I was torn on what to title this post. So many descriptions that would have been apt. In the end, I settled for the value of community.
Before I begin my reflection on this, I wanted to share a personal triumph that ties into this post. I was able to sort my issues with Binance out, and true to all I’ve read they are in fact allowing US citizens to trade that had accounts preexisting their US ban. My holdings there were what many crypto enthusiasts would consider small, however my enthusiasm was dampened by the fact that despite more than two years on Steem, my entire crypto portfolio is still valued at less than my out of pocket buy ins. Based on current valuations, the 420.00 I spent is currently valued at around 350.00. Comes from buying in as markets were descending, after the last major pump right before I joined Steem.
So, to my news. I still had over 6k Cardano on there that I assumed they had stolen from me as my wallet reflected no balances. Through researching this, it appears they have some sort of toggle switch. Using it, I felt relief as I saw my wallet there still had balance. So, this morning I traded into LTC, transferred it to Ionomy and traded for Hive. Hive is at bargain process right now due to a major dump that occurred coupled with the lack of exchanges allowing it to be traded yet. So I was able to trade into 2084.84 Hive, which I promptly powered up. With the approximately 1300 Hive already powered up, I am closer than I’ve ever been to being a dolphin (if we are still using the fish titles). Yay, my vote is worth more than dust now.
So, what does my great day have to do with the value of the community? It reflects my value on each of you in my communities, and my valuation on this project. Powering up is not only an investment in self, if used properly (not self voting the crap out of your stake) it's an investment in those you interact with.
The success of this forked chain relies upon the members of the communities here. Relies upon people valuing this project enough to view it as worthy of investing into with more than just time. Actually reaching into our own pockets and investing into. One of the impediments to the growth of Steem was there being so many there to make what they could short term from the project. While there were many reasons to look at the top of the power structure and point fingers, if the community members would have demanded more Steem the valuation would never have gotten as low as it had despite the failings of those at the top.
There are some who have come and invested a lot of money into the former chain, heroes that one can see many milkers sucking up to in their bid for crumbs. Several of these heroes have banded together to bring us this fork, betting on the idea that the community was always the true value of what this experiment holds. They have reached into their pockets to make all of this possible, when they could have just rode along with what Justin Sun plans to do with Steem and probably benefitted from being his yes men/women.
The responsibility for this new chain shouldn’t and CAN’T ride solely on the shoulders of a few in the community. It is in all of our best interests if we see this for what it offers to help these trailblazers in securing the trails they are creating for us. Securing and welcoming new trailblazers who hopefully will be coming with Dapps and business models that don’t rely on payouts from the chain to survive. That view what this chain offers as complementary to their visions of success.
Many folks blow money on impulse crap (guilty as charged myself). Maybe this time around enough of us can scale back on that and start properly investing in OUR COMMUNITIES here, proving to the world that we value what is here. Proving to the world through walking our talk as those who have made this possible have and continue to do. The question to ask, is if you aren’t willing to buy and power up Hive, why would anyone in your circle do so?
I’m excited in what the chain offers again, in a way I haven’t been since towards the end of my first year using Steem. We have so much going for us, being talked of by John MacAfee and Vitalik Buterin. Many in the cryptosphere are aghast at the tight control Master Sun has been using on the Steem blockchain, and find themselves sympathetic to the struggle. If ever there was a best time to walk the talk, it is now.
if we as consumers want choices and options we need to support our community. You would think that most Americans would understand this, but still they do not. Wal-mart or some other big store/chain would move in to town, promises made left and right buy those businesses about this and about that, and in the end all of them empty promises. The results, all the independent small stores that you used to shop at, that you could request they carry a product for you, gone, no more, just dust blowing in the wind. It is how I felt about my dust level vote on steem, I was not able to keep the small businesses in business. I was unable to visit and drop a nice comment often enough, so some of them left, did I get more content to view, are my views being restricted, and my content choices made for me? It used to seem that way at times on steem. There was far far to much talk about quality, I never wanted to buy a Rolls Royce, I liked the Ford Pinto hatch back and the Gremlin, They were my quality, but choices for acceptable content were being removed on steem, I hope the same does not happen on hive. There is room for everyone, large and small, and now that my vote is above a dust level also I have hopes of being able to help the content I like thrive on hive.
Congrats all around, what an epic day full of wins! (And yes, we are still using sea life names on Hive 😘)
Thank you. :)
Nailed it bud. As I said in a comment earlier we have a golden opportunity right now. The ninja mined stake is no longer a threat and we can turn this place in whatever we like most.
By default anything can be built on Hive. Literally anything.
All it takes is us, removing all the bad habits and attitudes from Steem. There were tons of flaws on Steem, things were far from perfect and Steemit's stake was just one of those flaws. If we treat this place with respect the only possible outcome will be...success.
Hey, @practicalthought.
That's great that you were able to find your Cardano toggling a switch. :) Even better that after some hoop jumping you were able to get it into HIVE. I don't feel much like a crypto trader, but I'm getting to be quite the crypto hoop jumper. :)
You know I echo your thoughts on all of this. Well said. Those of us in the middle (I think that's where we're at) need to continue to be vocal about keeping the horse in front of the cart. Making our voices heard, and considered. Community first. What works best for all, not just the few.
Doesn't have to be in a socialistic, communistic way. Just in a human way.
Yeah, I hate holding my breath until the transactions go through.