THE LOST ART OF MAKING COMMENTS ON STEEMIT - FRIENDS FOREVER ALL YOUR UPVOTES, OKAY?
Recently, I thought that an account from one of my friends got hacked.
@Xtrodinary pilot made a pretty cool post that contained a "VR Mixed Reality" video. This is the type of stuff that is way beyond me at the moment. Still, I did not just want to upvote his efforts, I wanted to also leave a comment. Since I found it to be interesting, I left the following comment:
"Wow, that is very Interesting stuff."
Shortly thereafter, a reply to my comment came that read as follows:
"Thanks for the information @papa-pepper this was a very informational comment. I'm giving you a 100% upvote, please look at my other posts 🤠"
This seemed out of character for @xtrodinarypilot, and soon I had a terrible scenario running through my mind.
Did some hacker, scammer, or kidnapper have him tied up somewhere? Who was behind the keyboard when that comment was posted? Why would the real @xtrodinarypilot leave such a comment, even claiming to upvote my reply at 100% without doing so?
Was my comment too lame? Was that all that it was?
THE DETERIORATION OF COMMENTS CONTEST
There are many times when the comments on steemit can be draining or discouraging. You spend a lot of time on a post and get a handful of comments that vary from "nice post" to "upvote me." At that time, you wonder if anyone even checked out your post or bothered to read it.
Every once in a while, a gem pops out at you, though. From out of nowhere, a magnificent comment from some unknown user shows up on your post, and you spew coffee all over your screen.
hello accomplished user. Hello again familiar . I believe that this is a very perfect sharing. I have not control yet, so I wanted to write a comment. I already sent it upvote, resteem. I wish the continuation of your success . I'm excited to control. I'm leaving now for her. by by my dear familiar :)
Obviously, the user who left this comment for me is not a native English speaker. Also, the account from which it was posted is pretty much just a copy-pasta account that will remain unnamed. Remember that resteem they mentioned?
Never happened.
However, there is a level of humor in the comment. While nothing is even really shared about my post at all and I have no evidence that they even read it, other than "I believe that this is a very perfect sharing," the comment is an all too common bit of evidence of the deterioration of real comments on steemit.
Personally, I think that we can do better than this!
No, I don't mean that we can make better comments that actually pertain to the post and are focused on the creator of the post rather than on the reader, although I know that we can. What I mean is that I think we can make better comments that miss the mark of what steemit is supposed to be.
Here are a few examples that I have been working on.
"You my friend forever. Please upvote my posts for your happiness."
"This post is another example of how your posts benefit all who have ever lived and make the world shine brighter with each passing day. The only way to even attempt to improve it is by upvoting my recent post."
"I have followed you for two days now and you never upvote me. I no longer follow you. resteemed."
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Can you do better? Whether you like to make such comments or not, it can enjoyable to try. However, on the average random post, leaving such comments may encourage others to flag you. This is partially why I am making this post.
In the comment section below, I am encouraging you to enjoy leaving a few of your "best" comments. If you normally leave these kind of comments on the posts of other authors, maybe you can even get it out of your system now.
For the rest of you, let that creativity rip. I'll even choose a few of my favorites to reward with some SBD! I am also considering recording a "steemit comment" song in the near future, and am looking for some great lyrics. Perhaps your comment may even be included in the song!
Do you have what it takes? Can you make the best comment below? Will I "follow you long time and upvote always?"
No, you my friend forever. Please upvote my posts for your happiness. Okay familiar?
Until next time…
Don’t waste your time online, invest it with steemit.com
It is rare that I would choose not to upvote a post of yours (@papa-pepper) straight away. Today I cannot because I am confused by it. Over the last year, I have watched you help so many people from all walks of life. I've interpreted this post, (like many of the other comments that I have read in response to it) as being exactly the opposite.
If we want a better world and a better way of life, it must be for ALL mankind. This is the very essence of Steemit. Or, at least the essence of what it used to be.
The fact that someone who doesn't speak English (as their first language) has worked up the courage to try to communicate on a platform that highly rewards English speaks volumes to me.
When was the last time anyone of us tried to communicate in a language that is foreign to us? Or, tried to read a 4 page document in a foreign language?
