Back To Positive Rep Score, Now What?

While everyone was trying to fight off the crypto bears, I had a different challenge of my own.

A New Hope

Many who know me will have seen the events unfold, but I thought I would take the time to summarise my thoughts and give my thanks to everyone that gave me lots of support and motivation to continue.

I joined the steem blockchain with all the hope and enthusiasm you would expect. As a regular social media user with some accounts that have over 5,000 followers, the chance to monetise on a crypto based platform just sounded ideal.

If I am honest, I have to admit there were times where I just wanted to power down and walk away. But where would I go? This has been one of the most interesting social platforms I have ever used. Nowhere else has money and social media been combined in this way. Others are now trying and maybe steem will lose it's lead. Maybe steem will become the friendster, the myspace of crypto social media.

We have to be honest with ourselves and not only see what we want, but also what is possible and what is probable.

I don't think steem has lost it's opportunity to lead this revolution, but the jury is still out and the recent announcements from @ned were troubling for many reasons. But it seems the bear market has provided some time for reflection and maybe... just maybe @steemit inc will listen and engage more with it's community.

The Old World Strikes Back

There was me thinking I had left the world of elitism and selfishness behind and found a place where smart people came to discuss interesting content and provide rewards for their work. Instead, I saw the same greed I thought we were trying to get away from. The old empire was alive and well.

Not soon after joining the steem blockchain, I came across one account that was getting huge rewards. As I had read the whitepaper and felt I understood how proof of brain consensus worked, I didn't agree with these large rewards for mediocre content, so I flagged the posts.

Little did I know what drama would unfold after my small downvote. There was a barrage of retaliatory flags and my reputation was pushed down to -5. I stuck at it and eventually got back up to a good positive score.

Then the same author started upvoting their own comments to above a $100, I felt I needed to do something, so I did the thing that I thought this whole blockchain was about, I used my steem power to show my disapproval of the rewards by flagging the author.

This time the flags came in faster and larger. Before I knew it, I was pushed down to -12 (or it might have been lower).

Return Of The Steemians

It was in these moments, I learnt the true character of a lot of people. It's easy to say what you believe, but only those who really mean it, act on it. I was lucky enough to be added to @fulltimegeek's blessed list and he upvoted a number of my comments and posts to help me get out of the negative zone so I could be visible again. The whole stewards of gondor seem to be a great group and @lyndsaybowes was one of the first to run to my aid. Thank you

Regardless of what others say, I know who took action to help.

I also made some great friends who supported me as much as they could. There are too many to name and I am worried if I started, I am bound to miss someone off the list! You all know who you are and if you need anything, give me a shout and I will do what I can to help.

In these times I came across @meno and I even got to ask a question to @therealwolf about abusive whales on his show. As much as I disapprove of vote buying, I eventually saw their utility and purchased some large votes to get my reputation score back into the positive zone. The @smartsteem platform was slick and professional.

I tried to see what the witnesses could do, there was only one that actually had a conversation with me, @themarkymark, which was reassuring. I know who I would prefer to see in the top 20 witness list.

It was great to come across people who saw the real potential of the steem blockchain. Not just as way to make ROI or earn quick money, they realised the value of human connections. The steemian network is strong and deep down, I believe it will survive. Whether it will be on the steem blockchain as it is now, I am not sure. I think @exyle is right, it is either going to flatline or go to the moon.

What's Next?

I am not sure exactly, but I have a few plans I am working on. @upvoteplankton may get some more attention, or I may focus more on helping the projects I already delegate to, like @steemitbd, @steemclub-uk, @steemflagrewards or @share2steem.

I may even get back on to @dtube, I love the positive energy @nathanmars brings to that platform. Or maybe I will just spend all my time playing @steemmonsters!

What do you all think? What is the best way to help the steem blockchain going forward?

Whichever options I choose, I am reasonably sure you will see a lot more of me in 2019

@kabir88