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Other => Random Discussion => Topic started by: Tuck Fheman on May 02, 2016, 09:36:41 pm

Title: Why are you still here???
Post by: Tuck Fheman on May 02, 2016, 09:36:41 pm
Why are you not using Steemit (https://steemit.com/trending)?
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: santaclause102 on May 02, 2016, 09:43:13 pm
Am I getting this right: https://steemit.com/politics/@donaldtrump/lets-talk-politics <- The OP of this post is getting paid 105 USD for having made that post?
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Akado on May 02, 2016, 09:48:22 pm
Am I getting this right: https://steemit.com/politics/@donaldtrump/lets-talk-politics <- The OP of this post is getting paid 105 USD for having made that post?

105,964.78 seems more like $100k to me. I haven't looked into steem so I don't know how it works. Could someone briefly explain? Obviously he wont get 100k for a post.
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Tuck Fheman on May 02, 2016, 10:25:45 pm
Am I getting this right: https://steemit.com/politics/@donaldtrump/lets-talk-politics <- The OP of this post is getting paid 105 USD for having made that post?

105,964.78 seems more like $100k to me. I haven't looked into steem so I don't know how it works. Could someone briefly explain? Obviously he wont get 100k for a post.

Yes, his pending payout is over $100,000. ;)

The way I understand it is, from now until July 4th there is a set amount of funds that will go out to all posters/upvoters/commenters. As that number increases (his payout was well over $140,000 days ago) the payouts are reduced. However, if more large stakeholders upvote the content, it could increase further.  So he is very likely to make at least over $50,000 (my guess) by the time July 4th comes.

The payouts are split 50/50 between Steemit Dollars (pretty much 1:1 with USD) and Steam Power (vesting shares), from what I remember. Still it's a helluva deal!
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: santaclause102 on May 02, 2016, 10:28:14 pm
That is ridiculous! I guess that is exactly the (public) reaction they want. Too funny.... Someone from the steem team needs to confirm the 100k before I believe it
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Xeldal on May 02, 2016, 10:38:42 pm
That is ridiculous! I guess that is exactly the (public) reaction they want. Too funny.... Someone from the steem team needs to confirm the 100k before I believe it

Here's an explanation from Dan Larimer himself (dantheman)
https://steemit.com/steem/@dantheman/how-to-interpret-steemits-post-valuations

//update:  Also I believe the payouts are paid in "vests"  so you would not be able to cash out and dump your rewards immediately, but weekly over a 2 year period whenever you decided to divest your "vests".
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: bytemaster on May 02, 2016, 10:50:18 pm
That is ridiculous! I guess that is exactly the (public) reaction they want. Too funny.... Someone from the steem team needs to confirm the 100k before I believe it

That DISCUSSION with all 21 comments is earning over $100K at this moment in time based upon the current price of STEEM and the amounts the network will award.

The number will fall dramatically as more people add content to "dilute" the rewards

I agree it is an obscene amount to pay for some political opinions from 21 people...  but no more obscene than paying $1 worth of STEEM for $.001 worth of hash power.    When people see the oversized payouts they should join in and compete to get their share until the actual payouts are inline with the current "difficulty".   

Note that half of the 100K is being paid to curators who are voting. 

It is literally free "share drop" on posters right now. All you need to do is create an account and start having discussions over there and earn free steem.
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: santaclause102 on May 02, 2016, 11:13:49 pm
That is ridiculous! I guess that is exactly the (public) reaction they want. Too funny.... Someone from the steem team needs to confirm the 100k before I believe it

Here's an explanation from Dan Larimer himself (dantheman)
https://steemit.com/steem/@dantheman/how-to-interpret-steemits-post-valuations

//update:  Also I believe the payouts are paid in "vests"  so you would not be able to cash out and dump your rewards immediately, but weekly over a 2 year period whenever you decided to divest your "vests".

Thanks for your answers. I made a comment on steem in the thread xeldal posted above), but there is no share link. Otherwise I could share my exact comment outside of steem (in this case, here).
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Tuck Fheman on May 03, 2016, 02:11:13 am
https://youtu.be/rhVmY3w3PkA

 ;)

This link is unlisted, please don't pass it around. Thank you!
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Louis on May 03, 2016, 03:20:01 pm
Is Facebook the only way to create an account? Would there be a way to create a normal account?
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: oldmine on May 03, 2016, 03:23:23 pm
I just clicked on the "Buy Steem" link on Steem and it takes me to Bittrex instead of Openledger. WTF?
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: svk on May 03, 2016, 05:12:11 pm
I just clicked on the "Buy Steem" link on Steem and it takes me to Bittrex instead of Openledger. WTF?
Yea that surprised me as well. It is where the volume is so far though unfortunately..
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Tuck Fheman on May 03, 2016, 05:47:06 pm
Is Facebook the only way to create an account? Would there be a way to create a normal account?