I go so far as to use a translator to communicate with people, if they have used a language that I don't understand.
I get frustrated too and I sometimes think it's wasting my time but then I think, does it harm me in any way? No, not really. I can be a little more gracious and patient or I can just ignore them. It's a choice, just like how a comment makes you feel.
Respectfully,
Rebecca Ryan
I understand your point, but in the example cited, the user is pretty much a copy pasta account and they also tried to deceive me by saying that they upvoted and resteemed. Lying is lying in any tongue.
I was certainly not trying to make fun of non native English speakers, but encouraging people to have a bit of fun rather than get angry and frustrated was my point. Steemit is meant to be a living community of real people connecting and interacting, and not a group of money hungry scammers and manipulators attempting to swindle and deceive one another.
I have always been a supporter of other languages, was involved in a group that specifically supported other languages and even created "[Opertaion Translation'(https://steemit.com/translation/@papa-pepper/operation-translation-now-under-construction-what-it-is-and-how-you-can-help) over a year ago, where I offer the opportunity for others to translate any and/or all of posts into another language, post them translation themselves, and then keep all of the payout.
Following someone for a few days and complaining that they do not follow you back or upvote you, or attempting to lie to someone to make them like you has nothing to do with trying to interact in another language.
Yes, I realize that the example that I gave combined a person who did not speak English as their native tongue with some other aspects too, but that was not my intent or goal, to make fun of others.
I thank you for your respectful interaction.
@papa-pepper, I thank you so much for responding to me. I truly "Steemit love you" because you are a good person. It would have been easy for me not to comment, just ignore my confusion, and judge you unfairly as a result.
Papa, you are a leader of the people, just like Eva Peron (with the exceptions of being a man and some dark facial hair) LOL!
All joking aside, this is a lot of pressure for one person to bear. It comes with more responsibility "to always do the right thing" than most folks will ever know.
Thank you again for taking the time to provide clarification.
That's exactly how a descent human being and a great leader should act (in my humble opinion). :)
PS: I am upvoting this post at 100% Please continue to follow me LOL!
you have a beautiful heart, i got trough more texts of you today, and everytime i think beautiful person
You're doing a good job communicating @janine-ariane! Welcome to Steemit.
I was actually joking with @papa-pepper about continuing to follow me because I'm never quite sure (myself) how a comment is going to be interpreted and this is what his post is about. Specifically people asking for others to vote for them when they don't have a relationship established or their comment isn't even relevant to the post. Just so that I am perfectly clear, you should never ask anyone to upvote or follow you. They should take these actions only if they truly like what you have contributed. I have gone to your blog and I am absolutely thrilled to learn that you are from Belgium and that you're a massage therapist. I am too and I own a beauty salon in Canada, but was trained in Swedish style massage which will be similar to any European technique. I hold many professional licenses but am not a hairstylist. You and I have a lot in common. I have followed you for this reason and I will help you where I can. Ask questions and I will do my best to give you accurate answers. Steemit is all about building relationships and trust with other people, just like when you are working on one of your clients. You would never expect a stranger to do something for you, so make it your business to be honest and get to know people. When you have proven that you are consistent and are providing value, people will naturally want to follow and upvote you. Best of luck and thanks for having the courage to reach out. :)
yes i read that you are massage therapist :-) I used to have my own business. but i stopped with it after my mum passed away. Now slowly slowly work again for a friend with a beautifull shop here in the neighbourhood. I do miss to do facials, her daughter does them :-( I loved it, i also used to work with fresh products. Veges and fruit in the beauty cabin, as well as all the essential oils offcourse. Yes i will love to interact with you about this things. Thank you for your answers and thank you for the compliment about my communication skills. I am to curious to keep on walking in the dark want to know the inside and the outside, i only can not always follow it. Thanks for your warm welcome. I now go to sleep with a totally forfilled happy feeling :-) Tomorrow my husband and i planned a day to the family sauna, so i will have something in the evening to talk about :-)
Beautiful! This is exactly what to do. Take us and show us what you do in your life. I can't wait to read about the sauna experience in your country. Generally you want to write about things that light you up and makes your soul shine. Always include at least one picture so that you have a thumbnail show up in the feed. The first picture used will be what people see in their feed and landscape works better than portrait when it comes to the first photo. Have a good sleep and I will watch for your sauna post. :)
Ithink the difference is WHAT they say they can be ever so lovely and goodwilling to you that does not mean they actually read what you wrote. And let be fair, we all write to be read. When you can see someone copied and pasted your text first to translate it in their lanquage and afterwoulds there answer translated in english, you fins some how something of your text back in the sentences. But just saying, you are so good, i follow you i want to see more of you often etcetera? what has that got to do with what you wrote? I understand you that is a no go. Do not take me wrong, i only have to see an old man in a bed and i allready upvote do not have to have any explanation. Like buying of my consience ? I am original dutch married to an englishman but English is still a struggle :-) Please upvote me now? I did go in to your text and made comment... hahah Sorry :-)
Right, the least a comment could do is to have something to do with your post.
