Hive is a funny old place.
While a lot don't like to admit it, most have come for the money, at least originally. I know that I did, because my family was going through one of the hardest economic challenges I had faced after the birth of our child and I was desperate. However, just prior to the birth, my wife and I were doing relatively well and for the few years prior and while nothing super glamorous, we had been able to travel a bit and save a bit. A couple years earlier I had sold my city apartment with a healthy margin and bought something in the suburbs which was larger, but near half the price. We were doing okay.
But, of course, this is not always the case in the world and a lot of people joined Hive because they were struggling financially, with many, always having struggled financially. Not all mind you - there are plenty of people who were doing just fine before Hive and came for other reasons too, but I think that it is fair to say that it isn't uncommon for people to have been on the survivor side of the economy, rather than the thriver side.
Fast forward to the present day.
It has been almost five years for me and I have been part of the platform here in various perspectives both publicly and in the background for most of those years. It has been super interesting for me, but what is funny to note is that if I hadn't been struggling financially, I probably wouldn't have chanced upon Hive at all, as I wouldn't have been desperate and the person who mentioned that they had heard of a place where a half decent writer could possibly earn a crust, wouldn't have mentioned it.
However, during this time I have seen people who joined near the beginning of the chain and many others who joined when I did, continue to struggle financially. Don't get me wrong, I am not "living it up" in life at the moment, but I think that in that half a decade I have been able to somewhat turn my financial position around and get back onto a growth path and perhaps, well beyond - depending on the markets in the moment. But, since my lifestyle IRL hasn't required crypto, it means that this turn around isn't because of me earning online. What has happened in the time I have been here is that I have changed my habits, my outlook, my decisions, my work volume, my just about everything.
I am definitely not the only one to do so and there are many who have made incredible wealth changes in the same or shorter amounts of time, but I am still pretty content that I am no longer where I was - because I disliked being there. Yet, what about all of the others who despite having similar opportunity for opportunities that I had, are still pretty much where they were when they started? Isn't it strange?
When I reflect back on my time spent, experiences and decisions in the last five years, I can see in hindsight I made many, many mistakes, yet have still managed to salvage them into a net positive. I don't just mean a positive from a financial perspective either, but I have changed in other ways too, predominantly for the better - I think. But if I was to look back on this time and all the effort I have put in and be in pretty much the same position I was when I started, what would that say about me - especially if I wasn't enjoying where I was back then.
Do you know how the content on Facebook (Haven't used it in four years) that you see from most friends is seasonal? Year after year, the same posts almost verbatim get repeated about the first snow, the first sun, the latest election, the sporting final, the holiday trip... the pictures change perhaps and a few words are swapped around, but it is like there is a posting schedule of the mundane. There are people here like that, except it is just their lives on repeat and in the years that they have been here - they haven't changed. And often, it is these people who are the ones struggling in various ways, whether it be financially or emotionally and, they are also the ones that tend to see themselves as "right" even though they rarely know what they are talking about and even when people spend a lot of time trying to help them, they think they still think they are correct.
You know, perhaps in the long-run (whatever long means these days) Hive will fail, but if you have come from a financially difficult background, have been here for several years, and aren't in a far better position now - is it the platform that has failed? But I think that part of the problem is with what "long" means in this case, as while everything is destined to fail, a lot of people are so scared of that failure, that they are "making hay while the sun shines" and constantly selling their opportunity. They seem to think that they have beaten the system and won before the collapse, but if life isn't better and without the system they are worse off, what have they won?
Hive for me is about an opportunity to take ownership and build a better life, on and off the internet. It isn't just about a chance at an improved financial future, it is about improving as a person also and as a useful member of a community. But it is funny, as the people who are negative about the platform and certain of its demise because they know what is best and what people are doing on Hive is not it (because they aren't voting for them), are generally the ones who offer the least, but want the most from the system that they believe is going to collapse at any moment to the point they will not hold any value in it.
Of course - what they bring to the community table is their copious amounts of wisdom and direction on how to do things the right way - yet I wonder, in a Proof-of-Brain system, if you spend years on end and have not changed much or brought change, what does that mean?
What I like about Hive is that there are so many ways to use one's brains and talents to generate value as an individual and for others, that is is almost ridiculous when people are unable to. I'm not saying that it is easy or fast, but it is possible for pretty much anyone to do it. However, this is also going to depend on the person IRL too, and I think that many who came here, they were already the kinds of people who were struggling. But struggle doesn't mean that it is caused by external circumstances outside of control, it can most definitely be self-inflicted.
For some, it doesn't matter what system they are a part of, they will find a way to be successful. While for others, no matter what opportunities they get, they will find a way to not take them. While I think that luck plays a part and none of us are truly "self-made" I also think that a lot of us are at least partially self-destructed. Rather than look for ways to improve, we look for excuses for why we don't have to, and despite the results we get from our behavior, they are always someone else's fault.
I am lucky. I have met some awesome people on Hive and I have met some absolute shockers as well. Everyone is on some kind of spectrum and this is the internet after all, so the shockers are to be expected. However, the experience we get is going to be skewed by who we spend our time with and the content we consume and when there are some people who only consume what supports their position, it is natural that they are not going to have a broad understanding of the ecosystem that they are within, even if they have been in it for years.
