You are viewing a single comment's thread from:
RE: Jerry Banfield's Idea On How To Charge $50 To "Help People" Get A Free Steemit Account
I agree with your opinion on Jerry, but I disagree with this:
What I want to discuss is the definition of helping people on Steemit. It's not that I have a problem with people trying to make money on the internet, but helping implies that you are giving of yourself without an expectation of getting something in return.
I guess I have a different view of business in general. In a free market transaction between two consenting people, both end up better off after the exchange. Usually money goes from A to B and goods or services go from B to A.
And they are both happy about it.
A (consenting, free market) business transaction makes the world a better place.
I agree. What you are describing though is a business transaction.
In this particular case where A is offering to charge B $50 for a service that costs 5 Steem and only takes a couple minutes to do with no special skill or tools needed, who ends up better off?
He could have easily just pointed them in the direction to help themselves without the extra cost. I'm sure Jerry would have been much happier than the person he offered "help" to, especially when they realized, which I'm sure they would of eventually , that they were over-charged.
I'm sure there would be some buyer's remorse.
My main point was that help doesn't have to be for free though. In a regular transaction involving money, both sides are helped.
That is a good point and we are in agreement there. The thing is, Steemit is a different kind of place than most online platforms. People tend to help each other here without some expectation of direct reciprocation. At least, the people who have a loyal following. Especially if they are a witness which Jerry is.
If you look up what is expected from witnesses you would see that they give, many times out of their own pocket. Sure, they get voted by us for giving to the platform and earn Steem as compensation.
A top 20 witness earns $200-300/ day depending on the price of Steem and they earn that position by helping the platform, not by using it as a way to profit from the users.
Since that is what this post is about, in that context a witness helping someone new by charging them is inappropriate and shows a focus on one's own profitability over the good of the platform and its users.
However, taken out of this context, as you have done, you're 100% correct. There is nothing wrong with making a profit by helping people.
Fair enough.