I hear what you're saying and we do have to be sensitive to non English speakers. But I knew what he was saying because I've experienced the same thing. There are a ton of people (or bots) out there that basically harass people this way.
I have also experienced a non native English speaker with a comment like that. My gut told me he was not one of the typical scammer/bot and I looked at his profile. I did find him to be a young person from another country trying to get started. I took the time to let him know about the way he commented and to try to avoid doing that. He listened.
Unfortunately with all the scammer/bot comments like these that @papa-pepper is highlighting, too many non native English speakers can see this as an example for them. Most of the time I just ignore those comments, but this posts gives people a chance to let off a little steem. :)
Thank you for taking a few minutes to read, think and then comment @aboutyourbiz.
The fact that people even find themselves needing to let off steam or vent their annoyance says to me that we need a more constructive way to deal with the issues of programmed bots. More specifically how their roles have developed on this platform and whom they target. Based on what I have observed, many target new people with comments that look like they have been awarded something of merit or accomplishment and then softly sell that if they upvote they will be supported or they will be supporting someone even newer than they are. I think this teaches that it's ok to ask for upvotes and follows.
Combine that, with one of the first things that new people learn, which is to do whatever they can to attract the attention of folks who have higher reputation scores and try to get them to take notice. People want to succeed.
Isn't that part of the reason that most people have chosen to comment the way they have on this post?
They have done so because they want to be acknowledged and counted as fully supporting the issues that have been brought forward and/or they are attempting to secure the author's attention so that they might receive an award of SBD for their comment or inclusion in a song that satirically may poke fun at this moment in Steemit's history.
It is human nature to commiserate in negativity with other people as a way to form bonds of friendship.
As a person's reputation increases so does the responsibility of that person to "care" for the community at large, "constructively". This level of responsibility constantly escalates. It never stops and unfortunately it does put the people at "the top" at a different level of socially "expected" behaviour, because their actions and opinions carry so much more weight. These opinions can be really helpful or completely devastating. So I am suggesting that with @papa-pepper's current level of reputation (like it or not) he has moved into another league of expected behaviour as he is a global leader on this platform and as such will be held accountable for his actions in a much different way than others with lower reputations and lower public visibility.
The top is a lonely place to be and it's not all roses. You must think of every single ramification that your words will create and specifically how those words will be interpreted.
Thank you for thinking and being confident enough to start a communication thread about it. :)
If it were up to me, I'd ban the use of bots entirely because I think it would level the playing field and make the game more fair. In my eyes a decision must be made: is Steemit a social platform or is it an artificial construct of bot-ism?
You make salient points.
In my short time on Steemit I don’t know if the bot problem has gotten worse or I’ve just become more aware of it, but it is definitely something that could at some point cause steemit to go the way of myspace. I’m not interested in being social with bots. And I don’t see action being taken to stem the tide. Maybe it’s happening in the background, I don’t know. And I don’t know what that action should be anyway.
I do believe the bots can also influence some ESL people in the way they comment. People try to learn by copying what they see, I’ve done it, like how to fill out some form you have to turn in. That too is human nature.
And let’s be honest, there are ESL scammers/bot programmers too, not just on Steemit. I had an experience with one a couple years back when I had put a burial plot on craigslist for my parents. (They had moved and wanted to sell it and get another one where they moved to) Anyway, I got an email from someone telling me their father had died and they needed to get his body to the US for burial and they would give me more money than I was asking to sell but I needed to give them my bank account number.