Some people seem to think that remaining unchanged is a good thing, as if they have been right all along and are committed to their cause. No, remaining the same in a dynamic environment means to stagnate and atrophy, to weaken, not strengthen. Years under the belt in a world of new technology, new economy and new possibility - still doing the same thing, getting the same results.
What a wasted opportunity.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
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Dear Taraz. I haven't read every one of your posts, but I believe I gave you a follow at the end of 2017 or the beginning of 2018. I remember it was because you came through as a very enthusiastic, smart individual with some truly authentic content, stimulating ideas and a spirit that had movement and drive. I love giving your posts a read when I see you in my feed. It's because your profile rings a bell when it comes to good reads. Today your posts still resonate with me because you have values I can relate to. I can totally relate to what you are saying and it's about that time someone points out the real value we all share here that goes beyond the monetary. I am sure your writings have brought a lot of value to this community. I remember posting for more than a year and never really got any posting rewards in my first year. I never cared really. I ended up staying because I believed in time stamping my original content, such as photography, paintings, music(on dsound at the time). I thought, at least someone can read it when i'm long gone, if they were interested. I never wrote blogs before this. Hive actually got me through my hardest time in life and I can clearly remember it was a group meditation organised by natural medicine that changed everything. A number of synchronicities that just made a whole lot of sense at the time. Prior to that, I never thought that meditation would change my life so much. It was also when they coined hivemind. I wrote a post prior to it calling it that. It also felt as if it was something contemporary permeating thorough our blockchain. Word in bond. Always surprised about how much I have in common with people from the hive when I meet them in real life. I really have to stop wondering. I think that people who are here for longer, see the value of community and a greater picture in what direction this blockchain could take with its grand potential. Having a repository of your thoughts and sharing it with a very special flock of people is one thing, but one of the greatest values is because you firstly do it yourself, knowing that what others think doesn't matter if you truly want to share something. That dogma and mould is what corporate social media narratives mould us into? I think the added value is when you can share it with others and give them the value. As soon as it becomes as you so clearly mention
Maybe that is an issue still inflicted by a strange remnant of a reward system from older frameworks we lived by? We begin to realise that we are actually shaping hive, because we are the community and the stakeholders in charge of the course of direction our blockchain will take.I guess some might suffer by not knowing what they should post from the millions of ideas that come to their mind. There is really no excuse. For hive sake, I read posts out here, where i'm like "I didn't know". When people ask me, I think to myself " Oh, I read this on hive" but I also think "I actually tried it out, because of hive." I feel joy everyday being a part of this. Much inspiration and love you and your family buddy.
Thanks for taking the time to add your thoughts on this :)
Me either and me too. For me, Hiving is a cathartic process, as well as a financial one. It is really amazing that so much value can be spread through what is still a very small community.
There is such a mix of people here, but having met a few, there are plenty of good people doing great things all over the place, on and off Hive.
Some see it, but those who are only here for money might not see it, except when they et a payout. This is part of their problem, as they have a narrow view on the ecosystem and do not understand all the dynamics in play.
Indeed, and something I will touch on in my next post, which I have planned as a lead on from this one :)
and this too. We all work on incentives - but the type of reward matters.
Thanks again :)
I remember a saying I heard once.
"If a man is poor it's his own fault. Either he's been rich and squandered it, or he's failed to recognise his opportunities."
I had about $10 to my name at the time and I recall agreeing entirely; but not caring at all. Until crypto came along, stacking money just seemed like a great way to get robbed harder. Yes I'm poor. Yes it's because I've failed to act on my opportunities, but I'm not looking to blame anyone (even myself) because it's not a problem.
Having a family to care for changed that perspective, and discovering unstealable money around the same time really cemented the change.
Yeah, they become some kind of platitudes that doesn't get paid the attention needed to evoke real thought and change.
Family screws up the perfect view of "I'm independent and self-made" because it should bring the realization that the family network that came before, had the same realization. That sense of responsibility has kept our species progressing.
I am guessing you sometimes think back to even a couple years ago and feel the incredible shift in position.
This is 100% true for most of us. I came for the chance at making money, and in the short time I have been here have realised the community is far better than most other platforms, and the content is generally very good. Thanks for your contribution!
I agree. I don't think i could spend any time on the other sites now, scrolling the repeated ridiculous of false care. It is fun here and people are generally decent.
I can only agree and confirm this!
I came because @uwelang wouldn't stop badgering me about how wonderful Hive was. I ignored it until I couldn't any longer and never looked back. Everyone should have a friend like that.
The chance of making money is exciting, need it or not, the opportunity to see another culture at street level instead of news level. It has been eye-opening and I love every day of it.
I just wish I had more time to post. Do you know where I can buy more time?
I think one of the reasons so many people don't tell friends and family, is that they worry about the "personal judgement" of it. I have family and a few friends here :)
For sure. It is one of those funny thing, isn't it? People say things like "why keep working, you don't need the money" without recognizing that the process to get the money is enjoyable. If you do what you love and get paid for it, why would you stop doing what you love when you no longer need to get paid.
