The more I explore what is happening on this platform, the more I conclude there seems to be a lack of synergy.
Ever heard the old story about the different parts of the body arguing over which part is the most important? Each part, puts forth their argument for how, without that part, the body falls apart.
Finally the asshole pipes up that it is the most important. The rest of the parts unite in laughter at the notion the asshole is the most important part of the body. Hurt and angry it shuts down and refuses to let anything pass. In short order the rest of the body is begging it to relent.
Some might view that as the least likely is what truly holds the power. Or, it can be seen as a lesson on teamwork. All the parts are needed to make up the whole.
Finding Synergy Can Make A Difference
About ten years ago my legion branch was teetering on the edge of closure. It didn’t happen overnight, there had been a gradual decline for many years. Many in the membership and the community had come to believe closure was inevitable.
After observing for some time, I approached a group of members I felt showed some real potential to form a team that would work to pull the branch back from the edge. My ask was simple. Commit to a year. We’ll either start it back onto its feet or we’ll be the last executive the branch ever had.
Our premise was pretty simple. Everything mattered. No one part of the branch was more important then another. The bars, the dinners, special events, sports, hall rentals — they all contributed to the income of the branch and we needed it all.
The executive got to work. They had to work hard to recruit volunteers as many were reticent to put time into what they saw as a failing project. The executive persisted, often ending up doing the bulk of the work themselves. In time others joined in and by the end of the first year, the branch was stable.
The executive found the synergy that had been lacking. They didn’t always agree, but, they found ways through those times and were able to keep working together.
Is STEEM Heading for Synergy or Assholes?
I’m increasingly seeing a drift toward different groups on the platform seeing themselves as the central driver of the platform.
Investors
Those who are here to invest view themselves as central because they bring in the blocks of money which creates the blocks for the platform to grow on. (no pun intended) They tend to see their wants as central to the health of the platform.
Their wants are diverse and that is a good thing. The biggest part of the problem is there is a tendency to pull in opposite directions.
Content Creators
The platform was created as the world’s first social media platform built on the blockchain. A blockchain that pays contributors in cryptocurrency. Those who create content on the platform provide the content it needs.
The desired content on the platform is original content. The more varied and quality content the platform attracts the more attractive it becomes for not only new users but new investors.
Developers
The platform needs developers not only to build the blockchain but to build the apps which run on the platform. They are important without a doubt. Without the apps and tools created by developers, the user experience will never improve.
BidBots
Yes, love them or hate them, the bidbots have taken a role on the platform. For those who direct their SP to them, they are investment. A business model to generate additional income for their investment. For those who use them, they are a way gain visibility for their post or to increase the return on their post.
Asshole
Those who engage in plagiarism, copy/paste content and spam create the case for the importance of the asshole on the platform. Without the asshole, projects like @steemcleaners have no way to flush this waste from the platform and make it an unfriendly place for them.
Synergy for Growth
Not only is the platform the first social media built on the blockchain, it is the first decentralized social media. There is no centralized control of the platform.
In its rawest form, that means that anyone is free to pursue the use of the platform as it benefits them. However, growth comes when people learn to work together. In even the most primitive of societies, people knew the value of bringing what they offer to the table for the benefit of all.
That synergy, the respect for what others contribute, is what led to the growth of civilizations throughout time.
Will It Be Synergy or Assholes STEEM?
Individually and collectively, each group needs to decide if they are going to be in synergy with the other groups or be the asshole that clamps down on their own turf and leaves the rest of the body struggling to survive.
The investors have held sway because they have the capital to grease the wheels that keep the platform functioning. On a stake based platform, that actually is not a bad thing. Many of the investors have actively pursued and supported projects on the platform.
One of the areas receiving a lot of support has been the developers. Without them, we wouldn’t have the platform, the apps and tools we use to contribute to the user experience.
I’ve already talked about the bidbots and the role they have on the platform. One of the downsides to their presence is the bots are used by the asshole group to increase the proliferation of the content which doesn’t benefit the platform.
The bots have started to take action to attempt to stem the tide with the asshole group through the use of blacklists and whitelists. It seems that they are trying to slow the movement of a tidal wave.
Which brings me to the content creator group. When I’m talking about content, I’m referring to content which serves to attract attention to the platform. Content that makes people want to join, take part and contribute to the growth of the platform.
There are some manual curation projects which have received support in an effort to bring good content forward. Projects like @comedyopenmic have received some support which is great. Much more is needed.
When people like @rhondak sets out to try to generate support for content creators and receives repeated feedback indicating an attitude of content creators not being valued as contributors, it is concerning.
Content creators are needed. The good content needs to be somehow pushed into view in order to retain the creators and attract new creators who want to join in on sharing content.
Until that synergy is added to the other synergies which have been developing, we have more asshole than healthy synergy.
So, STEEM, are we going to have synergy or asshole?
Until Next Time — Just Steem on