As to the reputation responsibility you have a valid point. I see it just a little differently though. (Think 3 blind men trying to describe an elephant by feel, different perspective). I agree that as your reputation grows so does your responsibility to lead by example. The trouble is as your reputation grows you don’t become more saintly or less human. You’re still you, human, and people make mistakes.
I’m still not convinced @papa-pepper made a mistake with this post, but I do see how someone could think he did. And while I’m not willing to hold him to a standard of perfection in posting, which is what this ultimately leads to by definition:
I am going to watch his response when someone diplomatically draws his attention to a possible issue just like you did. I believe this is where he differentiates himself as a leader, in his response. He’s allowed to make mistakes, but how does he handle the repercussions of his actions?
So basically while what you said in the above quote is true, I believe the application should be made to their response to their mistake or perceived mistake, not to expecting no mistakes.
In this case, I don’t think @papa-pepper did anything that would sully his reputation, and I think you may agree based on your response to his response to you.
Let’s hope Steemit stays a social platform and doesn’t become an artificial construct of bot-ism :)
I agree completely. Not one of us is perfect. I have stood by @papa-pepper's side from the beginning and will continue to do so as long as my values continue to align with his or I understand why they don't and I still make the decision to continue.
I think that his post was a true reflection of what was on his mind at the time that he wrote it. It's his opinion, just as I have formed my opinion of his words and why I asked for further clarification because I truly do think that he has everyone's (who is real) best interests at heart. He has always supported the people and gone above and beyond to help and include everyone. He has demonstrated this time and time again, whether it is driving 100's of miles with his family to make sure someone in need had what they needed in times of crisis. He has also worked very hard to support a translation program that he developed to help others who don't speak English as their first language. When I read this particular post, it didn't seem to align with his normal "helping, let's find a solution to a problem" style. I could have easily skipped leaving a comment and simply un-followed him. No one would have been the wiser but it felt to me like a lynch mob was forming as I read through all the comments and I did read about 100 of them. In doing so I quickly realized that one Steemian was attempting to out-do the wit of the next in a bashing-style competition.
It felt like bullying to me and I couldn't sit back and turn a blind eye because that's like saying that I find this behaviour to be an acceptable way to solve a problem that is impacting us all.
I am not perfect and nor is @pappa-pepper. The fact that he chose to upvote my comment to the placement where it currently sits and he acknowledged my original comment at all, tells me that he is currently thinking a little deeper. Thinking is good, blindly following for acceptance is not (in my humble opinion, of course) and I suppose that it high-lights the dangers embedded in "groupthink".
It's dysfunctional decision-making. If we all think bots and scammers are negative, then let's simply get rid of them and move on.
Just catching up on some of this conversation now. What an interesting read and solid discussion to observe. Thanks for having it.
Some of the bots can use interesting language spinners too, which can appear to be from non English speakers. I have never flagged the poor comments, and like to encourage and instruct when I can too. If we can help others, so can they, and then together we can all improve.
I have not checked my feed for a few days it seems (where does the time go?) and found this very intriguing conversation about comments. I too have experienced similar comments from what appears to be a bad translation and thought it was from a bot. I took the time to look at the poster's profile and saw that the comment to me was in fact unique and not one that was repeated on many posts. I gave them an up-vote.
I've also seen the opposite, where I saw the same message in their out-going comments repeated more times than I cared to scroll through. In that case I simply wrote them back asking them to write something a little more personal. In those cases I generally do not get a response. I suspect it's because it is a bot account and nobody even reads anything that is sent to it.
I have much respect (and frankly, I don't know how people like @papa-pepper find the time to do the research) for people who are able to screen so many messages and make reasonable responses to so many comments. That is a skill I doubt I will ever master.
Thanks for adding to the conversation @happyme. There are actually a few really interesting topics wrapped up in this post. All of us "super-early adopters" hold some responsibility to lead and help the community at large to make the "truly" global leap. I hope one day soon, we will have representation from every single country and we can all get there without going crazy in the growth/evolution process.
hello @papa-pepper. I am very interest. Your story very clear. I tell my grandchildren be like pepper. I appreciate you make this community. You help my child by learning to be good steemian. Story has good point and beautiful understanding. My chilldren are looking and resteem like me. @papa-pepper pls... I watch your story everytime, I go to toilet.