Nope. But you'll probably prefer that method over giving up your private key to login if you're on Windows.

https://steemit.com/steemhelp/@dele-puppy/register-bot

Linux + client is probably best method, but I have no knowledge for you on that method. @xeroc can probably help if needed.

Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Akado on May 03, 2016, 07:26:38 pm
And why does the website need to keep our private keys? That defeats the very purpose of private keys. And why do I need facebook to register? How can I create an account without facebook?
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Tuck Fheman on May 03, 2016, 09:04:30 pm
And why does the website need to keep our private keys? That defeats the very purpose of private keys. And why do I need facebook to register? How can I create an account without facebook?

https://steemit.com/steemhelp/@dele-puppy/register-bot
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: lafona on May 03, 2016, 10:21:37 pm
And why does the website need to keep our private keys? That defeats the very purpose of private keys. And why do I need facebook to register? How can I create an account without facebook?

https://steemit.com/steemhelp/@dele-puppy/register-bot
I dont believe the website keeps your private keys. From my understanding, the private key works the same way on steemit as it does with openledger. It is used to sign a transaction locally on your computer and then transmits the signed transaction. If you are concerned using your bitshares key, you can generate a new private key using suggest_brain_key in either the steem or bitshares cli wallet. How familiar/comfortable are you with the command line?
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: bobmaloney on May 04, 2016, 12:39:45 am
Why are you not using Steemit (https://steemit.com/trending)?

Because I get to easily distracted and failed to save my password correctly.

Now I'm locked out.

Luckily, they allow us simpletons to register via Facebook, so there must also be a password reset...right...?
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: thereverseflash on May 04, 2016, 02:13:20 am
No password reset, we don't have user keys.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: bobmaloney on May 04, 2016, 04:51:19 am
No password reset, we don't have user keys.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If that's the case, I highly recommend killing the facebook login.

A simple facebook login implies password reset availability.

Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: cryptillionaire on May 10, 2016, 10:05:57 pm
Why are you not using Steemit (https://steemit.com/trending)?
Because it requires you to prove your identity by linking your facebook account to your steemit account.
I enjoy my privacy & integrating facebook as a mandatory requirement for signup is out of the question.
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Methodise on May 11, 2016, 12:15:36 am
So, just like many people, I thought steemit.com was an actual April Fools Joke, when it came to be on 1st April. Then i buried my head in the sand because I'm a massively butthurt BitShares hodler, and I figured it represented competition. Now it is slowly dawning on me that Steemit is awesome, and you should all check it out - but be careful not to lose your password once you link it to your FB. And stay buying BitShares.

I got locked out ish somehow yesterday, but managed to recover, somehow. My sign-up was some kind of error, - it never happened but the site kept insisting that my account was already signed up. I deleted website history for a completely unrelated, non-pornographic reason (honestly) since then, and managed to get my FB linked to my preferred user name. Delightful.

Also, it seems possible to sign up to steemit.com without FB. https://steemit.com/steemhelp/@dele-puppy/register-bot

Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Stan on May 11, 2016, 12:23:31 am

Matthew 24:13

Just sayin'

Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Tuck Fheman on May 11, 2016, 02:23:43 am
Why are you not using Steemit (https://steemit.com/trending)?
Because it requires you to prove your identity by linking your facebook account to your steemit account.
I enjoy my privacy & integrating facebook as a mandatory requirement for signup is out of the question.

You can signup using a BTS account ... https://steemit.com/steemhelp/@dele-puppy/register-bot
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: chryspano on May 11, 2016, 09:58:49 am
Quote
Why are you still here???

hmm...

Backward compatibility?  :P :P
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Tuck Fheman on May 13, 2016, 11:38:49 pm
Nevermind, I realized why you guys are still here.

Steemit is all about money.

And money turns people into aholes, and it's no fun being around people who only think about money.

It's ridiculous. That site would be better off if they just took their precious money out of the equation altogether.

