This is to let all those who use steemit.chat know that I love you all, but will no longer allow you to harass me with your vote-begging.
Blocking Vote Beggars
Many Steemians have complained time without number that fellow Steemians, especially newbies are engaged in vote begging. Common clauses which they use are
Vote for me and I'll vote for you
Follow me and I'll follow you right back
Let's make a deal. Vote for me and I'll vote for you. Follow me & I'll follow you back.
I blogged about this sometime before hard fork 19.0, that I didn't like this approach of desperation of newbies begging for their posts to be read and curated, but it appears that they wouldn't just listen.
Action Speaks Louder Than Words
There is a idiomatic expression that states
action speaks louder than words
A couple of weeks ago, I decided to consider a new approach which I term - Operation Block Vote Beggars (OBVG).
Don't get it twisted! I am committed to help redfish/newbies grow in the community through @redfishpillar. However, they need to learn how to approach a fellow Steemian, especially those who have higher reputation and stakes, for assistance of any kind. So, I'm tired of writing about vote begging, now I'm acting. My mode of operation is this. If you pin me down in steemit.chat to beg for votes the first time, I will overlook it. The second attempt will make me to do what is in my power- which is to block you temporarily.
Here, I just blocked @zachjohn
Let all newbies take a cue from others who are playing by the rules and know how to go about asking for whatever assistance they need. One way to get recognized is by visiting the blogs of steemians who joined before you , reading their posts from start to finish, understanding it and then leaving constructive comments on their pages. This will go a long way to help you. That is where @nenio is a winner. Although still a redfish working towards becoming a minnow, he comments meaningfully on my blog.
Spam A Blog, Get A Red Flag
Apart from being blocked/muted, I have seen a very new person with reputation 25 flagged down by an older steemian with higher reputation. His reputation reduced to 14. Imagine! The fellow was vote-begging, instead of commenting constructively and so earned a red flag. Personally, I've never flagged anyone down, largely because in my first month in steemit, First, I was a victim of a malicious flag down by @matrixdweller and then a non-malicious flag down by some other Steemians many of whom I don't even know. They flagged me for promoting something I didn't even realize was a scam at that time. Note: Steeemit has zero tolerance to scams and promoters of such. So be very careful not to get a red flag. I tell you the truth, it is not a good experience.
Image source 1,2
Let me know what you think about about this approach to vote-begging. I am open to learn better ways of managing these people.
Follow @maryfavour
THIS POST IS POWERED UP 100%
I think three strikes is two too many, call me harsh, but as an active leader in MSP, I get dozens of pm's a day from people who don't blog, don't comment, don't vote, don't know what the heck is going on, but expect me to answer their demanding DMs, often much more direct than even the ones you listed above and I've just gotten to blocking almost immediately.
If they are even the slightest bit earnest in their approach about asking for help, such as asking me to proofread an article with a thoughtful request beside the link, I stick and talk a bit, but if it's spammy like you said above, gonesville. Without a second thought. We have over 3300 members now in MSP and I get hit a LOT because I'm in discord greeting new members and helping them register for our services and bots. The load on my DMs area is insane already with legit people. Spammers... be gone.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Exactly, if they beg YOU thrice, then who else have they begged three times?
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I agree with you, @deanlogic. The question is very much in line. Probably, they did the same foolish thing to 100's of Steemians before me. So, when they strike me once, I strike back immediately by blocking them. I really appreciate your support. Steem on!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Excellent submission, you've got there, @sircork! You are not harsh in any way. These spammers are the ones who are inconsiderate. I have another post that I'm writing about MSP with link to the new website, minnowsupportproject.org and discord app, https://discord.gg/w29xYaK . The challenge is that these fellows just don't know where to stop. Oh I can just imagine how tough it is for you to greet new members coming into MSP and these same folks hitting you with spammy PMs . Yes, spammers be gone! They'll learn the hard way. I really appreciate your support and very thoughtful comment.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks for the compliments and vote!
