I initially came here for some of "da monies" back in March of 2018. Seriously...I was but a noob in the crypto world and heard of a Paradise called Steemit that I could earn crypto at for blogging about my worthless existence. Seemed simple and I honestly just thought that I would promote my business and talk a bit of comic and movie talk once in a while, as I earned some tasty imaginary moolah for my friends and family to ridicule. I never expected to fall in love with the community here. The overall passion that this place spewed when I entered took me by total surprise.
I started looking forward to interacting with nerdy strangers like @modernzorker, @bryan-imhoff, @saywha, & @deadspace. I found myself deep in thought as I read the blogs of @tarazkp. The free writings of @anomadsoul inspired me to take some chances on here. Having then stranger @carlgnash reach out to me and tell me that he enjoyed what I wrote as he urged me to submit for @comedyopenmic. My first @curie and the mega ultra boner that I got when those notifications came rolling in through @blockbrothers app, Steemify. That is still my best performing piece to this day...c'mon @curie ....get your shit together!!! I have published masterpieces since then...uhhhh...anyone remember Shittyfingers?!?
Sorry for the heavy tags in this one...just feeling a bit nostalgic tonight. My point is...that I was feeling it here.
I started opening up a bit more on this platform. Discussing personal issues, triumphs, failures, and more. I discussed in great detail, the loss of my boy Kitano here in September...and it was around this time that I realized just how much more time I was spending on here versus my previous go-to...Facebook. Up until this time, the only social media platform that I was utilizing regularly was Facebook and it was consuming a decent chunk of my time and energy. The other thing I noticed is that I wasn't getting into dumb battles over on this end of the pond. On Facebook, I would be baited into endless debates on friend's & family's blogs. Be it getting sucked into a political debate...something about the treatment of animals, religious views, or just some scuzzy piece of shit event circulating and making the rounds...it had just become a place that didn't bring me much joy. It had become too toxic for my liking.
The hours a week I had spent on Facebook dwindled down as my time spent here grew. It is now to the point where I will check Facebook a few days a week and be on there real briefly. I still conduct some business there and have friends that I only communicate with there as well so it's still a necessity. What made me think of all of this tonight was that I found myself back in the battle again in recent days. I have learned pretty well to just skip over most things. I have some stubborn friends and family that have polar opposite views than me on a wide range of issues. I have been for the most part, ignoring...and I have found myself much happier because of it. But I am flawed and I stupidly jumped right back in the mud again in recent days. Be it the NY Abortion Bill, the Government Shut Down, Nathan Phillips & the Covington Teens, Diversity in Comics, Conspiracy Theorists and Flat Earthers that would make @berniesanders head explode!!!
I found myself doing the same old shit that I was doing these past few years. Getting frustrated with how insane and toxic people there have become. Friends talking insane amounts of shit to each other due to different beliefs has become the norm...at least on my feed, and I have grown oh so tired of it.
So I think I will go silent in that department again. I had a relapse...big deal!!!! It was bound to happen at some point! I will get back to my recent schedule of a brief look every other day or so. I will avoid the tempting pitfalls of juiciness that are just waiting to bait my dumbass back in. I will instead put my "social media time" back into this place a bit more. Keep attempting to kick some major ass here.
I am just 2 months away from a full year here. During that time I have become a respectable dolphin in the community, and have added a nice chunk of SP to my bag as a (hopefully) killer investment tool to utilize in the future. I am spreading my vote out through various communities to help others grow as well. I am posting for the most part, daily here and have grown in the content that you sad sacks are weirdly reading through and commenting on. I am slowly taking notes on my own projects and initiatives that I would love to see given life here. I am about to take a step forward with my attempt at curating a bit with @helpie and that wonderful community. I attended Steemfest Krakow and had one of the best weeks I have had in ages...all with you guys and gals. The memories from that magical week along with the friendships formed, I will carry with me forever.
My point is this...
I simply enjoy this place much more that Facebook. I'm not saying it's perfect. If you have been paying an ounce of attention in recent months, you'll notice that there are plenty of issues and problems that need to be dealt with here but I do believe that some of these issues will be figured out in time. I just know that this place does not make me stressed or angry. I enjoy the real interaction and banter that takes place here. It is due to the wonderful community of like minded folks. People who believe in something. Creative individuals striving to create a new world and eco system that we can all thrive in. So keep on Steemin on folks. I love the idea of growing here together with you all...
Blewitt
Since we don't know eachother that long on Steem, it was very fun to read your background and history of coming here! I recognize a lot of your experience on Facebook too... Although if I see my American friends on Facebook I think they have it a lot harder. I observe a lot of extreme views and unwillingness almost to see anything of 'the other side'.
A Dutch band made this song and video clip and it gives me the chills:
The other side is rarely seen on Facebook. People have their mind made up already...even when presented with facts that contradict their statement. Frustrating!!!
That’s an odd video! Lol but I kinda dig it.
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I remember Shittyfingers... although I may have laughed harder at you sliding through a pile of Polish dogshit...