You have people arguing over who posted what first because they think they won't get their cut of the money, the Dev's not excluded.

Others beg you to give them a cut of the money you made on a post.

Then you get people making accusations and judgements for simply trying to help a guy figure out a way to create a poll ... oh yeah, it was done for "the payout".  ::)

Self-righteous much?

It's sad to see such a good idea (or people) become absorbed by "the almighty dolla dolla bill", but I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

What's funny is my colleague wrote a 10,000+ (correction) 2,400+ word review of Steemit last week that was not exactly flattering, but I asked him not to publish it on our blog.

I think that's going to change now that I've seen the light.

Ultimately I'm just very disappointed and tired of people ruining good ideas in this ecosystem because all they think about is money, especially when they assume everyone else is doing the same and project their own greed onto others.

OK, I'm done venting.
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Tuck Fheman on May 14, 2016, 08:04:17 pm
If anyone posts your shit on STEEM then they are doing you a favor because you were either too lazy or too busy to do it yourself.

I'll give you a review of Steem that Buck Fankers wrote that I don't want published on our blog. You can post it on Steem and see how much money you make off of it. :P

Be warned, I never got an answer to the question about whether or not a negative balance post affects the overall total balance of a user's payout on Steem, so you may end up with no payout on July 4th. ;)

If you do make something off of it, please send all proceeds to your local homeless Jesus. Every town has one. I think it's a requirement.
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: gamey on May 17, 2016, 07:49:27 pm

Speaking about these things.. I saw a transcript for a hangout on Steemit and I believe it was where BM claimed he only worked on Steem because it didn't compete with Bitshares.  Then he turns around and tries to get all the users of this forum which is probably Bitshares' best asset at the moment to abandon it and chase his latest pipe dream.  And it isn't like Steemit will be labeled "Bitshares".  No, Bitshares would be relegated to a sub-forum ! 

Looking out in Bitshares interest as usual. sigh
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: onceuponatime on May 17, 2016, 09:20:41 pm

Speaking about these things.. I saw a transcript for a hangout on Steemit and I believe it was where BM claimed he only worked on Steem because it didn't compete with Bitshares.  Then he turns around and tries to get all the users of this forum which is probably Bitshares' best asset at the moment to abandon it and chase his latest pipe dream.  And it isn't like Steemit will be labeled "Bitshares".  No, Bitshares would be relegated to a sub-forum ! 

Looking out in Bitshares interest as usual. sigh

It appears that the best potential way for people to get funding to work on BitShares is now by posting about their plans and progress at steemit.com. There they can be upvoted and will be PAID, based on community assessment of the value of the post and at zero cost to the community, to carry out such development.

Also, this Forum is not under the control of the BitShares Community but under the control  of BitSapphire who have been extremely unresponsive to suggestions and requests. And posts on this Forum are curated  by individual Moderators rather than by the Community as a whole through voting.

I am amazed that you have not seen this. Sigh.
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Erlich Bachman on May 17, 2016, 09:57:37 pm
No shit

wot the fawk!

BM builds you a new forum that pays you bitUSD for posting shit about BitShares and you bitch!!

seriously dude, I'm glad you didn't migrate. I hope you stay here and make zero cash.

The best thing that we could do is put a link at the top of this forum to steem. it would get noobs even more juiced about joining the community. u know im right. the steem forum is a kick ass free gift to the bts community

why?

because the bts posts are the ones generating the most cash!!

again u know im right cuz it aint hard to prove
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: bitsharesbrazil on May 18, 2016, 03:08:48 am
Im new here steem is confusing....i cant fallow dan n xeroc......i have to search for.them.....this forum everything is organized, i like....i hope dan can keep with bitshares....is an amazing thing.....of course its a investment but for me its for life.
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: gamey on May 18, 2016, 04:39:30 am

Speaking about these things.. I saw a transcript for a hangout on Steemit and I believe it was where BM claimed he only worked on Steem because it didn't compete with Bitshares.  Then he turns around and tries to get all the users of this forum which is probably Bitshares' best asset at the moment to abandon it and chase his latest pipe dream.  And it isn't like Steemit will be labeled "Bitshares".  No, Bitshares would be relegated to a sub-forum ! 

Looking out in Bitshares interest as usual. sigh

It appears that the best potential way for people to get funding to work on BitShares is now by posting about their plans and progress at steemit.com. There they can be upvoted and will be PAID, based on community assessment of the value of the post and at zero cost to the community, to carry out such development.