About your MSP post! Sweet! Would you do me a kind favor in that post and also mention our brand new live streaming, audience interactive MSP Waves Radio Network? We already have almost a dozen MSP "DJs" (Discord Jockeys lol) signed up and already have half a dozen two hour shows on a variety of topics both steemit and non steemit related, and several more lined up but not yet completed listing their shows on our schedule yet. All the info you need can be found on the web site for the "radio station" at http://mspwaves.com ! Aggroed and I would be grateful as it is one of our proudest new MSP produced offerings and it's going to be a huge hit, based on early announcement post feedback. The shows premiere in the first week of August with the Minnow Mayor show featuring Aggroed, and then we all do our thing in two hour shows, broadcast live on twitch.tv and potentially some other outlets as I continue to expand on the website and media server I spent all last week finally building!
Yeah, I know, shameless plug, but MSP members are very proud of this initiative and we really want to get the word out ASAP!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
A few have asked me to proofread their articles . I was very glad to help them do that. Guess I should give only a warning and after that block them, if they still don't get it.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
That's what I do!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Completely agree with you @maryfavour, i would just say on the second attempt itself you must give them the red card!
There's too many of these nowadays! In the beginning I was just muting them, but now I think I have to go the hard way!
Btw i saw your msg on #africaunited , I'm just a little bit overloaded today!
Cheers!
@progressivechef
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yes, @progressivechef these folks are becoming too many nowadays, because of high influx of new people who just joined steemit. TRegarding muting, I only use that for those whom I consider a threat to my steemit reputation. For instance, I muted @matrixdwellar when he flagged me maliciously and muted another whom I considered a potential threat. Articulating the comments from all of you who have supported me on this issue of vote-begging, my approach will be modified to 2 strikes, get blocked. Don't worry about my message on #africaunited. Being overloaded can be inevitable sometimes, so I understand. Thanks for your wonderful comment and contribution! Keep the steem fire burning.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I agree with @sircork. I think that three strikes is a bit too generous, especially because these messages appear to be very spammy and show a complete lack of self-awareness. I am sure that their content is not good anyway. Some people do not understand that entrepreneurial endeavors take time and energy to get results.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
@hollyjb Sentiments is what made me allow for three strikes. Not any more! I agree with all of you on this. Just like you've rightly stated, the messages are spammy and show complete lack of self-awareness. Check some of their content, you'll find cheetah bot, which I love so much, leaving them a comment and a link to where their ''so called'' original work was copied from. Very true that entrepreneurial endeavors take time and energy to get results. Thanks a lot for your comment, contribution and support. Steem on!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks for reading and the supportive shout out!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
When I read your post, I felt a little relaxed that I've still got THREE lives before I'm murdered (that too temporarily) 😉. But glancing at some of your comments here got me confused about my just earned asset of 3 lives 😇. If you are decided against it then you should update your root post to not to make innocents like me unnecessarily happy about the no. of lives they just acquired by reading this post 😢. It would be an injustice if after promising three chances you don't provide any 👿.
Secondly, I want a little clarity on:
What exactly constitutes a scam for you? Would you consider promoting a ponzy scheme like bitconnect a scam? 😇 😇
Today, I came across a post actually promoting it 🙄. And I haven't heard of bitconnect before 😇. So it wasted half of my day researching about it ...as its name was being taken along with Steemit (implying the same category of trust) 😭. Then I realized it was just a waste of my day and my rare internet bandwidth which I consumed to watch his shitty, bragging video. 😭😭😭
Aside him on that very post were several other commenters promoting their affiliate link to bitconnect website. Do you mean I should have flagged them all?😲 Once I even thought of that but seeing his reputation over 70 I didn't dare to do that. What if he does the same to me? 🤓 😎
Do tell me more about my responsibilities in such a case. Flagging a newbie with lower rep may come to be easy but it's a capitalist economy in play here. The heavy weights or the ones with deep pockets to buy sufficient whale power have more liberty to decide what's right & what's wrong. Who am I here to judge the oldies? 🤔 🐟
🎹 🥁 🎷 🎺 🎸 🎻 I’m trying to use a lot of emojis here to Celebrate the World Emoji Day this week. Are you? 🎊 🎉 🎉 🎉⛄️
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I appreciate all the emoji's too, my friend. They make this page colorful. Happy World Emoji Day in arrears.!!!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thank you so much for your kind words! It made my day. 😊
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
You are welcome, @xyzashu. Cheers.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hello, my friend, xyzashu. Thanks for taking time to read my post. So sorry for the late reply. You raised some very important issues which I need to address. First of all don't worry. I wouldn't murder you temporarily. Lol! Like you rightly suggested, I should update the post to reflect my final decision on this matter, which is to ''murder'' after one life, on second attempt of harassment. Regarding bitconnect. I know the chief promoter of bitconnect and understand that he has very high reputation and stakes in steemit. A scam in my opinion would be a dishonest way to earn money by tricking unsuspecting people. The ''business model'' of ponzi schemes is same. They promise high return on investment (ROI) which is usually unsustainable and take money from new investors to pay the old ones. Literally robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yes, I agree with your definition of scam & ponzi scheme. And perhaps we are quite certain that bitconnect is a ponzi scheme. Yet, I'm perplexed that we don't have any solution is sight to secure this platform from promoters of such schemes.
