Suffering time

I was writing before bed (what seems too few hours ago) how many of people's complaints with Steem are not Steem related, but personal. I meet quite a few people in my world who believe they are correct in action but complain about the situations they find themselves in, without considering if it is them, not circumstances that cause their suffering.

When it come to Steem, many take an idealistic view of the ecosystem without recognising that their view is heavily biased, an ideal they have imagined that suits their agenda. Often, it is narrow focused and doesn't factor in other situations, often an ideal in one aspect conflicts with an ideal in another. Competing desires.

It is interesting how many well-read people there are struggling and suffering through life. Some consume information much like a gamer consumes a new game, for pleasure, not practical consideration. On Steem it is no different.

People want to do what they want on Steem but also expect to get the results they want from doing it, without thinking if what they do leads to what they want. Your voice is worth something, 0 is a numerical value also. Although far from perfect, the system is somewhat freer in potential reward than centralized platforms but, it doesn't mean that everything is rewarded.

There are still relationship components between post and audience and to get rewarded for content generally requires some type of purchase agreement at some point by the voter. Not all approaches are going to get the same feedback loop, positive or negative.

Someone who is aggressive or abrasive is unlikely to get as much positive engagement as someone who is personable, someone who continually complains is usually less likeable as a character than one who is easy going.

Personal preference plays a heavy role in what kinds of content or people get supported, and this is everywhere in the world we inhabit. Ideals of aesthetics matter when making a purchase, and this includes the look of information bought. If an idea fits into someone's preferential model, they are more willing to accept it than if it doesn't.

An idea presented by a Democrat to a Democrat carries more weight than if it comes from a republican. A Trump supporter will overlook behaviours in Trump they wouldn't accept in another US president, especially from a different party. These biases have very little to do with what one believes is correct.

Personally, I don't mind making mistakes which is why I often use maybe, perhaps and possibly type words here, as it is a clear indicator to the audience that the decisions made on the information is theirs. We all live a life of our decision purchases but what does this say about those who believe they are correct but suffer? Pain is physical, suffering psychological as I see it, which means that even if physical circumstances cause pain, there is a chance to reduce suffering.

It doesn't mean it is easy, but a mind that isn't suffering is more capable to deal with the circumstances causing physical pain than one that is under psychological duress. People often try avoiding their suffering by avoiding what causes them pain. They bury themselves into a pleasure activity instead of dealing with the root cause of their problems. For some it is gaming or drugs, for others it is shopping, news or internet discussion. All the same, just different forms.

Sometimes I wonder what practical steps people take to face their life challenges but then, unless it helps me face my own, what is the point? It would just be another type of avoidance, like worrying about paying the bills but spending time reading what Brad Pitt is doing or, browsing memes on the latest engineered internet drama.

Of course, some people find their avoidance activity of the utmost importance and try to draw others into their world for validation purposes but, not everyone need buy in. At least for me, I find most of what people do on the internet useless as it doesn't seem to add to quality of life. But, who am I to judge, they have their own 80-odd average years to live and how they spend it is up to them.

My job is to spend mine the best I can and doing what I consider a waste of my time is not it. I could be wrong in what I consider a waste but, such is life.

Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
_{(posted from phone)}