### Steemed said in his interview:

> I look for that __personal touch, a potential for serious creativity__, post cohesiveness, and reading times in the 3+ minute range. I am especially moved by those who __relate their experiences and how those experiences manifest in their creativity__.

So in the case of @masteryoda, one of those on your list, where he takes images from avax.news which in turn took images from the BBC, this is promoting *whose* creativity exactly? 

> WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture Service (BBC Pictures) as set out at www.bbcpictures.co.uk. In particular, this image may only be published by a registered User of BBC Pictures for editorial use for the purpose of publicising the relevant BBC programme, personnel or activity during the Publicity Period which ends three review weeks following the date of transmission and provided the BBC and the copyright holder in the caption are credited. __For any other purpose whatsoever__, including advertising and commercial, prior written approval from the copyright holder will be required. 

How about the reposted pictures from the Sony World Photography Awards:

>    Open Competition winner​ - $5,000 (USD) / Sony digital imaging equipment / Flights and accommodation to the awards ceremony in London / Included in exhibition at Somerset House, London
     
While the rest of the contestants get no financial prize and just gear and exposure.

> Category winners - Sony digital imaging equipment / Publication in winners’ book / Included in exhibition at Somerset House, London
     
>    Shortlist - Digital exhibition at Somerset House, London / Publication in winners’ book

The grand prize winner in the open competition gets less than some of the copy and paste  posts you support. In the professional category the grand prize was 25,000 dollars, while @masteryoda has picked up an estimated value of 100,000 dollars minimum in the 3 months he's been posting on Steemit.com. He has pulled out his Steem dollars, to the tune of thousands in the last 2 days, Is currently powering down his Steempower as well, so his "work" in 3 months has earned him more than top photographers during a year:

> Photographers in the United States pull down an average of $15.06 per hour. In the world of Photographers, overall cash earnings stretch from $21K near the bottom to $90K near the top 
   
source:   [payscale.com](http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Photographer/Hourly_Rate)

## Sea change ahead

Let's be clear on my position, I think that Steemit.com, as it grows and becomes a real source of income for creatives, will change the game and be giving  money directly to the content creators. Those photographers out there getting nothing or very little through the traditional means, like in these competitions for example, or instagram, facebook, flikr, etc., need to get on Steemit.com ASAP and get properly rewarded. And I know that it's at least partially the intention of user Steemed in promoting @masteryoda that will entice talented photographers to come to this platform, but it is, in my opinion, wrong to use others hard work to personally profit.

## We know not what we do

I can only guess that those users that think what is being done is not a problem, are either:

*   Not professional artists/photographers themselves so don't know what it feels like to have their work used without their knowledge, and worse having others profit from it.


*  Don't care because they are used to the "new internet rules" when it comes to "sharing content", or bluntly _just don't care_.


*   Feel that the ends justify the means; that promoting Steemit.com in less than scrupulous ways right now is a necessary evil and that later, once the platform has many more original content creators, there won't be a need for these tactics.


*   Not aware that this sort of thing is not the way things should be done.
## No bad Clippers!

I really don't think that @steemed is a "bad whale", nor is @masteryoda a sith lord. In my estimation they are some combination of these four categories to varying degrees and they don't feel they are stealing or doing something wrong. It's my desire to show that this, and only this, behavior of "sharing" copyrighted material without getting the original creators permission is  not ideal; to profit from that sharing without permission, and not give any proceeds to the original creator, is without question wrong.


On facebook or some other social media site where little to no profit is made from "sharing" others work one could almost give it a pass with an excuse of "at least the artist is getting his work seen by more people" or similar excuses. However in our case, on Steemit.com, where the poster makes money by "sharing" there is no question that it needs to be addressed as to what are best practices.

## Row row row your bots

As far as the bots are concerned, there is no problem with what they do as Steemed himself is aware of what his "employees" are posting. As long as he keeps an eye on what they are doing, and doesn't turn a blind eye to when they are doing something wrong, illegal, spamming, etc, there is nothing we can say. Honestly, congrats on writing a bot to do that work for you!

Lastly, I hope it is abundantly clear that I have no ill will towards Steemed and Masteryoda and merely want what is best for this platform. I have opinions just like everyone else and hopefully my commentary will be listened to even though it  goes against the flow. If I am wrong on any point, I hope to hear clear rationale as to where my thinking is off base.

###  "If you want to be a different fish, you got to jump out of the school" 
 ~Captain Beefheart