I've mentioned before...

When we go to the movies, we pay to be entertained.  When we read books, we pay to enjoy a tale. 

We do not get a cut of the profits. We don't wait at the ticket booth for a cut of the sales.

On Steemit, it's different. We DO reward the people who we entertain.  It's the way to which we have become accustomed. Content creators were lured here with the hope of earning more here than other sites. Now that they're here, we want to deplete that and shame them into thinking they aren't worth it by calling them entitled, selfish and whiny for earning 30 cents on a post that might take 3 hours to create.  Do authors deserve more than75% / less than 75%? 

Honestly, 
I have less concern about the amount that is changing for this proposal. I have more concern that the changes are going to be disproportionately spread over our population. 

What is taken  (42% of author rewards will be depleted if this proposal passes) will be up for grabs by curators.  This would be awesome...if it was an opportunity to both make up for loss in author rewards and a proportionate benefit for curators.  But we all know large stake holders will overwhelmingly benefit the most.

In essence, author rewards are going to be taken from content creators and scooped up by large accounts. Doubling 1 SPto 2 SP per month for small accounts will have very little effect on their wallets and the platform as a whole. Doubling 3000 SP to 6000SP per month..I think you see my point.

Small accounts do not have the stake to make up for the loss in author rewards. I've already shown this in previous posts.  Specifically because large accounts take the lion's share of the curation rewards that are now being doubled. 

Overall, small accounts will at least initially lose significantly while large accounts benefit significantly.

"Hope that it changes"... is great. But unpredictable.

 and also... based on human behavior, that we once again "hope" will be for the good of one another. 

We are taking more money from small accounts and honestly expect them to work harder, longer, and try to stand out...

While curators (specifically large accounts) get double for adding nothing to the mix. They will do the same thing on Tuesday that they did on Monday... But after HF21- they will make more.

Please dont say "then people can curate more". I've given my account as an example. But mine doesn't express how dire it is for people with smaller accounts than me. Even with mine...I was already curating twice as much as I should have, depleting my voting power and value of my vote... If I curated more, it wouldn't replace what I've lost. 

Not only that, I've already shown that the people who are benefitting directly from this proposal are voting on thus while the majority of accounts are on the losing side.

That is the grotesque unfairness you are needing pointed out.

It is a glaring conflict of interest.

Back to curators, if they are entertained, enjoy our thoughts, participate in our contests, view our photos, watch our videos.... They upvote. 

That is their appreciation/approval of the content.

And then they get a portion of the proceeds.

There activity is already rewarded 

Witnesses work hard to make this platform work. We dont get a cut of their work. We benefit when they do their work well. 

Content creators create content for themselves, for the community and for the benefit of the platform. We benefit when they do their work well. We also get a cut of their work as a bonus and a motivation to curate more. 

To curate better? No. To curate for financial gain. That's the nature of steemit. Most people curate three ways. For friends, for unknown good content, or for financial gain.

You will never stop people from voting for their friends. 

I believe that there will be less good content...why? Because people feel unappreciated and disposable.

The only thing that remains is curating for financial gain, and people are already trying to figure out ways to regain the rewards that are being lost and I can guarantee you it has nothing to do with good content. It has to do with self-voting and following big accounts, timed right on autovote. 

How does that solve the issue? 

Also, if a whale gives a 100% upvote for a trash post vs a quality post... What is their motivation in this proposal for upvoting quality vs trash? 

What is their motivation in this proposal for voting for others instead of themselves?

The ones who have the most influence (and make the most curation rewards) have absolutely no motivation to use their votes for quality. 

Actually... This proposal STILL allows for whales to abuse their votes if they want to.

And what is our recourse? Some free downvotes to disagree? Seriously? How many Plankton, minnows or dolphins do you know that want to go head to head with a whale and put a target on their back with a downvote? 

Once again, the only policing that will happen will be on the smaller accounts, stirring up negativity and spiteful behavior. 

"Thank you for that completely objective downvote. I appreciate your right to distribute the rewards away from my post.  Have a wonderful day!"

That will not be heard on Steemit. Ever.

I appreciate that investors invested their money. Without them, this site would not be.

I appreciate that good content creators write things that entertain us. Without them, this site would not be.

I appreciate that good curators use their votes to lift good content. Without them, this site would not be.

No one is entitled to a disproportionate redistribution of benefits, or should be punished with a disproportionate redistribution of risk.

Spread it out evenly and you would have less of an argument from me. 

If they took the 50/50 off this proposal for now, and made it a singular discussion.. and allowed for some compromise... I think that would be wise.