Secondly, I feel that most of the whale-bots like randowhale or whaleshare are evil-doers here. They can promote and demote any content irrespective of its quality. Thus defying the whole purpose of the platform and the curation work. Correct me, if I'm wrong. I don't even understand the powering up by buying in Steem. That does give some value to the currency but also give an undue weightage to rich to interfere here. This makes the system unfair and slave of capitalist economy. Because of these, I don't feel secure in this system. All my hard work can be dwarfed or washed away in moments if someone wants to do that. Is such an act legit on Steemit? What are the remedies available to a red fish or a plankton for this? @redfishpillar
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I personally just flag any plain spam comment (after checking the user’s history whether he spams it or whether it was just this time). Every single member is responsible for censuring spam, otherwise it will just flourish. There is no way how e.g. @steemcleaners could take care of it all. Steemit adheres the same laws of evolution as any other construct created and used by humans, and as in real world, there is no need to help the parasites, or even spend your time trying to teach them something. They are not here to learn, but to gain. If they are really here for the idea and are just...unexperienced (to put it lightly)...they will learn on their own from the flags (like you have).
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
@fingersik I like the idea of checking the user's history whether he is a regular spammer. Completely agree with you that every single member is responsible for censuring spam, so that it does not flourish. I also agree with you these folks are not here to learn, but to gain, which is where it is most unfortunate. My red flags then taught me a good lesson that I will never forget. Let's join @steemcleaners to clean the dirt of spammers. Thanks a million!!! I really appreciate your view and support. Steem on!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Glad to hear that we are on the same boat:)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I try to avoid flagging but might call someone out if I notice they're going around begging for votes/follows/etc I think just doing something that lets them know it's lame is enough to deter a lot of people from continuing down that path
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
@alphacore Yes, it's good to to let folks realize that what they are doing is not good to deter them from continuing down the path, otherwise they'll never learn.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I think you are right. We newbies need to take a chill pill. I know you just 5 days ago and your two kind actions to upvote my post and comment have really helped me. I believe that if we dish out good contents, no matter how little our reputations are, people will upvote them if they find it interesting.
From me, it is no worries because my determination to succeed and posting quality articles will help. Much love!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Hello, @smyle. I like the clause ''we newbies need to take a chill pill''. Wow! I'm so happy that my little upvote and comment helped you. My commitment is to help everyone in the best way that I can, especially newbies/redfish. Yes, I absolutely agree with you on your take that if you dish out good contents, the much needed upvotes will come. I like your determination to succeed. It will definitely pay off. Steem on, dear!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
❤️
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I'm with you. When people spam me in steemit.chat, I tell them that I'll start flagging their posts if they spam me again. So far I haven't had to flag anyone.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Very good post, it is important for newbies to know the steemit etiquette.
Thank you for mentioning me, and your support.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I agree. I'm only a minnow myself, but vote-begging and "follow me back!" spamming bugged me from the beginning. Among other things, it's undignified! And it wastes people's time. BTW, I found you on Steemit because I started watching your Youtube videos and found them informative.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Congratulations! This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by maryfavor from the Minnow Support Project. It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, theprophet0, and someguy123. The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows and creating a social network. Please find us in the Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel. It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.
If you like what we're doing please upvote this comment so we can continue to build the community account that's supporting all members.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit