Where is Everyone? (The End of Steemit)

in #writing6 years ago

aretha-franklin-funeral-11-1535736971.jpg

Aretha Franklin's funeral, lolz

So, I haven't been on Steemit in about two months. I apologize mostly to those who liked seeing my comments on things and looked forward to my little $0.02 upvotes. I got this job, then school started back, I've been a VIP at a film premiere, and I was booked to play at this big festival, which is crazy exciting!

Here's the deal.

Steemit has issues. Lots of them. If I'm honest, I don't even know what half of the issues are. Mostly it's my friends at Write Club that complain about Steemit.

And they found new refuge in Medium.

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Medium is a lot like Steemit, but it's more user friendly, it's based in real money v.s. crypto currency, and you can earn on your posts for the rest of your life if you want. You also retain all your rights and can edit any time you want, even after seven days (I think). So, of course, they all wanted to go there.

Medium looks great. It has a great interface, and professional publications running the place, but it's new. It's something I would have to reinvest in and find new friends, which I'm horrible at.

I like it better here.

I think I got bogged down from trying to run around and upvote everyone and comment and was spending a lot of time per day doing so. It was like endless homework. But I love this community (the ones you can find, anyways). I love the drive, the commitment, and the legitimately good work that people put here.

I miss it.

I don't know if I'll be coming back, honestly. Maybe this post is the start of another six month run, and I'll post all my depressing poetry and life updates and some short fiction for my peeps to see. That'd be cool! But I can't promise anything.

One of my favorite things about Steemit kind of died. The Writer's Block was my home away from home, and I felt pushed to be a better writer alongside other great writers. I love Negativer and Tiny and Jayna and Rhonda and all the other folks I met there (there are way more, I just can't list them which is namely why I didn't do the @ for them :P ).

But the Writer's Block fell apart.

It's still there, but a lot of my friends left and it leaves me wondering how many actually considered me their friend back. And I don't have a great answer for that. I don't know. This is all online stuff. I've been at this for, like, a year, and I still don't understand a lot of it.

I thought I had somewhere I belonged.

Steemit is dying. I think seeing wonderful groups like the Writer's Block implode is some weird symptom of that. You can't really make decent money on here anymore, and I may get 40 upvotes but only 5 people who actually read the article.

Steemit has helped me spread my art. It's gotten me a little more recognition for my music and a lot of internet presence. There's nothing I could do, honestly, to repay this community back. I've got my $0.02 upvote. I've got my time.

And most of all, I have you.

Please don't die on me, Steemit. Or, if you do, have a fun funeral.

Thanks,

-Caleb

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We're still here :) You know you can always message me on Discord whenever you want to chat <3

Oh, don't say that, I'll bug the tar out of you ;P

ping. Still here and on the block slinging crap at Neg. - Hey @negativer ... DUCK!!
grins as he throws a clump of Florida mud his way

Keep plugging away. Post often now while Steem is down. You still earn, it's not going away. Medium's business model hinges on people buying a subscription then dispersing the pool of money...and you need to 'lock' your story to subscribers to earn on it... it's interesting... But man, you are here and steeming so STEEM ON!

You betcha! If anything, I'm here today cuz I left all my books at home :P Let's see who's page I can stalk today >:D

:( I got busy and had to step away for a bit, but I really missed it and recently started back. Sometimes life just gets in the way and there is nothing you can do about that. There are a lot of people that have quit steemit (mostly because the $$ stopped), but there are a lot of good people that are still here. If you choose to fully step away, I'll just bug you on discord. :)

Please do! I'm not sure if I've decided to stop stop, but I checked the value of steem and SBD and yikes. I almost want to buy some just to stimulate the economy.

Most of us are still here, hiding out in various corners of the internet :)

It's, um, comfortable to know you're still... lurking... (pulls blinds)

I miss you Neg, and your stupid fiction.

Ohhhhh @caleblailmusik! You speak for me! What is this new Zeigeist where so many "refugees" flocking to new Steemit homes were exiled? You (and me): a lot of my friends left and it leaves me wondering how many actually considered me their friend back. And I don't have a great answer for that. I don't know. This is all online stuff. I've been at this for, like, a year, and I still don't understand a lot of it. I thought I had somewhere I belonged.
Yes. And no matter where I pitch my tent, the same thing happens again and again, and I almost never set foot at Discord anymore (how apt is that name!).
I didn't even know Neg and the old gang were no longer "Blocking" together. Funny, I've been hit hard this September with premature Seasonal Affective Disorder, so my go-to has been old high school yearbooks (going back as far as 1970, when I was but a grade-schooler), and I'm revisiting the past, and seeing my childhood from a new perspective. You're much too young for that, I'm sure. But try looking up some real-life people you lost touch with after high school, and see if you can find some loyal friends? I'm still working on it. Good luck and keep me posted!

I'd say I'm too young for the whole "viewing your friendships objectively" thing, but I've totally been doing that. I think I thought people liked me in high school more than they did. I was impervious (with my glowing optimism!) to what others might call bullying! Wow!!

I think some of the folks are still Blocking together, but, like, there are so many new servers and little corners that everyone is dipping their toes into, rather than focusing in one area. It's thrown me for a loop!

Caleb, I cannot imagine you were not loved, even in those notoriously awkward high school years. I thought NOBODY liked me but 30+ years later, I've learned of a few people who actually did think I was all right. I was born weird. A misfit. Naturally I escaped into fairy tales and sci-fi and fantasy. At 17 I left the rural community and started college and discovered a new world full of fellow weirdos (intellectuals). Oh, I got trampled again, but eventually, I learned to like myself, to the point that I think I'm cute, funny, and fun to be with--but you'd be amazed (or not!) at how few people think the same way of me. :) If in fact you were impervious to bullying, that kind of "ignorance is bliss" would be a great launch for a story. Somewhat like the Pink Panther movies with Peter Sellers having no idea how incompetent he is, or how lucky. :)

Assalamualaikum.., good night friends!

Nah I don't think Steemit is going anywhere - the downs and the ups are easily and perfectly mapped onto the downs and ups of the broader crypto market in general and Steem's price trajectory in specific. I am glad you aren't taking off yet, I al ways enjoy your writing and music whenever I stop by.

Thank you, I appreciate it <3