Beneath the Article: the fastest way to learn and connect

I write across many topics but one area I try to touch upon relatively often is an area that I have very little idea about, Steemit. This includes the platform, the UI, the blockchain, Steem, markets, marketing, communities, morals... all things Steemit.

When I write about it, it is not from the position of holding the expertise, it is from position of explorer or suggester as there are so many factors I do not understand, sometimes, when I think that I 'may' understand I pretend that I don't. This is the fastest way for me to learn.

Nearly every time I post something concerning Steemit, there are many people that comment who know more or bring new views I hadn't considered to the table. Some of them are developer orientated, some social, some financial.

I do my best to engage with them all through their comments and provide more details, ask questions or challenge them to bring more to the table. I get to learn even more. And, they get to also.

The concept of 'if you want to learn well, teach it' comes into play and even when someone is explaining something they already understand, positioning it for a layperson means to reformulate it into a much simpler presentation. This deepens their understanding and develops ever better ways to explain it going forward by understanding other's positions and gaps, and justifying their own.

What I notice is that those who know the most across many areas do not limit themselves to talking with me, they peruse other comments and add their voice there also. Not just to teach, but to ask for clarification from others and support them also.

But, the majority of users at Steemit are missing out and wasting opportunities to really understand what is going on because they are only engaging with the article author, in this case me.

After spending a couple hours writing some of my articles, it is very difficult to answer all of the thoughtful replies well. And then the replies to replies and then the repeated questions that have been covered above in other comments. But, for those people who truly are interested, the space is there to have very in depth conversations about any number of things with each other.

There is massive value in holding discussions underneath articles even if the author is not there to comment. The ability to connect with people from diverse perspectives on the same topics an create compounding effects that help develop better understanding. Plus, it is the best way to find interesting people to follow and new followers.

It is in the comments section that ideas can be born and mature, and it is there that relationships are built. Many of my followers are people I have talked with via comments and a fair few of my followed list is too.

Reading and commenting is the fastest way by far to build knowledge and understanding of Steemit and a host of other areas from science and engineering to crypto markets, as in the comments section you are talking with someone, not passively absorbing.

My suggestion is that on every article you read about something you are actually trying to understand, instead of only talking with the author, talk with the commentors. Tag and Drag people into the discussion you already know who may be interested, send them a link if needs be. And if you find decent comments, vote them up and if you see, cut and paste spam and have the voting power, flag them down.

My hope is that through this, those that are truly interested in learning and those who have valuable information to share can find each other as often good information goes unseen as those looking are unable to find it.

Beneath the article is where real connections can happen. Take advantage of it.

Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]