Also, this Forum is not under the control of the BitShares Community but under the control  of BitSapphire who have been extremely unresponsive to suggestions and requests. And posts on this Forum are curated  by individual Moderators rather than by the Community as a whole through voting.

I am amazed that you have not seen this. Sigh.

Bitsapphire keeps this site up and running. It may not take much but they do that much and this site is quite effective at communicating even if it doesn't  have a dozen social media hooks of questionable value.

 This forum is also largely uncensored AFAIK. Steemit has a down arrow. Why do I wish to post there? 

The whole vesting thing comes across as scammy to me even if you can rationalize how incentives are aligned or what have you. I love how steemit has a big market cap but the daily volume is relatively peanuts. 

We all see different things.  If you want to continue believing in people, feel free. I'll feel free to give my honest assessment and nothing more but that'd never work on steemit given my unpopular views.

It is obvious Bytemaster has a team that has stuck with him and users who have too. Good luck with whatever. Obviously they see a different side of things. I just don't want to see Steemit poach BitShares users which is exactly what is going on.

It really comes down to you having faith because you believe they do what they say they'll do. I've had lots of experiences otherwise. The concept of crypto-anarchy etc ONLY works if you stand up for what you feel is true.

We just need some system of being able to know they'll do what they'll say beyond the words of a Larimer.

When steemit removes the downvote from the protocol then I will consider changing my opinion.

Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: gamey on May 18, 2016, 04:40:46 am
No shit

wot the fawk!

BM builds you a new forum that pays you bitUSD for posting shit about BitShares and you bitch!!

seriously dude, I'm glad you didn't migrate. I hope you stay here and make zero cash.

The best thing that we could do is put a link at the top of this forum to steem. it would get noobs even more juiced about joining the community. u know im right. the steem forum is a kick ass free gift to the bts community

why?

because the bts posts are the ones generating the most cash!!

again u know im right cuz it aint hard to prove

You're telling me those $$$'s at the bottom of each post can be redeemed into liquid crypto-currency at the value presented?
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: fav on May 18, 2016, 05:50:42 am
No shit

wot the fawk!

BM builds you a new forum that pays you bitUSD for posting shit about BitShares and you bitch!!

seriously dude, I'm glad you didn't migrate. I hope you stay here and make zero cash.

The best thing that we could do is put a link at the top of this forum to steem. it would get noobs even more juiced about joining the community. u know im right. the steem forum is a kick ass free gift to the bts community

why?

because the bts posts are the ones generating the most cash!!

again u know im right cuz it aint hard to prove

You're telling me those $$$'s at the bottom of each post can be redeemed into liquid crypto-currency at the value presented?

no, and it's just an illusion if you think you get paid big bucks at steemit.
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: xeroc on May 18, 2016, 07:29:30 am
You're telling me those $$$'s at the bottom of each post can be redeemed into liquid crypto-currency at the value presented?
Those numbers are payed out 50/50 as Steem Dollars and Steem Power (voting power) .. also the threads "revenue" is split 50/50 between Opening Post and commentors
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: Tuck Fheman on May 18, 2016, 08:46:15 am
You're telling me those $$$'s at the bottom of each post can be redeemed into liquid crypto-currency at the value presented?

no, and it's just an illusion if you think you get paid big bucks at steemit.

This appears to be true. On July 4th the big amounts people are receiving right now will end. Dan said there will be ~$2,500 per day after 7/4 and assuming the user base continues to grow I would guess the top post of the day may receive between $5-$10 and the average post would receive a few cents for the next few months. If the site continues to grow then most all post would earn next to nothing with a few standouts grabbing a buck or two. Perhaps my math is incorrect, but comments are also counted in the payouts, so I don't think it's wrong.

It's also possible that the user base doesn't grow significantly or that people align with each other into some kind of voting club (looking at someone here, you know who you are! =b) that goes around voting up each other's post so they dominate the payouts. Which honestly is not real different from what is going on now. There's one person in particular lately that's got a nice scheme going where they  have 10-12 accounts either of their own or friends that upvote all of their post, no matter how inane or trivial it is and it pulls in $200+ each time. The big mining holders of STEEM and Dan appear to be taking the vast majority of the $2 mio that I thought was supposed to go towards new user adoption. At least Dan is making worthwhile post to get his cut but the majority of the other large holders do nothing special and just upvote themselves big payouts.

