Fresh as a daisy (that got the tequila worm)

I have to apologize a little for this morning's post as the quiet few were a few more and there was not a lot of quiet to be had. I really do think that people shouldn't block and drinkchain as there is a high probability that what is meant and what is said are not the same thing. For those reading SteemFest posts over the next few days, be prepared. Registration begins in a few hours but I think we will make it there a few hours after that.

It is a bit of a strange feeling so far as we are quite an eclectic group of people gathered together who have a wide range of ages, backgrounds, histories, talents and life positions yet, we all are here for and because of Steem. In some ways I feel like I am on a school camp but instead of the shared world view of children in the same town, we are trying to negotiate a straight line out of string and everyone has heir own ball and are happily playing with it like kittens.

What I mean is, we all have at least slightly different ideas about the future and while in conversations we are able to wholeheartedly agree on one point, the next is met with much less certainty. While some people think that this is a challenge to be overcome by creating a consistent view of things, I think it is a dynamic that makes us much stronger together moving forward. Yes, problems need to be solved and steps take forward but, the next step should be met with the same level of objectivity, negotiation and discussion.

Over the years, I have watched as far too many companies create or force a culture of agreement that leads to a narrow path with very few people providing input. While they can move consistently, it becomes a 'yes man' atmosphere and eventually the man with the plan either runs dry or, starts overreaching with their influence and ideas.

Steem in many ways is forced to slow down and think more broadly because everyone has some chance of putting ideas forward and getting them heard. Those with personal influence, stake or part of an influential community can actually have quite a large impact over the direction of the platform if they put in the effort to be heard. It is not always easy though and it is made harder as each idea is open to public scrutiny and the associated costs.

In a centralized organization, many avoid putting their hands up or ideas forward if they have a feeling that they are not going to be met favorably and for the most part, the things people will agree to are not very far from the average. It is very difficult to convince the average to make what they consider extreme decisions as that very process is uncomfortable. So, people put forward ideas that get yeses so as not to pay the perceived social costs of the group and then, average begets average.

When it comes to really changing the world, really disrupting industry, it requires very big ideas. What people often don't recognize is that those ideas aren't introduced overnight, they are slowly steps in a general direction that lead people's thinking and behavior to support the small yeses along the way. For the most part historically, this has been the process that has led to centralization as in the end, it is much easier to say yes to an authority, just like in the companies.

One of the exciting parts of Steem and the cryptosphere for me is that it is ever so slowly returning the responsibility and voice of input to the individual users. It isn't the kind of shift that most are able to make overnight but, it is one that in time , those who make it will see more and more benefit from and start to embrace their own voice and speak up. This does mean more conflict of sorts but it also means better decisions if each takes their role seriously and realizes that the position of the individual and that of the group are inextricably linked.

At the very least, there is a lot of fun and opportunity in being part of the process. Ever had those night's that had very little expectation on it at the beginning but ended up being filled with all kinds of adventure? That is how I see the next years of blockchain and cryptocurrency development and participation, it is going to get a little wild.

Who gets the worm?

Taraz
[ a Steem original ]

As you can imagine, while I am here I am not always able to answer comments immediately but I will try to catch up when I can.