Is there a road back?
Is there any behavior on Steem that is unforgivable?
This is something that we should think about as while everyone can do what they want here, this is a social experience and there can be repercussions of actions. Steem is quite different to the normal social platforms as the introduction of a somewhat working economy that holds real-world value means that here is a higher propensity for emotional attachment. There is also a higher possibility of a scarcity mindset influencing behavior and giving rise to greed, jealousy and animosity.
However, I do not think that most people set out with the intent to do harm, but Steem is weird and can have strange effects on people who may otherwise behave quite differently. It seems to be in some way similar to intoxication, where impaired minds act out of character, and this is enhanced by the protection of pseudonimity, distance and the protection of the screen between.
I have seen people meltdown here, I have seen aggressive words, retaliatory downvoting, posts aimed to undermine and some of the most foul attempts to muddy names. I have seen and personally experienced these things. Is it unforgivable? Is there no way back into the community ever?
We see this in the real world where people are punished to the full for the slightest indiscretions as there is no longer nuance in the discussion. Someone saying the wrong word is treated as if they killed a person, an unwanted workplace advance treated as if they are serial rapists. The internet has no chill.
But do we have to be te same on Steem when it comes to things like retaliatory downvoting? If for example @dobartim and @flysky started supporting artists, if @me-tarzan, who has apparently taken 200,000 Steem from the pool by self-voting exclusively on his own accounts, started spreading it outward, would it change the community opinions?
I don't know, but I do no think that the only option for these accounts is to either powerdown and leave, or spend the rest of their days acting in ways that are likely to work against Steem and the community have to counteract their behavior. Instead, I think that Steem itself has found a nice middle ground at this point where consumers earn by supporting content creators.
Of course, this is where the scarcity mindset and greed comes into play as some will always want just a little bit more, no matter how much they already have or how little the difference helps them. It seems crazy to me at times that large stakeholders think that voting on themselves and a narrow group consistently is in their own best interest, especially considering that they must already know that they are likely going to get downvoted eventually and then, lose access to all kinds of community support. It seems very shortsighted.
But, short-sighted or not, I personally would much prefer to have as many of Steem's stakeholders working for Steem, not against it and I think if some of these kinds of accounts set out and started supporting some of the communities instead of trying to maximize their own holdings, they would likely grow well and help increase the value of the token they are invested in.
While people seem to think that they have the right to reward because they have bought Steem, they should know that they only have rights to the allocation and the potential f reward, However, one surefire way to profit on Steem is, push the value of the token above the price where anyone bought. A new All Time High would mean that all holders, no matter at what price they bought would be in the green.
That would be pretty sweet.
So what do you think, is there a way back into the community after negative actions and, what behaviors are unforgivable?
We are only human. Some of us anyway.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
![Onboarding](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://i.imgur.com/e6A1MiM.png)
Interesting query and I suppose it has a lot to do with individual personality.
I believe there is a place here for everyone. Every religious zealot. Every free speech advocate. Every basement troll. Every inspirational life coach, social justice warrior and business person.
I am empowered by my right to not subscribe to subject matter I don't want to see on my feed, and people I choose to interact with. I choose to live and let live, letting the people to be free to post what they wish and face the the rewards and consequences.
Where I don't have the control is when I am targeted. There are people I have supported a long time who get themselves into some flag wars because of their heightened reputation, stake, investment and passion. When I get caught up in that, I just count it as a right of passage and a lending of my light weight to a bigger cause.
Some of the passionate people who have become friends here have introduced themselves to me via a well crafted or passionate roast. @skramatters comes to mind and I kinda found @berniesanders entertaining.
This place is big and everyone will find their place. There will be confrontations in the grey areas but that is inevitable because of human nature. Plus, people have the ability and right to change and evolve as they fail and learn.
People don't need my forgiveness to thrive here. Though it is available.
This is key I believe as if there is no space to fail and recover, then the cost of trying is far too high. None of us are infallible, none of us are right-offs either. From a content perspective, I do not care what anyone posts, but there are always consequences and costs to actions of all types.
Yeah, there is very little that can be done in some cases. There is what you can control, what you can influence, and what you have no control over. For me, I play my game and do the best I can.