Desperate people don't have a lot of sense though.
The eternal problem, but not a problem for eternity.
Haha! And this is why you are the best.
I guess I am one of the outliers, I came to Hive (
steem), to read for free. I used to read a lot, my wife told me aboutsteemand how there was a lot of books and stories to read.I then got into the community aspects of it trying to help new users, then there was the big whoo-who-whaa, and Hive was born.
It was then I began in earnest to take note of the financial side of things, I kind of went backwards I guess, but change is what leads to growth, and if in looking back no change is noted then there was no real growth.
I think it is an interesting case for you - as while you came in to read, you found the economy over time, and perhaps realized that the two go hand in hand. Authors write books for various reasons, but they do look to get paid also (journalists too) - when we read their work, we don't generally think of the economy that led to its creation, but it is there. On Hive, there is more transparency on the economies and the incentives, as well as how people behave.
Some people say "you only do it for the reward" but, that is the same with doing anything, it is just that the type of reward changes.
It is kind of nice having a place where non-video creators and ordinary folk can get rewards, no chasing the amount of required followers like on youtube, no maintaining the correct number of followers, no need to worry about what you say, I know there are a lot of people that make some pretty good money on youtube, but at what cost? On Hive peoples content is judged by the people, not how much ad revenue is going to be lost if they say the wrong thing.
It completely changes the model of social media (and the internet as a whole) - something most are yet to realize yet.
I hope some people pay attention to what is going on with facebook in America, change will be hard they are such an entrenched company, but eventually trenches do flood and get clogged up with a lot of mud, and seems to be a lot of mud slinging right now.
I'm guessing they don't even realize they're unchanged, and that they've missed their opportunity. I think it hurts too much. Then again, I'm sure some just found a different use, or rather, were satisfied with the way they were using the platform - who knows?
Ah, but you need to look for possibility in order to take advantage of it. And both ourselves and our surroundings beat that out of us at a very young age. The looking.
It is funny, especially on Hive when they have literally been given direct comment on the content they deliver around these topics, as well as seen others benefiting from alternate behavior.
I am not sure if we need to look for opportunity, but we do need to be able to recognize it when we see it. This is the thing with habits - if we have processes that bring opportunity to us, we just need to take the reins.
'Online' has created lot of earning opportunity through having skills. Hive could be world's leading platform for blogging in decentralised way. Failure and success is the part of life but people keep moving up instead bothering ,can be best achiever and ultimately winner . I have seen lot of person financially not good but once they came online ,started earning which changed their life forever...
It isn't for everyone, but there is definitely opportunity for many. The interesting thing is, the more who do it, the more it can support.
Interesting. Those who change little, over time, must have very narrow comfort zones. If you don't look outside your comfort zone, you can't see opportunities. I would be so bored.
I'd be bored too - I don't get how so many seem to endlessly beat their heads against the wall, expecting a different result.
I readily admit it, otherwise it's "just another bloody socnet" and the only other reason for joining was that it was decentralised and I was definitely poking around for decentralised/distributed options at the time (so that may have got me too if the money hadn't).
Right x_x
The value is vital for Hive and similar - the only reason for blockchain to really exist, is that it can track tokens. People don't get it yet, but they will.
I first came here looking for a place to show my art and to earn something. After that I stayed because I had naive dreams. Now I am here to earn but also because after so long it is also hard to stop. At this point hive seems to be part of my life. At this point I barely use normal social media and I am super introvert so Hive is my way to get some human contact.
It is an addiction.
But this comes through...
It is all connected :)
Ah, here's the walnut signal!
It's a rainy weekend, though, so I'm using it as an excuse to stay home with my family and not rush to check on the walnut yield again. Last week's bounty of fully ripen nuts was half a bowl's worth so I did not even document that.
I'm giving those nuts one more week to make their minds about joining me in the cellar.
Were they good at least? I have never had any straight off the tree, so wonder if they taste different. As a kid, we had almond trees and I would eat plenty off the tree and at least I think, they tasted better than store bought.
Yeah, I can't exactly say for walnuts when they are in their final stage but the fresh ones are different. Most of those I got last week were good. Two other trees have way more nuts on them, almost ready to fall, but when we opened a few, they were still soft, milky white below the brown membrane, and you could still taste the iodine. I intend to make a photo report next time.
I will be interested to see :)
Will keep that in mind. I just hope things go according to plan, more or less. I already missed some interesting cases, though. There was one shell full of ants. But I might still come across something like that again.
I came into hive for the money but somehow somewhere I got attached.
But I think this only happens when there are so many sources of income.
Give to me is the future of social media.
Give is like a ticket to financial freedom.
Nope - It happens when there are so many sources of value. The many sources of income is relatively new on Hive :)
People crumple their many tickets up - and throw them in the trash it seems.
I think it’s because like OP mentioned there’s just so many opportunities it’s like a candy land. I’ve been looking for a blockchain-like Twitter. While it is a double edged sword we can’t keep getting censored over here in America it’s ridiculously blatantly at this point
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