What we need are consensus and direction, and these are two things that it doesn't feel like we have much of at the moment.

The lure of this platform is that you can be rewarded for the time or money that you put into it with an alternative currency. That is what brought many of these users to this platform and the investment they have made in time or money is one thing what will keep them around. The community is another aspect that will keep them around, as is the content. However, if steem has no value or application, I don't think the idea of community alone will be able to keep the users that are here and attract new users. I feel like your post doesn't highlight the significance that the rewards of this platform offer to its users play in the platform's overall appeal and value.

People are here for the promise of the future. People are here to interact, support each other, and get something in return. Some of that return comes in the form of comments and interaction. Some of that form comes in the form of steem.

As a user who doesn't have extra money to support the platform, I have done my best to produce content that will be valuable outside of the platform and draw in new users. That has been my goal. Have I accomplished that goal? I can't say. 

I think there are many users like myself. People who don't have extra money to invest, but who are excited about the prospect of being rewarded for their time and efforts, people who have viewed steem as a promising chance to take, one that may really pay off in the future. I don't see anything wrong with that. 

I don't think that means we view steem as our job. I know that I don't. I think it just means that we are hoping to be rewarded in the future by returns of some kind, just as anybody who has invested money in this platform is hoping to be rewarded by their investment in the future. 

My post rewards have been highly affected by this 'experiment.' For whatever reason, I have been blessed with a base of $4.00 to $5.00 for anything I post. My posts about Japan and other things generally receive between $12.00 and $25.00 per post with only twenty to thirty views. I've often wondered about whether this is right or not but thought that maybe it reflected on the value of the content I have produced. Maybe it doesn't. I don't know. Since the 'experiment' has started, my rewards have fallen to between $2.00 and $4.00.

I mention this to show that I am somebody who has been directly hit by this 'experiment'. I know that there are many others who have been affected more than I have. I am not complaining. I am very happy to be able to upvote a post or a comment and see the price rise from a cent to thirty cents. It is very satisfying to be able to do so, and I think this is a vital aspect of making steem a viable social media platform. If we want more new users, we need to make this platform accessible to people at a low cost. 

Since the 'experiment' has begun, and since the rewards have been redistributed, I have felt much more like this is a social network. And I like that.

The sudden downvotes did feel like a form of violence, though. If they lead to positive changes in the future, that's great. Positive change is a good thing.

While the downvotes do redistribute the reward pool and spread power out to regular users like myself, do they actually have an effect on finding and promoting the best content this platform has to offer? My understanding is that this is partially a content-based platform and that the quality of the content will be partially responsible for driving the value of this platform up or down. 

One thing that I think really hampers the quality of the content that is promoted on this platform is the curation process. I think the curation process has also led to a lot of the drama we are now dealing with in regard to the distribution of rewards and returns. 

If you can vote on a post without even opening it and make money by doing so, this will lead to problems. For large investors who are looking to make returns, it doesn't matter if the content is good or necessarily popular, if it produces the results they are looking for, they will vote on it.

Take my posts, for example. I rarely break 200 votes. I average around $16.00 per post. This, from what I have read, is the perfect post to curate. It doesn't matter if my content is good or not. My content has become the perfect kind of content to vote on for someone who is just looking to vote and get rewards.

Do we really need the curation system? I know that I am happy just upvoting content and comments that appeal to me and seeing that I have contributed to the author of that content/comment. I don't need to make a percentage from that.

If we got rid of the curation process, what would this platform look like?

As a last, and unrelated though, a good question to ask in regard to steemit is this, who is the most important person involved in this platform. Or, in another form, what is the most important user--a developer, a content-maker, a voter, a casual user, a reader, an investor, etc?

Think about your answer and then read mine.

I would say that there is no single user or user type that is the most important. We are all equally important. If one of us stops contributing, the whole platform fails. Like any eco-system, we need to have equilibrium. We need to have balance.

I'm all for doing what I can to help get us there.

you assume that there are two groups. you just made this up because what you assume about people. yes there is a couple but you have to expect that. if anyone is to be ranting  it is the creators who im sure saw this coming. fall back you sound self righteous . remember faith and hope do more than force

Group 2 is too good to be true. So, where do I register?

I totally grok what you're getting at, although I'd consider myself too new here to feel certain about what we "have" and "don't have."

In a broader sense, though, I came here and was excited about what looked to me as a return to the days of "social blogging" and "social content" I really enjoyed being part of, almost 15 years ago. I wanted to "test the waters" before looking up all my old peers and suggesting they head over here. On the whole, I like what's here.

That said, I've been part of user-generated content sites for a couple of decades, and the ones offering rewards inevitably self-destruct when they start putting the "rewards" more in focus than the whole purpose of the venue-- namely to be an attractive and excellent content site. So short term profiteering takes precedence over long term stewardship.