My mother say @papa-pepper is very beautiful and story like good talking. I talk about you to her, more then I talk about my wife. I think my wife is jealous. She know how I like you. When my mother put me to sleep she say to me. Futurethinker you remember to upvote papa-pepper? I say ofcourse , I never forget. Pls @papa-pepper
Thank you, vote me and my children
We pray your good luck
Thank you for that!
Hahaha I had fun making my comment. Sometimes these comments can be demotivating, but mostly they give me a good laugh.
Good idea man! @papa-pepper
I no Engsquish very Good - Butt just wanted to tell you Drpepper that your post is very information. Very information indeed.
I am small boy from village in Tinquuginny-a -tut- tut. You probably don't know where that is but it be far far away. A no good place that make my feet smell bad and my pockets empty. Even though just a small boy I also have 5 babies that I must support. I am not doing so good Dr Pepper and that is why I hope that you will follow me. Your upvote feeds my entire family for a week in Tinquuginny-a -tut- tut. If you help my family with a follow and upvote we may live! Please help us live DrPepper. I upvote all your posts please upvote all mine now...so that my babies may live! You want my babies to live don't you?
I wanted to let you know that should you upvote and follow I will make a small statue of you in my village. I will make all the villagers worship you as a god. Yes, I will bring all my little babies and they shall worship you too. We all worship at your stinky feet. Everytime you upvote me I will kill a goat Dr.Pepper
UPVOTE AND FOLLOW ME AND BECOME A GOD AMONG MY PEOPLE!
PS.
Wow great post, lots of information.
haha amazing! be my friend 😘
Always!
You win the internets this time👏🏽
It's pretty intense, the internet is a hard game to win... but you just gotta get focused and bring your A game. I've been training for years.
That was so funny it hurt
Hahahaha @artwatch, this is a "coffee spewer" for sure! :)
Definitely upvotable... brings to mind some of the finest email chain letters of the early days on the web!
Your post is so very good. You win Internet for today! I believe you are the Cooper Anderson from CNN come to Steemit and spread truth bombs.
I have follow you, will you follow me? You can find my latest post that has nothing to do with your post HERE. Since I upvote you 100, you upvote me 100 too okay?
In meantime, will you enjoy my art of Mr Ned?
Omg I had to walk out of my office bc I couldn’t stop laughing at that image. Ho-Lee crap dude. You win like the entire world today.
omg... :)
This is only so funny because it is so true, we all have received comments like that. Sometimes I wonder if they accidentally commented on the wrong post. I upvoted you by the way with 100% of my 1cent worth of vote! You follow me and marry my youngest daughter now, or what?
And marry my youngest daughter!!! Bwhahahaha!!!
@mikepm74 Super funny!
That picture of Mr. Ned though. omg.
All you base are belong to me...
HAHA! Someone had to say it!
You win! We're not worthy!
I am the Steemit spelling nazi:
All youR base are belong to us
And you're wrong. :D
I deliberately spelled it like that :p
Note the 'me' at the end too :D
I have no problem being wrong. ;-)
You, sir, are a rare human indeed. Pleased to meet you :)
Please to meet you too, although I already read some of your posts.
Ah, so you already know what sense of humour I have at my disposal :)
I hope you enjoy them :)
I remember a few of your posts too... your family from Cameroon was interesting reading.
I am only 25 years old in the current episode, in 1974.
My two Cameroonian children will arrive in France in 1986 and 1987.
Hah! That just HAD to be said-- brilliant!
Okey peepee-papa I leaf reel comnent for yiou. I reteem you reteem ! Make mi wordl brite for i steaming fan n yiou best to fellow so fellow mi to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you don't follow me I suicide... I follow you, your bathroom needs nicer tiles.... I up voted you all my cents, why you no throw me dolla dolla bills y'all?.... Your comments is great, I'm pregnant with your baby... You art much nicer than my last victim.... I mrbatted to yer post, upvote me for vid.... Or personal favorite... Np f4f u4u?
