuable lesson. I pace myself.
I don't get too upset when someone doesn't visit my post every time I post. I take criticism constructively believing people mean well to help me succeed.
I learn from everyone as this is a community.
When friends disappear and take up friendships with others I am okay with that. Different interests attract different people. This happens here.
When we first start out we cling to anyone who will talk to us and encourage us....then we move on to those who are in the same lane.
The other part is what you touched on - the time zone differences. This can make a huge difference with your followers. I follow a number of people who are 7 hours ahead of me and I don't worry too much about when I vote for them - re curation rewards - ie getting in at the right time. I just enjoy their posts and the interaction I have with them.
So in answer to your question, I think I am a dabbler. I am a consistent dabbler.
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I found your post because you included the hashtag cycles. A cycle that's been in the forefront of my mind constantly in the past few years is the 80 year generational cycle. Every 80 years, like clockwork, there is a massive political shift and until that shift is made the world is abuzz and everyone seems divided. Like myself, people who never really cared about politics in the past are suddenly quite involved. In past centuries open debate was the mechanism that helped bring about the social unity, but our current mainstream media seems hell bent on shutting down debate on any topics except those they want to promote, usually for distraction. I see the rise of social media as a response to lack of a proper debate forum. I've also noticed that social media activity seems to be waning lately and I take that as a positive sign that the world is indeed converging on a new political ideology. As if people have said their peace and are happy with the direction the world is now headed.
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Interesting observations! I too have noticed the same thing from time to time. Two people I used to follow & interact with a ton in my "early ' steemit days just disappeared. I knew them well enough to PM them just to make sure they were okay so I did & they were. As you said various life circumstances can change what you're up to and the time you spend on certain things. My time is basically divided amongst general life stuff (obviously) & here on steemit between my personal account and working on @eastcoaststeem. Good to "see " you @denmarkguy =)
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