There's nothing wrong with "liking the money" AS LONG AS we are mindful of being good shepherds of the "goose" that's laying golden eggs. But most people are not. Most people are in the "money for nothing" business... UNLESS one is very careful in the approach to how site is grown and developed. Entitlement? It's an effing *privilege* that we get rewards for posting! What's Reddit giving you? Facebook? Tumblr? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? 

I really don't care that "Steemit is on the blockchain..." I'm sorry, that doesn't grant us some magic golden exemption from *Human Nature*... and its attendant greed. Ignoring-- for a moment-- that this is on the blockchain, and we have our own currency, and we're decentralized and all the other yadda, yadda... I've seen 60-odd social projects like this go TU because the *"short term speculators"* had the loudest voices and ruled the day. In two decades, only *two* projects like this hung in there for the long run... because they had really "tight" visions and slapped the shackles on anyone trying to disrupt that... and yes, they use/used peer curation. And rewarded those who cared about the *venue* above those who cared about the *money.*

Sorry to rant on your post here... but you're precisely right: *Choose wisely.* And that also includes voting for the witnesses that support your sense of where we need to go...

Good post @snowflake . For me the money is an incentive but the real draw for me was the technology and the community. I wrote a post today about why I joined Steemit and my experience in my first month (I wont share the link here because I think you already upvoted it, thanks btw!) I have a really positive outlook for the future, and share much of Your sentiment. I don't really worry about rewards, I just focus on creating interesting engaging content for my followers and the community. Being selected for the daily curie is more rewarding than getting a huge payout IMO. I do find the less I worry about money the better my posts are. I also like to use rewards to "give back" I host cryptography challenges and give out prizes, it's a fun way to connect with my followers and get people interested in cryptography. People can also sponsor my challenges by covering a portion of the prize, then I advertise their blog. It is a way where everybody wins and people work together.  I am still looking for a sponsor for cryptography challenge #3. Thanks for your post, your positive attitude and your investment in the future!

Word

PROPAGANDA SUICIDE!! 
I´m glad to fullfill all "what we need" criteria. invested 25 ether 3 days ago (= -31% in 3 days could be worse, ...no just kidding). Oh yeah I invested in Steemit and the next day the masterbrain Dan annouces his step down. . . . . holy f*$%. But I don´t cry, that´s life. Do people cry when the € or $ gets devaluated 90% in 20 years because of banksters greed and war profiteurs a.k.a. military industrial complex? Maybe it was also helpfull to play 7000 tournaments on pokerstars (+22.161 $ overall)  
![singul.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVdMwxB4iAm9hfnQgzws1L6Xmj5iYU5MrouYLFjJANQeo/singul.jpg)
there you learn not to cry when you get busted with AA short before the money is reached (bubbleboy)
![222.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXanNBQAdLD7WPrvjvweNqkkmLMLybB1zmwKLG65EFzx1/222.jpg)
Anyway I agree with snowflake, we need people with great ideas, not  hords of greedy plagiatarists looking for da big money or fulltime steemit retirement fond dreamers.

If I make 0.00$  with a post it´s ok. If it is a great post there will be some positive feedback. And i can link the story to my facebook and minds account. If I work 3h on a post and it made 1.74$ great no problem.
Glad I made something to share with the community. You have to love what you do and do it without expecting anything. that´s the right approach of an artist in my eyes.  if i love to retouch a photo i just do it . . . 
![justDOit.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYiQ4H3kPKZL492pAouDR42BGH9hh9u2tjWmdoupTWFxc/justDOit.jpg)
 without expecting to make $
If i like to render a 3d logo i just do it
![steemit3d.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfBqd5hKCGvHEJcroandivX8YDEmhriVHouhfMbiNB6oM/steemit3d.jpg)
 not expecting to get more STEEM 
but to give something to the community they might like or use. 

 I am still happy because i did not sell my house to support steemit, i invested 25ether and my brain capacity. 

As a newbie i can only give 1 hint::: Make the frontpage more interesting and more impressive for newbies who are not into crypto but are pissed off with facebook/instagram/twitter/reddit. 99% non-crypto newbies leave very soon - that´s a huge loss and a big step away from break trough. . . 

This is what i call propaganda suicide!
As a relative newbie I can tell you my first impressions first hand: 
My feeling in the very beginning was ok but very soon I was directed via /hot and /trending into internal structural problems, the problems with power inequality, bad whales, bots, pulkvote-bots, whalebots, anti-whale-trails, whale flagging defense scripts . . . .auweia that hurts --> propaganda suicide! 
How the other big players do it ? 
Usually on a professional site the one and only task of trending/hot topics is : 
MAKE THE NEW CLIENT/VISITOR FEEL GOOD AND STAY AND COME AGAIN 
Nothing else!!! ![Untitled-1.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmX5UCHsJE4nhAUWiLU3vrPLn9x4pAVGgtdMwTsMeRipyk/Untitled-1.jpg)

imagine a hypothetical let´s say ALFA ROMEO CAR MANUFACTURER Website 
you come to their website and go to the NEW ALFA 2.0 forum 
and you click on HOT/Trending  TOPICS

and then there you find lots of post regarding all kind of troubles, 
posts about problems with the board computer software update, 
trouble protecting the cars CPU against offensive intrusion via wifi and bluetooth
internal fights about the latest front design,  
the CAD division accuses the CEO to be an arrogant idiot
( ....that´s what happening practically here on STEEMIT)

logically you can assume that it will bring down the number of people 
who will buy the new Alfa Romeo. It will scare away most people, even those who  are easily impressed, 
some even so strongly impressed that they would speak about the new Alfa to others.

