First of all, "alohaploy" made me giggle. Second of all, I don't even know what to say, honestly. I guess I posted my goodbye post sort of out of disgust and to let whom ever might be out there watching know that there is serious disdain for what's been going on. I thought about just doing the walk away and never posting again without a word, but then that stinks for the 60 followers that I had accumulated too. I sort of wonder how many users have done just that.
I had read through the @dan post last night + all the comments, and there were several posts prior to his yesterday as well with concerns over what is going on in the whale community. I tend to watch and read and notice how it starts to evolve things and soon post after post is griping, complaining, but sometimes trying to offer solutions as well. The thing is, those solutions, while really great for the community, will never be implemented unless the whales see fit. That is the greatest downside I've seen so far...so many have found ways to game the system that is in place already that it's never going to be a level playing field for anyone. In knowing this, it's not a decentralized platform at all...it's a government ran by the upper 1%. Who really are the good guys?
The other thing that I happen to know that not many others would is that mining and witnessing are basically off limits for the average Joe. The only reason I happen to know this is that my husband is the tech guru from hell and thought it would be fun to get into either one. However, both sides are cinched up by whales and the like from the beginning. Now, that's not a big determining factor for me either way...the hubby was bummed that he didnt get to geek out. But, I think that it just shows more collusion.
I also understand your point that the platform itself and the community growing on it is a really beautiful thing. We could ignore the dudes behind the curtain who are pulling the strings for a while. But, what happens when they get tired and the strings are simply cut? You could say we don't lose anything either way and just enjoy the ride for what it is now...but how will you feel in 6 months when you have put your heart into building relationships and a following, and it ends up being another MySpace?
I thought a lot about all of this last night. A long time ago I was a day trader. I saw many people get wrapped up in the wrong end of a pump and dump, day after day. I watched people lose thousands and thousands because they believed the sharks. I couldn't do anything to stop it. So, I quit. Last night Steemit reminded me of those pump and dump schemes. I'm not talking about Steem or SBD...I'm talking about taking advantage of the hopes of people who just want a better life. As things are situated right now on Steemit the average minnow starting out has no chance of getting more than a few votes here and there. I got lucky a few times and got noticed by Curie. I thought that was really great at the time but after reading the comments on @dan s post last night it seems Curie is just another avenue to scheme while appearing to do goodwill.
I am a real person by the way...this made me giggle as well because all I could think of was the Mad Hatter "Are you, you, Alice?".
Sorry for the rambling, it's 2 am. Anyway, thank you for caring enough to troll me, lol. I will take a few days and think on it some more.