I’m the first one to admit I’m not a great networker. That even though my fourth or fifth post on Steem was about the need to network and build a tribe.
Something I long didn’t need to do anymore until I joined here. Yet, I can not complain about returns, even if my comments sections aren’t the most active.
At the same time ever since April I have been a daily active mod for Steemhunt and also busy in its discord.
I do get “socializing fatigue” which until HF20, and possibly also the race to zero, had fully kicked in kept me away from my feed.
Guilty as charged.
I loathe noise if there’s only little value.
Amidst all drama about what was all wrong on the platform - the typical echo chambers of doom - it was easy to lose interest and focus on only very, very few. Combined with hunting products to Steemhunt, I did lose some followers and I don’t blame them - except maybe for not understanding how things would evolve.
But now, it feels like a throw back to good older days. My feed is rather void of $hitposts, people seem to read and comment again, and the value to noise ratio seems to have improved.
I wonder if when the prizes go up it will be a repeat. History tells us we aren’t necessarily the smartest species so I will brace myself for al. to rinse and repeat come the day...
Until then... I’m rather enjoying all I see again and it definitely helps quiet INTJ me. Even to focus on writing long form again, as I have recently.
That also because it seems that people finally are starting to understand decentralization. And those are topics I love.
The seemingly returned focus is a good and healthy thing. And knowing one is actually occasionally read is a great drive to socialize again too.
Posted using Steeve, an AI-powered Steem interface
I definitely see the value-to-noise ratio improving. Mostly, it feels like a big storm is blowing through... and the value is stickier than the noise. Which makes sense, given that the "quick buck merchants" would leave as soon as their supply starts to dry up.
I reach the point of "socializing fatigue," too (I'm an INFJ) fairly easily, but for me it's very noise-specific. I don't wear out interacting with interesting people about new things I can learn, or with those who have become friends... A recent post of mine ended up with 65 comments; I can't remember the last time that happened, but I see it as positive, even if the rewards were pretty thin.
Can this community come back? Well, I guess my first question points back to yours: "Have we LEARNED anything?"
I'd like to think the maybe 20-25K "sincerely active" accounts that remain would have the ability to find a place of stability, and then each go out and suggest to maybe two or three real people that this is a cool community with some unique features... true grassroots marketing and we slowly rebuild with actual human beings.
But hey, I'm an idealist...
That is a good way to look at it; if every active user on here could just bring in a couple of new ones. That is all me need to get the snowball rolling down the hill again.
Well, "grassroots" tends to be the most successful approach to creating sustainability. Sure, you can attract millions with huge advertising blasts... but what good is that if 99% of them end up inactive within three months? Better to just hand recruit by referral, directly... helps the retention rate.
Yes agree grassroots is better. But do we have time given all the competition coming our way.