Steem is an interesting entity that I think few take the time to really consider.  

We are so accustomed to what is around us that we do not realize that something we are looking at is completely different from that.  Our world is filled with private entities (companies) that operate on their own.  Competition, a basis for the scarcity world, is thought to be a good thing.  It is normal for each entity to out do the other.  

Our entire system is established around this idea.

Hence, we bring the same mindset to Steem.  Unfortunately, for many, this is completely off base.

![image.png](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmPw1d6w6DUgUmf5qkzSTqMY55gnVpjZaoNKEGUHxCcrpA)
<center>[Source](https://www.co-opliving.com/)</center>

Steem is a cooperative.  Each person who owns a token has a vested interest in the platform.  The total value of the ecosystem depends upon what is built upon this.

It is similar to real estate.  We often see housing cooperatives where people will own their homes but the land, as an example, is owned by the cooperative.  All improvements done help the value of the entire community, thus providing more value to the individual homeowner.

Let us say that the decision is made to put in a community swimming pool.  The upgraded/adding to the facilities will certain add value for everyone especially if the cooperative is located in a warm weather area.  

Now, if it is a rather large housing complex, perhaps one swimming pool is not enough.  The community decides it is in its best interest to add another swimming pool.  This will help to take the load off the first one while further enhancing the value for all. 

Of course, the swimming pools are not in competition with each other.  People are free to use whichever pool they like.  One could be used in the morning while another in the afternoon.  There is total flexibility when it comes to the pools.

This extends to the individual homes.  Here we will say that one decided to spend some money repainting the house who is starting to look worn.  At the same time, landscapers are brought in to put in a beautiful garden in front of the house.  The limbs of the trees are trimmed back making the property look exquisite.  

Naturally, this will have an impact on the overall community.  Every house on that street will benefit from the process one homeowner undertook.  While it might not be huge value, such as putting in a swimming pool, these actions do add to it.

Steem is exactly the same way.  We are seeing development take place which is adding to the value of the ecosysem.  Everyone who owns STEEM is benefiting from this.  As the underlying token for the blockchain, whatever is built upon it enhances what is at the core.

Because of this, there is not competition.  The value of one's holding is the same whether one used Steempeak, Steemit, or Busy to post.  These are akin to the swimming pools.  They are for the community's benefit.  We have flexibility in what is chosen and we could use more than one if desired.  In fact, most people do.

With the absence of competition, collaboration is what fills the void.  Since most participants have the same goal, each are working in an aligned fashion.  We all want to see the value of the cooperative increased.  Even if one project (application) fails, there are others to step in its place.  Those developing have stake through their ownership of STEEM.

This idea is enhanced through the open source nature of the code.  Open source allows for ideas to flourish while providing shortcuts.  We also see the basis for exponential growth as more tools are provided.

@exyle put together a [video](https://steempeak.com/threespeak/@exyle/ubeqviqg) that talked about applications sharing ideas.  This is a basis of the cooperative we are involved with.  Copy/paste is no longer a bad thing.  The scarcity model makes information and ideas proprietary.  People protect their intellectual property against the competitors through patents, trademarks, lawsuits, and secrecy.  

That is not the case with Steem.

Here we see the concept of "if it works for me, you should do it too".  Being a copycat is a good thing.  The first time I recall this was when @steemhunt introduced the idea of offering its own tokens for delegation.  This is now standard practice but it was a breakthrough idea a year and a half ago.

With open source coding, people are developing things with the intention of others using them.  Again, we all stand to gain so the idea of keeping something secretive or "just for us" doesn't make a lot of sense.  If something can be improved, which is the idea behind forking, then it is in the best interest of the ecosystem to have that happen.

We see a lot of development starting to take place because of the collaboration of many of the projects.  Steem-Engine and PALnet seem to be at the core of this.  It is uplifting to see them bring the different teams together.  We are seeing integration of ideas and applications with each other.  This is only going to serve the totality of Steem.  

In the present system, something like D.Tube and 3Speak would be considered rivals.  So would Steemit.com and PALnet.  Here that is not the case.  In fact, I know the team at 3Speak mentioned they are interested in collaborating with D.Tube to see how both applications can benefit from the other.

That is what being involved in a cooperative is all about.  Nothing is operating in a vacuum.  We can easily see how it is all tied together.

Unfortunately, there are many individuals who still do not grasp this.  They do not understand that, by cleaning up their own yard, the entire ecosystem is enhance.  They prefer to take a giant dump on a daily basis in their neighbor's yard not realizing the impact it has on their properties.

Of course, value is a tough term to pin down.  Many feel that is reflected in market prices and when, buying or selling, that is true.  However, adding value through a particular action is not always reflected.  Markets operate on their own regardless of anything else.

For example, the entire community could stage a clean up while fixing up all the run down properties and adding new amenities.  If the housing market is in free fall, none of that is going to matter.  The tide will not be stopped.  Ultimately, when the market rebounds, there will be a financial benefit which will be reflected in the pricing.  Nevertheless, there could be a time frame when they are askew.

This is no different.  People are looking at pricing believing it is a reflection upon what is here.  This is not the case.  We could stage a major pump which would send the price flying, but would that change the value of what is built here?  The answer is no.  Simply put, action like that ends up returning back to where it started.  

Each day, there are thousands of people on here doing their part to try and add value to this ecosystem.  We are all not developers meaning our contributions come in other ways.  That does not mean that one's activity is not important.  Certainly, the pool builders add a lot more value than the little old lady walking around her neighborhood picking up trash.  That does not mean, however, that her contribution is not valued or even necessary.  It is.

It is with this mindset that I can see the massive explosion that is in front of Steem.  We have a lot of open source coding available to our developers.  Ideas are being shared freely meaning the constructing of new applications is happening all the time.  The pace of development is speeding up with more people involved.  

And by the way, if you happen to like another cooperative, that does not reflect poorly on Steem.  One can own a house if a couple different areas without them being in "competition" with each other.



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