Hope that more fully explains this grotesque unfairness that you were asking to be revealed.

Investors (meaning anyone who has invested in steem) make money when steem makes money.
Instead of being so focused on just getting them more money, I would love to see us ALL be willing to take cuts that are proportionate to our class so that we can ALL enjoy the benefits of growing the platform. 

*Wrote this on my phone...apologize for any inconsistency in my thoughts... I had to scroll around a little lolol

Thanks for reading and responding. We don't have to agree, but I appreciate the willingness to discuss.

(P.s. I don't think authors have it bad at all right now... I accepted what I made for what I loved to give.)

Well that's a great question.  and I am so glad that you asked it because I want to answer!!!!

When steem was valued higher - I was earning maybe $5 a post?  but steem was worth $6

What does that mean?  It means that my post was not even worth 1 steem

Now - let's take yesterday's post.  It was valued at $6 so far.  somewhere around there.    I earned ALMOST THE SAME value as 2 years ago - $6  - but the steem equivalent is about 14???  14 steem!  for the same USD value because steem was not as valuable.

stay with me... lol

so - when I was earning when steem was higher - WHAT SHOULD I HAVE DONE??

I should have TAKEN the money OUT.  because it was high.  The pressure when steem is high is to POWER DOWN AND CASH OUT.

why???

BECAUSE I HELD IT over the next 2 years,  and i lost the MAJORITY of value there!

when it was high - I did not sell.  I kept it - so that I could hope that it increased in value over the long term.


when it is low - NO ONE WANTS TO SELL. they want to keep hodling!

When steem increases... you really think the investors that we are so concerned about aren't gonna start selling as soon as they make a profit????  

If we only look at steem as a currency -then people will always want to powerdown and sell.

but if we look at steem as an investment (which i do)  then we encourage them to hodl... cuz we assume that better times are coming.

bottom line?

when 2017 had the high numbers?  I would have been wise to SELL and repurchase more steem when it was low.

Instead - I held it.  and it sank sank sank.  and i lost all the value of it

Steem at a higher value puts significant pressure on people to sell.  They don't want to lose money by waiting to see what it will do.  Most will take the money and run.

so what we need to do - is not worry about pushing the value of steem up at the risk of hurting the platform.

we need to fix the platform and trust THAT will drive the price of steem.

If people feel that this is a place WORTH holding the steem. they won't sell it at the drop of a hat,  they'll wait until it soars like bitcoin and then EVERYONE will rush in.


and... steem's government is not a democracy.  a democracy shows that everyone has a say. and we really don't.

this is a republic.  where we give our vote to (top witnesses) people who represent us.  and right now - they are not representing the people's voices


last point... For all the people that are hearing this proposal  for the first time (and there are so many that its actually sad....) the majority say THIS  as their first response: " then i guess i better start autovoting bigger accounts."

does that sound like people are going to start actively reading?  or does that sound like they will be looking for ANY way to recover their losses.


i do not have high hopes for this proposal.

Thank you my friend .  

Of course we all have a line that causes us to withdraw.  For you - a 42% decrease in author rewards does not approach that line.

Perhaps for you - an 85% decrease in author rewards would be the place for you withdraw.  I don't know.  

For me - this is not about decreases in rewards really.  It is about decreasing those rewards - and then TAKING THOSE FUND and DISPROPORTIONATELY placing them into the hands of the rich.

No one can deny that is happening.  They will tell you that they have other reasons for doing it - they hope it helps steem.

but they can do the same decrease and HOLD those funds in a community account that supports the SPS.


will they do that?  if not - you should ask yourself why.

If they can't be fair to the whole community - then this is not the place I will support.  The end.  It is that simple.

Holy truth, Batman!

(sorry  - lol - i had to! hehehe)  

at the very least - i can say i spoke my heart to the bitter end.  I so appreciate all the people who are here - commenting - letting their voices be heard - even if we are just a little squeak.

i hear ya :)  doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things - but it matters to me!

you're exactly right

So far - the only option is "take it or leave it."

There is no "let's wait and talk about this more."  It is only  we have the power, and you do not.  We have the voice, and you do not.

If that's the case,  "take it or leave it" is a simple decision for me

I know in the past we two had sometimes different opinions, but on that point I agree with you 100%!
Wish you and your family all the best. 
Tom

Posted using [Partiko Android](https://partiko.app/referral/zanoni)

The math is solid.  No one denies it.

The factor that everyone is not sure of is... human behavior.

Will people post more to work harder to get those rewards?  Will abuse still happen?  Will it increase, decrease?  Will all of these changes make steem more valuable or less valuable.