Seriously, so glad you’re here and here to stay! Steem long ago blew away my FB time, though I continue to hold an account there as a Rolodex of sorts. I’ve even questioned that in recent months.
I’m going to harass you direct soon! It’s high time for another dinner and I want to pick your brain for your wealth of comic convention knowledge!
Definitely brother. I’ll hit you up this week. Actually heading to Pittsburgh in the am for a late Christmas for the wife’s fam.
Nice! Have a safe & fun trip.
Thx brother. Just passed kinda by Philly.
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A wonderfully uplifting post. It touched a couple of points in me, in particular...
You haven't heard then? Bernie's head did, in fact, explode a few years back. He was said to be a genius. The gods only know how impressive his lingering AI Bots have been. Coded to act like the average Facebook user with flagging ability. Lots of flagging ability. It appears he's nailed it.
#facebooksobriety ✌💛
Lol. I remember that tune!!!
Ha. Poor Bern! Yeah. I found myself back in the mix of things. Are you on?
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I honestly think I'd ditch Facebook if it wasn't such a good way for my folks to keep up with how their granddaughter is growing up.
Yeah. It sadly still has a need for me as well for similar reasons.
Good point. It is valuable for those cases.
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I've never quite had the negative view of facebook that some others have. I think it's because I never really thought of it as a blogging platform or really used it for that purpose. I've always used it to keep in touch with family and friends, virtually all of whom have an account there. It's a great way to share pictures, videos, etc. within a relatively closed group. Platforms like Steemit are not as well suited for that type of social networking. Not yet anyway. Wider adoption and a few more features will be necessary for that...
Oh I love the idea of it and still see it’s extremes value. There’s a reason for its success. I just think people have lost class and tact there as of late.
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I know what you mean but my goal with facebook is really as a tool to keep in touch with people since virtually everyone has a facebook account. In my case I have 165 friends on facebook, the vast majority of which are friends, family members, acquaintances or at least people I have met in real life or friends of friends. In that use case I have little opportunity to see the lack of class and tact. I attribute that to my taste in friends ;). These days I don't use facebook to make or read public posts.
That’s great. I’m slowly morphing it into the same. Trying to get away from the nomsense. Well, that and animal videos...lol.
Happy to hear Steem has been so good for you. Ultimately it's about the people and we have a great crowd here. I'm hoping more of those I talk to on FB will come over. We can talk politics here too, but it's just one of many topics.
Keep on having fun
Yeah I’m definitely preferring the crowd here. I love my friends and family but I end up getting so irritated at people there. I feel like the community is more real here. I don’t mind discussing these topics either. Even if I’m disagreeing with someone. That’s ok I w joy that. I just get bothered by how shitty people are in discussions.
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Yeah, the only reason I'm still on Facebook is a) for the groups I'm in, and b) to keep bringing people from there over to here to Steemit :D
I wish I was successful in bringing in folks from Facebook. People are so lazy and uninspired to try something a bit different.
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Facebook is handy for birthdays and keeping up with a few friends and family photos and stuff like that. But that is the only thing I use it for anymore.
I got dragged into a conversation yesterday over a controversial topic in my country and just got so frustrated with the crap I was having to read. I don't mind a difference of opinion but people being shot for having opinions drives me a little crazy. Nobody is allowed to stray a fraction from the politically correct answer anymore and it made me feel like deleting facebook entirely. I might soon but for now I'm just going to start saving some of my old photos and slowly delete a lot of my old content from it. Just keep a shell account to have a link to my older circle of friends.
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Lol.
Yup. I love the birthday feature. Super handy as I’m a mess.
Smart idea regarding FB. I think eventually it might come to that for me as well.
What was the issue you were discussing?
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Totally agree steemit has taken me away from Facebook and instagram for a long time and recently got me back into it a little again haha.. now I’m trying to do both in a different way smaller updates on centralised sm and more in-depth in decentralised
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That’s awesome that you have a plan on how to handle it. I’m just dumb and get sucked back into nonsense once in a while. Lol
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Haha not really a plan but that I feel like I’ve cut off my friends and family so I gotta give them some updates in the media they like haha cos they won’t come to steemit.
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Yup. Same. I’ve tried to drag them and for the most part outside of a couple random friends...everyone stays out there on Fab. So afraid to try something new.
Yeh super frustrating isn’t it?? Although now that they’re not coming over I much like my little private world, my second life.. haha
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Woo, positive feels all over. I never experienced the toxicity on Facebook first hand but I've certainly read some of it. I almost thought you ran into that here, because that's certainly possible too :P
Here, just like in Facebook (I assume), you'll have to pick your battles, so maybe it's only a matter of time until that starts to happen.
Or.... Are people purposely hiding political opinion if it isn't in alignment with stakeholders... That would certainly be a dilemma if so... Because we've certainly seen flag wars over beliefs already. And flags aren't for suppressing opinions. On the other hand, perhaps it isn't about the opinions being suppressed more than lack of ability to have a useful discussion addressing said opinions... Or simply a comment being over-valued, and those happen to coincide. Don't know. Gonna stop rambling now...
