Ok so most people that have been around here for a minute are down with the "reward pool rape" phrase. It's tired and overused so think we agree on that.
Reward pool abuse, on the other hand, is a real thing and many people mask their behavior using them, good, bad or any shade in between using alt accounts. Often it's not difficult to follow the trail of breadcrumbs to the user and other times it's a chore. One of which many are willing to undertake.
Not too fond of your use of the word virtual cop as you seem to be using it with a negative connotation.
Would I fall into that category or would you take a look at my work and give me an 'atta boy'? I ask you this in all earnestness.
If you don't have the time, I worked using Python to help coordinate a sizable dent being put into two abuse networks. One using ripped off memes and one using random pics and quotes. Common thread was bid bots and numerous accounts. I hope you are savvy enough to understand why that's not good for honest hardworking users on the platform.
Something you said really jumped out to me.
the code allows it, I paid for it,
Reminds me of back in the day of the controversy regarding Sweetsssj brought to a head by Walden. The "protocol allows it" debacle. Hope you don't take this the wrong way but I see it as a cop out.
Surely I could use my skills for my own enrichment in ways that don't really help the platform but perhaps they give me a relative advantage over other users but we know pursuing that is unsustainable when scaled. A platform that rewards excellence and truly realizes the potential that proof of brain brings to the table. I think we have a lot of users working to that end such as @utopian-io and it's great to be a part.
I know there is a lot of gray area and maybe I sell my self short by not using the bots but I disagree with their mere existence as a matter of principle for they are counter to the objectives of curation. No matter how you slice. It's not really about promotion. If that was indeed the sole purpose, ask somebody to decline rewards. They have been a vehicle of ROI and enrich the sellers more than anybody.
Do we really want to line the pockets of the rich while we scramble for our dubious places on Trending? Not a game many care to play.
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Go through my Steemd on the following accounts:
@jackmiller
@millers
@mypics
You will see that my use of bid bots does not cover nowhere near what I give back out of my own pocket and not from rewards on posts or from bidbots.
Likewise, YES is the answer to your question.
If you don't like the bid bots, then don't use them.
Likewise if you take a good look through my accounts, you will again see that I powered up, using FIAT, HARD EARNED MONEY and am now using the one and only services available on the blockchain that offer a service for that crypto, so that I can continue doing as I have done over the past year and a half. Giving a lot more than what I earn via Steem.
Hence, buddy, I can sincerely say to you to go and knock on someone elses door, who posts a stolen photo of a cat and bid bots the hell out of it.
& if you don't like hearing it as it is, then simply mute me.
Likewise, have a good look at my delegations.
Cheers.
&
Semper Fi. (Chewed a fair bit of dirt with a few Marines.)
Thanks for the thoughtful reply.
Yes, I'm all for supporting the interests of those of us that have invested their hard earned money on the platform like myself and my friends. I don't want any of my peeps to be bag holders so that's one of the forces that drives me.
Believe me, we go after the cat pics people when we find them. And the goat pics. Pizza pics. Random crypto chart pics. You name it and you'll probably find something that fits the criteria that we have flagged at SteemFlagRewards. I think we were at something like 4500 flags last I queried but I digress.
I don't typically mute people because I don't have a problem with engaging opinions even if they are contrary to my own. I think the crux of it is I believe if we all stay to this course, Bid botting meh posts, circlejerking and whatever, I don't think we're really going to be able to compete with the other blockchain platforms rising up such as on EOS.
The price action of late I think is compelling people to think another way but not everyone is coming to the realization just yet or maybe there is zero correlation but I doubt it. We know that whaleshares was stood up without delegation capability which I believe was a measure to prevent vote selling businesses and a lot of users jumped ship.
I have decided to focus on Steem since I have a niche here with my many "content cop" activities. For the record, I don't think this post is bid bot abuse. You took some time to write this commentary so it's worth something.
OORAH! Thank you for your service as well.
This comment was for your "placeholder".