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Hello everyone, four days ago made it exactly three months I became a part of the steem blockchain. It has been an enlightening adventure, and there's been so much rub-off of knowledge and wit the past couple of months, and being here, I KNOW I'm not how I used to be. – I've been better.

So I thought I'd share some of the cool things I've learnt so far. Granted, we've been here for a while, and there's been lots of amazing blogposts and meaningful contributions by several cool users. And i see there is a connection through all of it, which in essence, is what makes steem tick. I'll keep it pretty basic –Nothing too complicated.

So, starting off:

Imagine yourself as a newbie to the platform. A teeny weeny plankton! The chill and nervousness you got when you were gonna write that introductory post. you just couldn't wait to get started. right? we all felt that way too.

Fast-forward. >>>
Now, you have grown to be better on here. heck! 😎 you've grown so well, You probably are a whale now.

How did you know this would work?

How did you know it wouldn't turn out to be one huge mistake afterall, what if it really was too good to be true?

What convinced you to invest the effort, money and the hours?

Why did you stay?

In answering these questions, we need not focus on the cash too much. Sure! Cash is good, but cash can only do so much. We've known several other platforms that were totally run on cash to collapse. There was simply no trust system, no plans for sustainability or development. Nothing!.

The answers are embedded in a single word: Community!

When I joined steemit, the first page I landed on was the welcome page, and it had on top of it these words that pretty much sums up a lot of things that happens here:

Come for the rewards, stay for the community!

Welcome to steemit, come for the rewards, Stay for the community!

That, in my opinion is single-handedly the most important quote on the steem blockchain!

Sadly, I'm pretty sure some people might have missed that quote in a haste. I, for one, simply glanced and scrolled past it!, never really taking the time to grasp the truth in those words, not until recently. However, when I did, I started (slowly) applying a bit of it to my blog and my offline life as well. The results have been great! Looking back now, I'm overwhelmed.

What community means!

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Community is a group of people having common goals, interests, laws and understanding.

The English dictionary defines social media community as:

A group of people interacting by electronic means for social, professional, educational or other purposes; a virtual community.

Which ever definition resonates more to your understanding of the word community, it infuses into it the keywords "people", "common", "together" "communication"

Below are a few ways that community builds us, and more reason we should stick to this platform and give our all for the long-term gains of the community!

Community makes us stronger; community bonds us together.

By learning, networking, sharing and getting to relate with others experts – whether they're in our preferred areas of work and study or not,– we build bonds and bring the world a lot closer to each other.

Being on here for over 90 days, my scope sure has widened. I've become more aware of some really great cultures and peoples around the world. I probably wouldn't have come across them in a book or someplace else. So far, it's worked wonders in teaching me to be more accommodating, changed my perspectives and attitude towards different people for the greater good, as well as my response to worldwide stereotypes.

For some of the huge benefits steemit users enjoy, Here is an article written last year where @dmitriybtc gives 27 reasons to join steemit

Community shares and gives.. (values, votes, ideas.)

A rising tide lifts all boats.

Being "community minded" means helping and assisting others with good dreams and ambitions in the little way you can. You're a team player now. You simply accept these rules and see if they could work for the good of the community. You're not out to steal ideas, scam, marginalize or bring people down.

You aren't here to look after yourself alone.

Rather, you're here to build, to help others grow and support good values and ethics on the internet.

Being community minded means being committed too, (see how that word fits in conveniently?). You're committed to seeing the long term visions and goals of the leaders come to fruition.

Community protects the system.

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Rather than explore various loops and means to exploit the system for selfish gains, each citizen is rather on the lookout for harmful practices in the community and tries to expell them. Comment spam and votes, shill factories, boosting plagiarized material to the trending page, and the many various methods deviced to game the system are NOT ACCEPTABLE.

One of such groups meant to protect the steem blockchain community are the Steemcleaners, who have so far done a great job at reducing plagiarism and other vices on here.

You might not have tons of Steempower to take on the bad guys. However, you could always report such posts here to the @steemcleaners team, and as well read their guide here to be in the know.

However, if you've got what it takes to make things right, one way you could assist is to flag activities that tend to undermine the values that the community stands for!

Community develops, builds and improves.

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With SMTs and many other projects coming up soon, There's a real need for developments in various areas of the community. As a steemitizen, one way you could help is by proffering suggestions, contributions and reporting bugs to utopian.io and other open-sourced projects, amongst many other things. You don't even have to be a geek to be good at all of this.

Here's what @dan had to say in an interview sometime ago:

Steemit has a potential to exist not only as a social network but to become “an alternative social economy that is bootstrapped though social media.

Collective efforts of steemians to build the platform to greater heights is highly encouraged.

What are your contributions to open source?

There are projects and sub-communities such as sndbox, airclinic, stach, youarehope, steemgigs, adsactly, voronoi's blocktown art project, etc...

Community seeks the best in you!

