The other day @snook wrote a post with some questions she answered about her time on the blockchain and wanted some others, like me, to answer. These are my responses.
How long have you been on the Blockchain?
I joined Steem on August 5, 2016. So just over five years ago.
What was your background in Cryptocurrency when you first came to the blockchain?
I had read some where about Mt Gox being hacked and millions of dollars in bitcoin being lost. Had no idea what bitcoin was or why it had value. Or even why anyone would exchange it and for what.
What was your background in writing when you first came to the blockchain?
Now writing I knew something about when I came to the blockchain. I had over the years done some writing. Even had some articles published in some magazines and a national newspaper.
I don’t remember what I was searching for when I saw someone mention Steemit and I clicked a link that brought me to steemit.com. It was a point in my life some changes had taken place and I was starting to form the idea what writing was going to define my future.
I’d spent a few years doing things that other people defined I’d be good at. In part because some thought that the idea of me writing for a living was ‘pie in the sky’. I’d decided that what I did with my life was going to be my choice going forward. It wouldn’t matter if my choices made me money or not, they were mine to make.
When I landed on Steem and started looking around I had no idea if the value being shown on posts was real or not. What got my attention was I could write and post whatever I wanted. It became my first step at making my own choices.
How many people did you know when you first came to the Blockchain?
On the blockchain? Absolutely no one. I had no idea where anyone was even from.
How did you meet people when you first came to the Blockchain?
You might say I did a lot of ‘lurking’, when I first arrived. (OH wait, I still do). I tend to read posts and when someone gets my attention I’ll go and read through some of their posts to get a sense of what they write about.
I think I’m a bit better about commenting on posts than I was. Back then, I hardly ever commented on a post. I don’t comment a lot now and have a tendency to be brief when I do, but I have found I’ll hit reply more than I would have back then.
What really started to expand my connections was when I found @frystikken’s chatroom. It wasn’t on Discord. He had a chat server setup on another platform. He was one of the first to shift to Discord though. I met @whatsup when she joined the first room. There were other regulars in that room as well. Not sure how many of them are still active.
Who did you look up to when you first came to the blockchain?
Can’t say that I really looked up to anyone. Over time I became aware of people who seemed to be having some success building a following like @papa-pepper. Like now it was easy to find the people who were doing the tech stuff on the chain, just look at Trending.
The first person I really became aware of on the chain was @berniesanders when he upvoted my first post substantially. That was when I first went, oh, maybe in time this is something that could build. If this stuff actually is worth what it says.
I did a lot of reading and moving from post to post as other people got mentioned. I really was mostly in the wilderness until I found the chat rooms. Then I started to get to know people and learn more about the platform I’d stumbled onto.
How would you describe your first three months on the blockchain?
I think wandering the wilderness covers that rather aptly. I was doing some writing and posting but really didn’t have a sense of what else to do.
When I decided to put all that reading to work by writing about my favourite posts each day and started the Steemit Ramble series, that is when I developed a direction. I wasn’t able to give much of an upvote but I could at least get some more eyes on some of the writers. I had commented on @dreemsteem in one of my early Rambles.
Has being a part of the blockchain changed you in any way for the good?
I’ve grown a lot more confident with my writing. I’ve also been more willing to try new things like, well, doing voice chats, using OBS, doing some livestream. If you’d told me I’d be doing live shows of any kind before I came here, I’d have laughed and laughed and laughed.
I think that learning as much as I have in the last five years has made me more willing to grow my skills doing the book publishing and creating the colouring books.
What is your favorite memory from your time on the blockchain?
Damn.. So many of them. I have to say the online parties, like the one @snook put together for my birthday and another we did for New Years Eve .. Those were a lot fun. I really love that so many people are able to come together from around the world and be a community together on the blockchain and on Discord.
If you could give advice to a new person signing up to Hive what would it be?
Add Discord to your system immediately. There are so many ways of getting help and guidance. DON’T ever consider buying a course that promises to help you make money on Hive. That will only make the seller money.
