Should I stay or Should I go...?

Thanks The Clash
Now the older ones have that stuck in their head...

Back in August when I first took a look at this Steemit thing, I remember saying to @s0u1, “I’m not going to do my usual red-head thing. I’m going to keep my head down and not let my temper get the better of me, for a change.”

“Yeah, right,” says he.

Well, Ner-ner! I told you I could do it and I have – so far

To be honest, it’s been exceptionally easy. The vast majority of people on Steemit are absolutely AWESOME!

The few (relatively speaking) we’ve met have been far and away thoroughly fantastic people. I think we’ve made some real friends here.

It’s been really easy to behave myself and for that, I thank you all.

This internet thing has come a long way from the basic days of ICQ (9528418 I think).

Back then, I started as an Op (moderator) in a mIRC channel run by LineOne (formerly Springboard, Delphi and later, TalkTalk). We had to apply for the position, have background checks run on us, sign a contract and loads of formal stuff.

Still, it was worth it. Instead of spending £600 a month on internet charges, (I did say it was right at the beginning…) we got the majority of the phone bill paid for because I was online working in the chatroom.

Every so often we had an expenses-paid trip to London for a meeting and when the chat service got bigger and more popular, we even had a stay in one of London’s hotels! Very nice too!

A couple of years later, some of us were trained up to become IRCops – in charge of the server, not just the chat room. We got a flat rate of ‘pay’ because the internet had become more stable, faster and cheaper.

I used the forums on the server as well as the chat rooms.

I watched a lot of people come and go. A lot of them went and came back. Some went, came back, went again, allowed themselves to be persuaded to come back or allowed themselves to be talked out of going in the first place.

There was one woman that left and returned using different names so no one would realise she just couldn’t keep away – talula (sad cow) if you’re watching – Bat-Girl.

I always said that if I ever decided to go, no one would know because I’d be gone before anyone realised. One day, I’d had enough and that’s exactly what I did.

I kept in touch with a number of friends I’d made, and one thing they all said was that I made a classy exit. No fuss, drama or bother, no threats or nastiness. I logged off and never went back.

Now, 2 decades on, still on the internet, still chatting, making friends and going to ‘meets’. The platform may have changed, but I’m noticing some of the behaviour hasn’t, and it’s a shame.

“I’m leaving! Don’t try to stop me!” (No, really, someone beg me to stay, I’ll stay… honest.)

“You’ll ALL be sorry when I’ve gone!”

“I’m such an asset to this place.”

“You’ll see…”

“I’ll…”

Seriously. If you’re not happy, either do something about it, or go.

If you are going to stick around and give it the good old college try – or at least the Robert The Bruce and the spider parable – If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again, great, do that.

All you really need to know, is this. We’re all in the same boat here. It works the same for all of us. No one owes you a single damned thing and if you want votes (and therefore a reasonable payout), you get a lot more bees with honey than vinegar.

Please don’t get mad, scream, shout, make threats to leave and stay anyway – you look ridiculous and once you have that kind of reputation, it’s so hard to lose it.

Just so you know… I’m staying.

Day 5 Challenge 30

Images from Pixabay