They've also been lucky to be here early and figure out the ways to get to a lot of stake but giving back is something that seems ridiculous to them - on a platform that literally incentivizes you for rewarding others. Am I the only one that finds this behavior shocking?
You're not the only one. It's one of the first things I noticed here on steem 20 months ago when I joined, and I have noticed less of this behaviour recently on my timeline. Whether that's because I've unfollowed those people I noticed gaming the system back then, or that they've left because of the price drop, I'm not too sure. I'd like to think it's the latter, and that I see more genuine rewarding of people creating value from early adopters, simply because the takers have taken and pissed off with what they've taken. Ha ha, as you can tell by the way I express myself it is something that frustrated me hugely in the first year I was on steem. I think that people investing now are generally more progressive in their ethos and ethics. I see many people I know who have proven that they have integrity buying themselves up to dolphin status at the moment. This can only be a good thing imo.
Someone once told me that get your own finance in order before you start being altruistic with strangers on a blockchain.
They might be right. But the first thing I did when I saw that other people were behaving in selfish, self serving ways was to remove myself from viewing it and go and help someone who really needed it. I write about that on the post that I wrote for steem anniversary. Back in the market peak, even a group of minnows could help someone in Venezuela live in less poverty. I feel privileged to have done that. Not because it made me feel better about myself, but because I'd made a connection with this person over a mutual hobby, but also because it felt like my only option to balance the scales against the self serving behaviour I'd previously observed.
Ha ha, I've gone on a rant. I tend to do that sometimes. You asked a question.
if I were to help grow your influence on Steem through voting or delegation, what would you focus on doing with it in the future?
Just the same as I did back then and still do now. Find people to interact with (support) based on mutual interest (like the content they write, or mutual hobbies etc), but also people like the friend from Venezuela who will see real impact from that support. I help support someone now nearly every day who uses steem to help pay for life saving medication. I would also use any influence for promoting steem in various ways, which is something I do a lot more of these days.
The thing about steem for an average minnow, is that it's a hustle. I've learned that the last 8 months. And that hustle can drive people to abandon principles one after another. So my behaviour on steem isn't the best for getting maximum rewards, but it brings me quality of life and ease of mind. It makes me happy and I build meaningful relationships.
That's something all those takers will never have. However, they might be reading this on a yacht somewhere laughing their heads off at me 🤣😂