!ENGAGE 30
@zekepickleman you have received
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I made a comment a while back that a well-written post signalling the intent to change ones ways and some demonstration of that change would go a long way towards redemption in the eyes of others...Well, that's how it works in the real world sometimes. Here, I don't know.
There's a road back from any poor behaviour. It starts with a heartfelt sorry and some restorative behaviour. No, my mistake...It starts with letting go of ego and hubris...Two of human beings' most self-limiting traits. Then the apology and restorative behaviour.
The letting go of ego ad hubris is a difficult one these days as it seems that the go to action is to double-down and dig the heels in. I wonder how far Steem would be if it wasn't the case as often here.
!ENGAGE 20
Yes, a good point...I think that stems a little from the expectation ethos that the world is plagued with. An interesting question you ask but one we'll never know the answer to unfortunately. People can act as they please, generally...In the real world we have laws to follow and consequences if caught breaking them...Here, well there just consequences based on action...That's the good part...The community takes the action. Sort of tribal law I guess...But there's a way back for the abusers...And they can present themselves as the hero's of the blockchain knowing that they will be accepted back, mostly. (I refer to no one in particular here, just generally.)
Online there are very few consequences to actions it seems, so people are in the frame that what they do is okay. In real life there are other factors besides laws that temper actions and when one lives in a community, reputation and behavior matter to some degree. Not many people openly steal from their local store or set fire to their neighbours home - the only thing really stopping anyone doing anything are the consequences of actions that people fear, as well as their own character. Not everyone would steal or set fire to things regardless of whether they could or not.
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I agree most actions are redeemable if the person has sincere and honest intent, people do run out of patience, but for that there is downvoting.
I've only had one experience on Steem where someome took their freedom of speech a little too far (the kind of stuff that can get one killed in prison), and a downvote didn't feel adequate.
This is something that has to be addressed at some point, even though the interfaces themselves can choose not to show some content. I am not sure what the solution is though.
I certainly don't think there isn't a road back for the accounts mentioned in the post. To my knowledge, they have not lashed out with horrible, personal accusations, which personally I would find hard to forgive.
Some accounts have been called rapists, pedophiles, etc, and those dishing out that kind of accusation, I'm not sure I could forgive.
I remember death threats against someone's family back in 2017, I think that goes too far.
Yes for sure. It's time to leave when you've reached that level of anger.
The only person who has burned all bridges with me is noganoo. Everyone else has the potential for redemption in my eyes
Yep, I was just saying about that in a chat after what was said to Ausbit and Krystle back in the day.
I say everyone has a fair chance and a choice if they dont want to they should get checked and rekt if they want to they get respect and rep! Its up to the community set the incentives and penalties and no one should ve immune big or small!
People do not like this as they mistakenly think it communism. Community is and always has been a tempering force for humans and hopefully we are working toward a process that can scale past a single localized tribe, since we live connected globally.
Tossed out onto the Tweet
https://twitter.com/tarazkp1/status/1221901185323540481
I think there is more than one way back. I don't know how well someone can see or predict that path. Just make the move I guess. It takes sincerity, humility, a better approach of course. Then there's the environment (everyone else).
Balanced consideration, a little patience? ..willingness to take some risks risk shows strength and intelligence imo. Not very calculating. It's more about good nature and possibility.
Things that tend to be lacking in the attention economy.
Humanity is complex and community dynamics add more layers, which is why it is the responsibility of individuals to consider this for themselves.
just don't be an asshole and everything is posible.
(and i seen in the comments about death threats, but in that case it is not about shoul you be able to be in steem community it is about should you have access to a computer and internet)
Dead from the get go ;D
Yeah, some people believe that their actions will never be connected to their real lves, but this is the internet - eventually...
Things that come to mind would be provocative videos including child abuse or sexual assault...well that would be unforgivable. Snuff film in the likes as well.
Some of these other wrongs you mention like that @me-tarzan could be forgivable if they simply changed their ways and started looking at the Community in a different manner.
Yes. I think when it comes to certain things, there is a "universal law" that should be applied. Child abuse is one such area.