RE: Some more Newbie Tips for well… Newbies!
My Prime Directive while the price of Steem has been so ... shall we say, disappointing ... has been to maintain the voting value to our present members -- the ones who've been loyal and stayed with us ... the ones who put their heads down and kept moving forward, into the teeth of the storm. That means something. And I've looked for every way I could find to let them know that when they go the extra mile -- so will I.
My priority -- for better or worse -- has been to take care of our own as much as I could possibly manage, to keep morale up and distribute as many rewards as I control as fairly as possible.
Letting in a bunch of johnny-come-lately's and saying, "Ok, we've got a bunch of new people. Now you guys can take less." ... didn't make much headway on my agenda.
Also, not everyone who shows up at the door is ... shall we say suitable. I do have my eye on some new ones, and I'll be approaching some of them -- possibly later this week. But you really can't "apply" to The STEEM Engine. You have to be invited in ... and understand (and agree with) our mission ... which is to promote both engagement and excellent content.
To be considered for an invitation requires the recommendation of an existing member. Then I'll review that person's blog and see if they're apt to be a good candidate for membership here. (Things like "perceived temperament" also count. TBH, I get all the drama I want elsewhere. )
We have a terrific group. I enjoy each and every one of them. But also ... again, TBH, there has been a decline in "quality" on Steemit in general in a whole lot of cases. Even some of the accounts I know are able to hold their own on quality and engagement have fallen off recently ... back to doing things that barely "keep a toe in the water" while they wait to see what happens on Steemit.
I can't say that I blame them for that one bit, but I also resist the idea of saying, "Hey, we've got a brand new member, folks" ... and they find that what he has to show for himself doesn't say much.
(It's a challenge!!)
I know this comment makes me sound cranky and unpleasant -- more than usual anyway. Life has handed me a lot of "stuff" lately -- and I'm still plowing through it. But I look forward to expanding our horizons again. There are still some wonderful people out there who deserve a lot more than they're getting. I know that, too.
Srsly.
Thank you for this series, @slobberchops. It's a valuable contribution.
Understand where you're coming from. To get in TSE for me was a challenge and I'm sure you remember the story and what I had to do to attain my goal. Can others do such things, and would that work in today's world?
I'm sure it would help, and any reader who takes all this bumf in that I write above will be able to figure that out. Just do me a favour and stick around, will you?
Well, if you want to know the real story-behind-the-story, I had noticed you in my travels before you showed up at the door. I thought you showed real promise (especially compared to what we were dealing with at the time) but you were still getting your feet under you. I wondered whether you had to tenacity to make it happen -- and in that you've been a terrific surprise. I've used your name and the word "irony" in our server lately. This is part of it. (Look back at some of your early work and you'll see what I mean, I'm sure.) You've turned out to be one of our best. (That "temperament" thing also works in your favor.) We're happy to have you. And fortunate, too. (In case I haven't said so specifically ... there you go.)
As to whether or not your experience would work in today's world -- probably not in the same way. For one thing, when one of our members mentions someone to consider, keep in mind ... s/he's recommending your work and going to bat for you. That kind of judgment counts! It should also help with the "quality" issue. (At least that's the theory I'm working on.)
Did you know someone (besides me) who was impressed enough to put your name and content up for consideration back in the day? Hmmm. Makes you think, doesn't it?
I didn't know that. I saw.. 'this is my standard rejection reply'.. from the 'cat', but then he seemed to have second thoughts... haha.. its so long ago now and the memory kind of makes me smile.
I had similar issues with @qurator, but for different reasons. I don't really follow them anymore, but still give them a vote for a vote.
I did see, though I don't interact much on discord now.
I will keep an eye out, due to the crap price of STEEM many are unwilling to put in the effort, so finding the potential is harder. It could be there, but at 40c per.. compared to $2.80 per.. when I started, that $ holds some sway.
I knew nobody when I started, and did it the hard way. Glad I did TBH, boot camp hardens you and makes you learn.