To be fair, it's not as bad as it was a few weeks ago. They do appear to be making some effort to upvote a new users worthwhile post and spread around the upvotes a little better, but I do know for a fact that there are coordinated efforts to pool votes towards the favored few. Also, I'm sure many of the big holders have figured out by now that it's not in their best interest to bring new users to Steem until after July 4th. Why bring in others when you can take all of that money for yourselves? Wait until the big payout, then invite new users at will! I'm just assuming that's why we don't see these people going around doing much promotion at this point, but perhaps I'm wrong. However, seeing how they are coordinating into voting clubs early on appears to indicate they are well aware of this tactic and are likely adhering to it until 7/4 to maximize profits. It's no different than mining I guess. If you find a tweak that gains you more hashpower you use it. You're certainly not going to discard the tweak because you don't want to take more than others. ;)

I like Steem/Steemit. I just don't like how money has turned the idea into a big cash grab, influenced votes to be selfish, created insider clubs and make new users feel like it's pointless to post there because they're receiving a few cents for their post while others are grabbing thousands. I'll take a quote from Buck's review hit piece on Steemit ...

If George Carlin were to review this social media platform I imagine it would go like this, “It’s a big club and you ain’t in it!”

I think that sums up the opinion of Steemit for most outsiders very well and that's sad to see. In my opinion that stigma seems to follow any project tied to BitShares, it has a very insider feel to it and outsiders just don't feel welcome. My opinion is based off of comparing BitShares related projects to other communities projects I've been involved with where it seems everyone is welcome and the air is full of synergy. I'm not saying one is better than the other in the long run, as toast has pointed out the group trap can hinder things at times. But when it comes to acquiring a large user base and eager participants quickly, BitShares seems to be tainted in the minds of others.

I wonder how much money I could earn expressing this opinion on Steemit?  :P
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: chryspano on May 18, 2016, 09:53:07 am
You're telling me those $$$'s at the bottom of each post can be redeemed into liquid crypto-currency at the value presented?

no, and it's just an illusion if you think you get paid big bucks at steemit.

This appears to be true. On July 4th the big amounts people are receiving right now will end. Dan said there will be ~$2,500 per day after 7/4 and assuming the user base continues to grow I would guess the top post of the day may receive between $5-$10 and the average post would receive a few cents for the next few months. If the site continues to grow then most all post would earn next to nothing with a few standouts grabbing a buck or two. Perhaps my math is incorrect, but comments are also counted in the payouts, so I don't think it's wrong.

It's also possible that the user base doesn't grow significantly or that people align with each other into some kind of voting club (looking at someone here, you know who you are! =b) that goes around voting up each other's post so they dominate the payouts. Which honestly is not real different from what is going on now. There's one person in particular lately that's got a nice scheme going where they  have 10-12 accounts either of their own or friends that upvote all of their post, no matter how inane or trivial it is and it pulls in $200+ each time. The big mining holders of STEEM and Dan appear to be taking the vast majority of the $2 mio that I thought was supposed to go towards new user adoption. At least Dan is making worthwhile post to get his cut but the majority of the other large holders do nothing special and just upvote themselves big payouts.

To be fair, it's not as bad as it was a few weeks ago. They do appear to be making some effort to upvote a new users worthwhile post and spread around the upvotes a little better, but I do know for a fact that there are coordinated efforts to pool votes towards the favored few. Also, I'm sure many of the big holders have figured out by now that it's not in their best interest to bring new users to Steem until after July 4th. Why bring in others when you can take all of that money for yourselves? Wait until the big payout, then invite new users at will! I'm just assuming that's why we don't see these people going around doing much promotion at this point, but perhaps I'm wrong. However, seeing how they are coordinating into voting clubs early on appears to indicate they are well aware of this tactic and are likely adhering to it until 7/4 to maximize profits. It's no different than mining I guess. If you find a tweak that gains you more hashpower you use it. You're certainly not going to discard the tweak because you don't want to take more than others. ;)

I like Steem/Steemit. I just don't like how money has turned the idea into a big cash grab, influenced votes to be selfish, created insider clubs and make new users feel like it's pointless to post there because they're receiving a few cents for their post while others are grabbing thousands. I'll take a quote from Buck's review hit piece on Steemit ...

If George Carlin were to review this social media platform I imagine it would go like this, “It’s a big club and you ain’t in it!”