You'll note none of these are discriminatory of English skills.
Lol 😂 too funny.
haha, amazing! be my friend 😘
Papa-pepper, I can understand your being miffed with the bot thing, I too get annoyed and have spoken out about them but I have a very hard time trying to understand why you of all people would suddenly, after helping so many on this platform, after all the great posts, belittle those who come from a different part of the world, those who are brought up not understanding how we here in the west think. Our values are different, we too them live in a place of prosperity. They are trying to emulate the west, they want to climb out of their situations, they want to be like you, they see your payouts.
We may read their comments and smile at the combination of words and the spelling mistakes. You except for the spam and bots should be grateful that they want to be like you, like papa-pepper, they do not understand the hard, dedicated work, the time and money that you have invested in the Steemit platform. They try in their broken English in the only way they know how. They are learning, look how the follow for follow has dropped off!
I am not an advocate for them, I believe in fairness for all, anyone who follows me knows this.
I fully understand the possible repercussions this comment may bring, so be it, but to sit back and watch a faction of people made fun of because they don't fully understand the English language, by a person or persons who consider themselves highly educated, for me is wrong.
To seek a laugh or higher reputation and or money at someone else's expense, to me is also wrong.
I am torn wether I should resteem your post, but I will decline.
My Mohawk Grandfather taught me, "a thought is formed in the head, but should always be passed through the heart before spoken"..............billytwohearts
Haha! Great post!
This was such a nice thing to read and come across today. I get your point and like how nonjudgmental you are. But I also get what @papa-pepper means. I don't think he is really trying to make fun of such people; just trying to express his sentiments. Nonetheless, I do agree with what you said too. :)
It is important to differentiate between what is making these comments funny. As an ESL teacher for many years - I cannot say that I have never laughed - some errors are so cute! I have been laughed at more times than I can count in my life long mission to speak spanish.
But the funniness here, to me, is not based on orthographic errors, but something deeper - I'm not sure all of the commenters have the same idea.
please refer to my comment to see what I mean (All reading this, not just you Sharoon ;p)
I don't think you should assume anyones intent. In fact that in itself is truly judgemental and your own form of disillusionment regarding someones character. Perhaps some of these comments are humorous yet dismal reflections of reality.
Poverty and education is something we all should be thinking about. We can't deny that their is a gap. Sometimes it is kinda funny.... if it doesn't at the same time make you feel a little helpless to change anything. I think the best humor is a bitter satire about the world, perhaps I enjoy comedy that the average man can relate to. The unspoken joke that is merely a sad commentary on the world around us. So often even that is censored, even when it is but a mere parody.
I am glad that there are people like you in the world, believe me. Just as I am glad there are people in the world who I can be open and honest with. Honesty is a hard thing to swallow especailly when it is wrapped up in spicy jokes.
Anyways...
Not my cross. I'm just here for the laughs. You know....?
Hello! I have not followed everything you said but it sounds so good I would like you to give me another chance!
To be clear - in the learning of another language - there is humor! We will all make mistakes and when I teach I try to use laughter positively. I also embarrass myself plenty by trying to learn and speak the language of those that I am teaching, thus showing them that making mistakes and laughing about it is good and healthy way to learn!
Also for clarification - this 'type of comment' that this particular article is referring to is not necessarily about bad english. I see now that are saying bot-spinners not second language speakers to refer to the odd construction of language. I think that I showed with my above comment to this post that it is possible to be completely irrelevant of the topic in perfectly eloquent english.
In the end, I use steemit to give me a wide variety of creative challenges, to give me an excuse to write, interact and let my creative juices flow! So here I am, spinning irrelevant copy-pasteable comments with all of you ;p
Thank you for the comment. It was not just what papa pepper had posted but also at the type of response that the post had attracted............billytwohearts
I feel the same and I have left my own comment to reflect my feelings.
Thank you for your very valid point. I can see where my post can be taken that way. I appreciate you honestly evaluating my post and sharing your thoughts on it.
I follow you, you follow I, they follow we, all snuggle under light of moon :)
I vote you witness, please vote me witness, but we see nothing!
Rofl