Nobody - no company would ever do what´s happening in STEEMIT/HOT/TRENDING dayIndayOut
completly insider stuff turning most normal facebook/Twitter/reddit-users off, specially the 98.5% who are NOT 
cryptogeeks or bot/phyton/serpent/scriptprogrammer, specialy the fact that a newbie is relatively 
quickly confronted with the votingpower inequality problem ( I have no voice - depression)
This negative taste in the front-face is much more destructive in the long run than most whales here can imagine. 

Hey big Whales for your own investment protection
I guess you understand what I want to say - 

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OPTIMIZE THE FIRST,2ND, 3RD IMPRESSION from status quo ! (see alfaromeo above)

- and it is a psychological fact - first impression goes a long way.

How about we better show newbies awesome content in HOT/TRENDING 
not the latest steemvoterguild bot fight with defense script to 
shutup somebody on the platform. 

At least take internal topics discussing Steemit problems in any kind
out of the HOT/TRENDING Section insiders will find these discussions anyway
HOT/TRENDING to make STEEMIT much more sucessfull needs good actual article 
to laugh & cry & instant-share on facebook,twitter, instagram.
There are problems and that is a good thing because problems force the evolution process and  bring necessary changes with the time.  

p.s.:  my Steem investment was crippled 4.5% during writing this reply 
and I´m still a happy STEEMer believing blockchain can change the world for good !
![singul322.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmb9X51QUB3Vdzn7RzYYG3ybMonmk96vz7MJ5pwwbtKBbH/singul322.jpg)

I've seen too many of these wailing group! People I never knew existed on this platform and surprisingly have high rep. I wonder where they've been all these while.

I am motivated by money, but it is not my only or primary motivation. I am willing to accept change that benefits the platform. I have invested hard earned $. 

I would say that at times I also reflect each and everyone of the items on BOTH lists. No one has yet shown me benefits to all these rule changes or experiments. Since I've been on here I've yet to see any true value added. When is that going to happen?

Technicalities is kind of hard to understand..but i think that some people were  disappointed with the less payouts not knowing of the experiment. We can be passionate about things as well. But saying that, each member have one's reason for being here, that I respect even if it's different to mine.

Well said👍 . My primary motivation to join steemit is to get my best content to everyone.

Amen.

If you keep attracting people with money you will get those kind of people on the platform. Remove money incentives and only the rest will stay.

Interesting post and beautiful photos! Congratulations @snowflake!

"People with zero interest to invest a single penny in the system , even just as a sign of support." == investing their time daily to produce content for the site actually is investing value into building the business. . .
Economic basics.... rly

this site wasn't built by commies for commies. Hope you know that.

Nice sentence

> Users who are ready to accept change if it benefits the platform as a whole

People like that are enormous.

> People not expecting things back in return for their actions

But Steem has the advantage to rewards their user, so this need to be kept and greatly used. People who develop something for Steem need more rewards, building an app take a full time job and money is necessary to live.

People think that building an app take 1-2 weed, we need a community that have a better understanding of the system in general.  

B.E.

That bad flagging  is bad, fuck that's simple, **we have too much cornflakes people**.

Voting for application is a good investment for Steem, developer need to earn their life. Why does some apps have ads ? ...

First citation resume a lot.

To have only good guys on board and live all the bad guys on the shore doesn't seem to be feasible )
Yes, for me the reaction to this experiment also was a very distinct *who is who* marker.

amazing

I wish you would post more.

It's really easy to get caught up in the rat race, even here.  We come from a competitive mode of existence so it's not easy to do everything for honest reasons.  I caught myself getting caught up in it a few times since I joined two weeks ago but I realized, if I just do what I do, work towards community and cooperation and brainstorm ideas with some of the intelligent open minded people here, I may still make a ton of money on here and if I don't, I'll still feel like my time was well spent.  Every moment spent trying to make money on the other hand, will be in vain if I don't succeed.

So Yeah, I'm trying to get some whale attention now, but only the ones who have smart things to say and are not motivated solely by self interest.  

Some of the problems of the old paradigm are bound to reverberate into the new paradigm.  Just be as awesome as you can be and it will influence those around you. :-D   Post more!