I think that sums up the opinion of Steemit for most outsiders very well and that's sad to see. In my opinion that stigma seems to follow any project tied to BitShares, it has a very insider feel to it and outsiders just don't feel welcome. My opinion is based off of comparing BitShares related projects to other communities projects I've been involved with where it seems everyone is welcome and the air is full of synergy. I'm not saying one is better than the other in the long run, as toast has pointed out the group trap can hinder things at times. But when it comes to acquiring a large user base and eager participants quickly, BitShares seems to be tainted in the minds of others.

I wonder how much money I could earn expressing this opinion on Steemit?  :P

Why don't you give it a try? it's a simple copy paste. If you don't earn anything someone else will probably do for responding.

Quote
“It’s a big club and you ain’t in it!”

Although you have been invited numerous times...


This forum is also largely uncensored AFAIK. Steemit has a down arrow. Why do I wish to post there? 
Because your posts deserve some upvotes, that's why, while some other people's posts deserve an occational downvote from time to time. Not all posts and threads are created equal.
I'm not saying that people should completly stop posting here, all I'm saying is just give steem a try and please read the whitepaper if you haven't already(or anyone else).

If you worry about downvotes,  lots of them by now are accidental downvotes I think, generally it's not in your best interest to downvote because a downvote earns you nothing, but if something is really BAD you have the nuke option.


Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: fav on May 18, 2016, 11:27:10 am
-

nothing to add.

I'm looking forward to akasha.world though, wonder how they will address it
Title: Re: Why are you still here???
Post by: nomoreheroes7 on May 18, 2016, 02:13:47 pm
This appears to be true. On July 4th the big amounts people are receiving right now will end. Dan said there will be ~$2,500 per day after 7/4 and assuming the user base continues to grow I would guess the top post of the day may receive between $5-$10 and the average post would receive a few cents for the next few months. If the site continues to grow then most all post would earn next to nothing with a few standouts grabbing a buck or two. Perhaps my math is incorrect, but comments are also counted in the payouts, so I don't think it's wrong.

It's also possible that the user base doesn't grow significantly or that people align with each other into some kind of voting club (looking at someone here, you know who you are! =b) that goes around voting up each other's post so they dominate the payouts. Which honestly is not real different from what is going on now. There's one person in particular lately that's got a nice scheme going where they  have 10-12 accounts either of their own or friends that upvote all of their post, no matter how inane or trivial it is and it pulls in $200+ each time. The big mining holders of STEEM and Dan appear to be taking the vast majority of the $2 mio that I thought was supposed to go towards new user adoption. At least Dan is making worthwhile post to get his cut but the majority of the other large holders do nothing special and just upvote themselves big payouts.

To be fair, it's not as bad as it was a few weeks ago. They do appear to be making some effort to upvote a new users worthwhile post and spread around the upvotes a little better, but I do know for a fact that there are coordinated efforts to pool votes towards the favored few. Also, I'm sure many of the big holders have figured out by now that it's not in their best interest to bring new users to Steem until after July 4th. Why bring in others when you can take all of that money for yourselves? Wait until the big payout, then invite new users at will! I'm just assuming that's why we don't see these people going around doing much promotion at this point, but perhaps I'm wrong. However, seeing how they are coordinating into voting clubs early on appears to indicate they are well aware of this tactic and are likely adhering to it until 7/4 to maximize profits. It's no different than mining I guess. If you find a tweak that gains you more hashpower you use it. You're certainly not going to discard the tweak because you don't want to take more than others. ;)

I like Steem/Steemit. I just don't like how money has turned the idea into a big cash grab, influenced votes to be selfish, created insider clubs and make new users feel like it's pointless to post there because they're receiving a few cents for their post while others are grabbing thousands. I'll take a quote from Buck's review hit piece on Steemit ...

If George Carlin were to review this social media platform I imagine it would go like this, “It’s a big club and you ain’t in it!”

I think that sums up the opinion of Steemit for most outsiders very well and that's sad to see. In my opinion that stigma seems to follow any project tied to BitShares, it has a very insider feel to it and outsiders just don't feel welcome. My opinion is based off of comparing BitShares related projects to other communities projects I've been involved with where it seems everyone is welcome and the air is full of synergy. I'm not saying one is better than the other in the long run, as toast has pointed out the group trap can hinder things at times. But when it comes to acquiring a large user base and eager participants quickly, BitShares seems to be tainted in the minds of others.

I wonder how much money I could earn expressing this opinion on Steemit?  :P

Yup.  +5%