I will gladly give anyone a hand getting started. I know a lot of others will as well. It’s a lot easier to get started and established now than it was 5 years ago. Don’t be afraid to ask.
Don’t spam, scam or plagiarize. I can move from helping to ticked if you do that and keep on doing it even after being advised on it. There are lots of way to earn on Hive, do it legitimately.
I'd love to hear @whatsup's response to these questions.
NOTE: header image from Pixabay.com / all others are mine
Shadowspub is a writer from Ontario, Canada. She writes on a variety of subjects as she pursues her passion for learning. She also writes on other platforms and enjoys creating books you use like journals, notebooks, coloring books etc.
She created Prompt A Day to share with others. You can subscribe to Prompt A Day to get started. You choose between the Daily Edition or the Mon/Thurs Edition
Interesting! Wait, an online party for your birthday? How did I miss that? 😪
I enjoyed reading your post and agree that the blockchain is a positive life changer! If I leave this page with nothing else, I'm glad I saw this—
This is a quotable quote and inspiring! 🙂
Thank you Kemmy, the online party was in 2018. It was a milestone party. You know they kind that end in a five or a zero. If you go to @snook's post you'll see a video she assembled as a gift.
She did two things there... one asked me to record a couple of minutes (she started out longer) clip about community but didn't tell me the song was being added. Listen to the wording. I was really touched by the work so many did.
Then she asked me if I'd come on for a few minutes with her that evening in discord. Her 'few minutes' became a few hours but we all had fun and it was a great way to spend a birthday with caring people.
@bluefinstudios kept us supplied with cocktails and appetizers
Ohhh, a milestone party. I'm glad you went all out with the party. Ms Snook did great. I'll go look for the video. Such celebrations are meaningful and memorable when surrounded by loved ones.
Yum, cocktails and appetizers! I know @bluefinstudios would not disappoint! 😄
I love this post.
It shows how you can grow here and in life just from what we all learn by being here. There is so much more to Hive than what anyone realizes.
Thank You for making your post. I might have a few tears in my eyes.
I also would LOVE to see @whatsup's answers to the questions :D
dust floating around the house or allergies?
dust, I am sure it is dust......
probably
Very firm Handshake
Interesting... When I saw the challenge, there was no question for
What was your background in writing when you first came to the blockchain?
I copy/pasted the list of questions at the end of Snook's post and used that. It's #3. Where did you take the questions from?
i found my mistake. Seems when I copied /pasted, and then edited to add my answers, I deleted #3
You are right dear when we start work on blockchain and no one comes to support it.
You present so well and I enjoyed your article.
God bless you dear @shadowspub
thank you @ykdesign .. efforts are being made to find newbies but it has to be a two way street. New people need to visit posts and leave comments like you do. And, of course, join Discord and the communities there. Would love to see you join us at PYPT some Thursday.
Hey @shadowspub, sorry to jump in off-topic.
Do you mind reviewing and supporting the Hive Authentication Services proposal? That would be much appreciated.
Your feedback about the project is welcome too.
Thank you.
I just went and had a look at it @arcange . I heard your presentation at Hivefest and remembering wondering why I would use HAS when Keychain works great. But now that I've read your information on the proposal, I see that it's not INSTEAD of Keychain but ALONGSIDE it, making a more seamless process. I gave it my support.
You got it! Thank you for your support, really appreciate it! 👍
I always love reading posts like this - even though i've known you for SO FREAKING LONG hahahahaha - it's like I get to go back in time and see it with new eyes again!!!
and yes - hahahaha i think you wrote on one of my very first posts! maybe my first??? i can't remember if that post was my first but it was in the first week hahahahaha
gotta agree with everything you said above - but that shouldn't surprise you cuz GMTA hehehe
I remembered you finding it after we'd known each other for a while. It was cool the way paths crossed ... some paths are meant to keep crossing.
Yeah!!!!! When I went back I was like...oh my gosh!!! Shadows wrote on this!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