RE: Do You Want a 50/50 Circle Jerk or a 25/75 Circle Jerk..?
I don't think this will solve all of the problems this platform has but giving a larger stake to curators is a small step in the right direction. Let's face it those making the most off this platform are in the buddy system of the upper echelon, those who have managed to create enough sock puppets to upvote their content....therefore they don't need curators or a audience to converse with..along with the fact most also don't want your opinion if it don't align with theirs. Then there are the authors who publish their own articles for gain and don't engage what so ever with anyone who does take notice and comments on their stuff. Don't get me wrong I agree more than disagree with this authors stuff but Dan Dicks would be a prime example of a author who I have never ever seen respond to anyone, he is purely a selfish taker, if he wants to play that way then it would be a good idea to up the rewards for those who spend time listening to his stuff. Caitlin Johnstone is another one though it's rare she will on occasion reply back.
In all reality though what the biggest issue facing this as a platform is that it takes curators to get four upvotes to make a penny...a penny, think about that...most people think...a lousy penny, now if they have a view that a penny is lousy just think of what they think about getting rewarded one quarter of a penny. So let's say that when people who think about joining can move past all the flagging censorship issues and talk of being a pyramid they literally (as I did, laughed and joked about for weeks) fall out of their chairs laughing at the prospects of earning one quarter of a penny for the time they spent reading then engaging, maybe even researching a post and commenting. Then...wait for it, wait, wait...if that quarter of a penny doesn't meet up with 7 more additional votes it turns to dust. So if you are not graced by the good graces of someone with a high enough power to grant you your two cents worth you have to take and invest in something like dustsweepers to come along and save the worthless upvote(s).
I could many good articles but my take is that I am not putting forth that kind of effort for a minuscule to no reward. I'd rather wait until I can earn something of meaning for my effort, it don't have to be a lot but it has to be a whole lot more than dust, penny, nickle or a dime. Why give away my best stuff for nothing, sure you can claim that stuff will eventually get me to my goal but if you abide by the rules of the platform that will takes years upon years given that I have no power to attract or compete with those capable of giving better rewards for participation so it's no wonder people choose a path to cheat their way up, which incidentally I will probably have to choose to do after I somehow manage to get a slide bar whereas I can upvote my stuff then bid it out like everyone else.