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Oh I’ve seen the toxicity here as well. I have luckily yet to be a part of any of that. I know it’ll happen at some point and I hope to just kinda ignore it when/if it arrives.
Lol
Good points raised here. Could see people having some tasty whale support and not wanting to rock the boat although who knows...
Interesting questions though.
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Nerd?
NERD!!!!
By golly, I'll show you nerdy. You thought the last few things I posted about Razor were insane, brother, you ain't even seen nothing yet. I got hypotheses for days about the most inconsequential, tangential stuff ever committed to funny books, and what's more, you're going to read every last one of these screeds and pop boners so hard you'll think your skelet-
User @blewitt has blocked user @modernzorker for full-frontal nerdity. Ban to be rescinded in 9,137,442,021.802 hours.
Lolololol
Did you get that new one that cane out that caused a bit of a stir? White Widow? Even had prism covers!!! Lol
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Much prefer it here too. People actually have a few manners over here. Like it's more civilized.
Absolutely. Facebook has just become so...unpleasant.
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I have been here for 2 years and still haven't got a clue but love Steemit mainly for the community. I check FB for family or the diet pages i have joined. People status's used to make me angry then all the posts about animal abuse, i was spending my time crying. I am always here, i have got to know a few amazing steemers that i would honestly miss it this site went away. Oh and its nice to meet you :)
Most of us are all searching for a clue as well.
I love the rewarding feeling connecting with someone. Not an obligatory “Like”.
Nice to meet you as well @karenb54!!!
Especially a fellow animal lover. I’m there with ya.
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Thank you for replying :)
Anytime! Thanks for reaching out!!!
I never had a Facebook, at least a personal one. I try to be so counter culture sometimes, Facebook is an example of that. I had a MySpace, I realized then what a waste of time social media could become. So I never went down the Facebook rabbit hole. I really liked YouTube in it’s hay day. There’s so much wrong with it today, that kinda led me here.
It’s hard not to get dragged into online debates. I deleted my Twitter for this reason. Luckily I have a friend that’s always takes the other side, wether he believes in it or just wants to dispute what I’m saying. We can argue via text for hours, absolutely no fear of offending him. Which is great cause I never have to self censor. So any
time if I see a news article that “triggers”
me. Instead of fighting with someone in the comment section, I can just text him. As long as it takes to get it out of my system!!! Cause man, sometimes it’s nice to have a good old fashion debate!
I believe the reason you have success here is that you are genuine. In today’s day and age people get a lot of BS shoved in their face, constantly! Reading something genuine is a nice change of pace.
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I’ve met more people recently who have told me they have never jumped in or have 86’d it completely.
What do you have about YouTube now compared to earlier days? I don’t use it much.
I like a good debate. I hate how shitty and scummy people have gotten.
Thanks so much. Super kind of you. Sometimes it’s refreshing to discuss issues here instead of with people who have known me forever. Less judge-mental.
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Now if I can only get my wife off it. She wants to, but giving up things you’re addicted to is hard!!
In a recent wired article YouTube discusses how they are ditching vloggers for old tv stars and other washed up people. Vloggers, ordinary people doing things I liked is the whole reason I would log on. Plus the algorithm used to better, as long as you had watch time and likes you’d be good. Then it factored in how many videos a week and who knows what the algorithm looks for now?🤷♂️ Based off there old ways I had a video that got over 250k views, getting close to a million views for our channel overall. So as a fan and a creator, not liking it at all now!! We are gonna try DTube here soon! How we get a half decent response.🤞
I also like talking to strangers in the net(as you can tell) 😂😂 idk why, but I do!!
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Yeah it’s a hard thing to shake once you’ve been there for some time.
I gotta get on the Dtube routine as well. Not that I do a ton of vids but I need to start supporting it. Lmk when you finally tackle that.
Also...impressive on that 250k!!!
Proud of the 250k!
Yea actually getting excited about DTube!! I was originally gonna just repost my YouTube videos.(being lazy) I decided that we will redo them all just for DTube!! Also my oldest really wants to stream video games, heard they added streaming. Plus they site itself works better than when we first got on steemit.
Even though you might not have a ton of video ideas. It will be cool to see you and your shop “in person”.
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Good analysis on all that is FaceBork.
The main thing I still use it for is the comedy scene. FB's event functionality allows you to spread the word on shows...
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That’s helpful. Absolutely. You a performer??
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Yes. I"m @darrenfj part of assface an improv troupe. Trying to move some of our potential future content over here.
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That would be great! Any of your other folks in your troupe check out Steemit yet???
Not yet. Been trying to convince more Toronto comedy people to come over to Steem. We'll see how it goes..
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still looking for my tag and can't find it...oh well I will just go insult you over on FB now LOL
Just kidding! Glad to have known you and Facebook sucks. I'm not on it a lot for the same reason (especially since Trump election!)
Lololol
Yeah. The election and primaries brought out a lot of ugliness.
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I’ll listen later. Promise.
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