But the bottom line is - before ANYthing starts to adjust... the funds will be coming FROM small accounts and going TO large accounts in this experiment.  So - if it fails or succeeds - the large accounts win - no matter what.

Also - the people voting on this are set to be in that group of "winning"

So... if it turns into something bad - how long do you think it will take to correct it?  When large accounts have doubled their curation rewards?  In the chart I did in the post before this (and I even added your name to the chart so you could see!)  the highest "win" went from 3000SP a month in curation rewards to 6000 SP a month.

And that is not even the biggest account.   

ah well.  As long as people allow it to happen - it will.  I bank on human behavior continuing to do what's best for them.  

It's the least common denominator.    so...  good luck to us all.

Wishing you the best!!! 🙂

Posted using [Partiko Android](https://partiko.app/referral/dreemsteem)

I'm so glad you have this option!  Crack on if you can!  I certainly can afford to crack on as well.  I do not rely on my Steemit salary to live.  

but that is not the point.

the point is - its wrong what they are doing.  (in my opinion)  

If they want to experiment, put that risk ACROSS THE WHOLE PLATFORM.  not just the small accounts.

if they want to experiment, put that BENEFIT across the WHOLE platform.  not just the large accounts.


I've been here a long time and I've seen a lot of good moves, and a lot of bad moves.  But the bad moves have been so detrimental to the future of Steemit - that it honestly makes you beg the question..... why?

and just cuz you're here - i'm gonna go take a look at your writing!  :)  if at the very least - I get to read something new and cool  - i would love to upvote you for bringing a smile to my face.

and guess what???  HF21 hasn't happened yet!   so you'll get to keep 75%  hehehehe

I feel so much like you - but the last hard fork was especially hard on me, being a founder of a community of newbies that was absolutely THRIVING in the face of hardships, love, and never-ending commitment from a Welcome wagon staff that gave and gave and gave.  After HF20 - we gave more and more - and watched as people left one at at time - feeling that this was not the place for them.

Prior to HF20 - you should have seen us - we were everywhere - learning, growing, spreading light and love and giggles - making this place better for everyone around us.

HF20 was short-sighted and had "well maybe this will work to prepare for the future" as its motto.  (my words, not theirs)

and now its happening again.  I just can't watch it all again.  I can't watch more and more people leave.  and you know what?  Maybe will a new exodus - it will stabilize like they want.  Maybe the people who stay will be the ones they want to stay - people who are ok to work harder for less, because they have nowhere else to go.   

that has been the saddest comment that i've heard.  "I would leave and take my whole community - but where else can we go?"

it's like they know they've got us over a barrel, and they're counting on loyalty and community to keep us here through hard times.

if the hard times were across the board - and we were all suffering together - i could stay.  but we're not.  the rich are high above the fray.  making money while this "experiment" watches the lower accounts suffer.

If you can stay to try to make it better - oh i wish you the absolute best.  I won't support this kind of mentality.  

hugs to you!   you were the first one ever to give me a tip from @tipu! hehehehe   that was a gamechanger for me - and I thank you for that!  :)

I see this exactly as you see it!!!  Do you ever just look around and think "we must be the insane ones... because this seems so obvious to me - and they are refusing to see/ acknowledge it" 

we must be the insane ones! LOL  

you nurture from the ground up.  you build a strong foundation.  but - if they will not - if they continue to pick at the base, then what chance does the top have?

what chance does anyone have?

I feel your pain.  After just becoming a dolphin after all that hard work????  I was hoping to enjoy that a little longer and enjoy dropping my dolphin votes all around the platform. lol

but... I suppose life takes us in lots of new directions.

or - downward and outward.

that is always a very real possibility.  certainly was for thousands after HF20

I will hope for the best, and prepare for not being heard.

yes - there is much more to HF21 than just the curations rewards - but that is the topic that bothered me the  most, because of its grave effects on newbies.  (just like on hf20 where there was a mass exodus of newbies and our platform became more and more silent.)  This change does not do anything to negate the overall devastation of depleting author rewards by 42% and then doubling curation rewards (which are PENNIES  for newbies, and thousands of steem for large accounts)

It's like saying you got a 42% demotion at work, but hey - they're gonna bring in free donuts on Friday to boost morale.  LOL  

ah well. lol i hope they bring enough donuts for everyone!  hehehehe

everyone must come to the realization of where that line is for them...   I know that if they are unwilling to change this proposal, we have reached that line for me.
 :(

Thanks so much!   it would so great if we could all get our voices loud enough to reach the ivory tower! lol