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Steemit has a way of pushing you to being more creative with whatever you've got going on.
The community is all out ) quality rather than quantity. And there are tons of tutorials, educational articles, life hack tips to get you going.

Sure, there are a lot of other social media platforms on the internet, and they have exciting contents too However, we have things planned out in a different way. We are uniquely something new and in no mood to compete. With steemit, you see diversity, and hope.

In her first entry to the #my2017 contest organized by @anomadsoul last week, @ir3k gives us a glimpse of how creative she could get for a grandmum when she wrote;

Here I've been inspired to write, and draw, and paint, and make selfies. Steemit is a community to me, where I express myself without fear.
I enjoy being here.

Isn't that true for many others out there? Isn't it true for you too? The chance to relive those youthful times by doing the things you loved doing. You might not be a best seller tomorrow –after all, not everyone get to be one–. but I asseverate, you cannot be on steemit and not feel the tickles to do something great.

Listen, at such times that happens, don't ever let that thought go! go for it! you have it in you to create!

Little wonder why @rok-sivante said

You and I are co-creators. Collaborators of consciousness. all of us, creators in motion.
Together, every single moment

By the way, if you haven't already seen the contest by @anomadsoul, you're still on time and this is the second week. Get an overview of what the contest is structured like here

Community communicates.

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The name 'community' itself has a direct correlation with the term communication. come to think of it, – What the hell are we all doing here if it ain't to communicate with our world and with each other?

Without communication, there could be no progress. No one could really get to know the other, and that is the harbinger of chaos and disorder.

The money as a means to incentivize authors.

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If you've been a blogger or a writer coming from a different space, you could reckon with me that it takes quite a draconian effort to compete in those places. There's no such thing as a community out there. the connectedness is a bit too choked, plagiarism and what-nots go unnoticed. and you work so hard and get so little out of it.

Steemit doesn't take away the need for hardwork though, but it creates a more seamless way to interact with a lot of people directly. and being built on the blockchain, paves the way for transparency and trust. It also doesn’t runs ads, instead you’re rewarded for your efforts from thousands of people who liked your content. not to mention it's fun too...

Here's the thing;

You aren't here to hoard cash

We should avoid the mindset of:

get all you can,
Can all you get,
and then sit on the can.

The money is really meant as an encouragment and approval from the community. It tells you "Hey, we love what you're doing, keep it up."

The money is meant to help and support your dreams and the dreams of others. It places you in a position of more responsibility to the people around you, So we get to see a better world tomorrow.

The blockchain recently recorded a million transactions. If anything, we're growing really fast. The steemvirus is spreading. Be responsible.

My take on mass publicity. – I'm not a huge fan.

Yes, it's true steemit is for everyone. However, i'm not a big fan of mass publicity, reasons being that it sometimes attracts the wrong kinds of people too. We've seen that happen in the recent weeks; New steemians involved in comment spams, vote begging and plagiarism all over the place. They would try anything to game the system in a bid to get to the top.

Don't misunderstand, everyone deserves to be here, but in making that happen, there has to be proper training on the right mindset to steemit.

I am a promoter. and as promoters, the onus is on us to let them know that Plagiarism and other nefarious intentions are frowned upon by the community. Lets spell it out to them that we do not pick money on the streets here, that everyone has to put in their bests, Submit to the process and just let things work out fine.

Here's an interesting anime video by @berniesanders that really got to me.

Warning; If you find the words fuck and fucking to be too intense, you might wanna skip this.

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Having fun yet? bring it on!

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With the festivities on the rise this week, I've thought about several ways to celebrate the season, put smiles on the faces of the people around me, and grow the community by bringing in well-meaning individuals.

And I have decided I'm gonna be spending the holidays this time in the beautiful city of Uyo, and then portharcourt as soon as the new year breaks out.

_{around the uyo plaza last night}

I just arrived the city of Uyo last night, and I'm lodging with a friend of mine @jamesub in his home.

I'm here to be spontaneous, to unwind and have fun! so feel free to stick around for a bit of this spontaneity.

You having fun too? Bring it on!

Go ahead and take those snapshots and make that video. Whether you're singing christmas carols with your family and friends at sunset, or you're out on a late night diner with a few friends, – Whatever, Steem-it! Let's light the blockchain up!

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I would like to conclude with some really good lines written by @lorilikes (One of the many cool people i've come to know on steemit):

I see you, Steemit. I really do.
Every hopeful, incredible face and font.
I see you. For REAL...

I vow to stay watchful and mindful and to listen and... I promise to read you, one by one.
I hope you will see me, and read me... too. – @lorilikes.

Here's angry Santa crab saying: Give equal opportunities and community a chance. Say no to abuse!

Be Good!

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Love,

@pangoli

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_{Would be great to have you onboard the #Air-Clinic server on discord. Here's the link to join if you're interested.
https://discord.gg/rqded5m}