The Importance of Dogfooding in Steemit

in #steem5 years ago (edited)

Hello Steemians, I’m @andrarchy, the new Head of Communications and Advocacy for Steemit, Inc. But today, I don’t want to talk about me or my plans, I want to talk about the importance of eating dog food. Specifically, your own dog food.

No one knows exactly how the term “eating your own dog food” originated. In the 1980s, commercials for Alpo dog food always had their pitchman point out that he fed Alpo dog food to his own dogs. Others say the term came from the President of Kal Kan Pet Food who would, supposedly, eat a can of the company’s dog food at the annual shareholders meeting.

For those who prefer a video version of this content:

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Delighting Users

What matters for us is not the origins of this concept, but the fact that the entire software industry has long since adopted this phrase to mean the standard practice of using one’s own products. The question is not so much whether one should dogfood, but the right way to dogfood.

Steemit’s Unique Challenges

At Steemit, we are faced with a unique set of challenges that have complicated the issue of proper dogfooding. As the authors of the open source software that powers steemit.com (called Condenser), there are certainly a plethora of ways that we can use our product that do not necessitate the acceptance of rewards.

Two Products

However, steemit.com is not our only product. We are also the architects of the Steem blockchain protocol and the primary developers behind updates to that protocol. Unlike most blockchain projects, our mission has always centered around building a blockchain protocol that was capable of powering real web applications from the moment it launched. That’s why we released steemit.com around the same time we released the Steem blockchain; to show off what it could do.

Scaling

It wasn’t long before steemit.com took off and we had our hands full developing a state-of-the-art front end while simultaneously updating a state-of-the-art back end to keep up with that rapid growth. At the same time, the crypto bull market provided us with plenty of capital to support that development. During that phase of growth, declining rewards did not seem like an issue. But times have changed. We now know the important role that steemit.com plays in the Steem ecosystem and the importance of making the user experience on this site as pleasurable as possible. We have an amazing and trustworthy team that has made rapid progress under challenging circumstances. If they are allowed to use this platform as freely as any user, that progress will be made even faster.

That’s why I plan to encourage Steemit team members to accept rewards on steemit.com, and Steem generally. While steemit.com is certainly important, it is only important inasmuch as it shows off what the Steem blockchain can do and steemit.com is no longer the only application flexing Steem’s muscles. Steemit, Inc. team members need to be free to use any Steem application if they are going to understand the needs of app developers and the users of their apps.

Appreciating Our Position

We understand our privileged position within this ecosystem and we have to be vigilant about maintaining an open dialogue both within the company and within the community about what is appropriate Steem usage for Steemit team members. It is my hope that this post will be the beginning of that conversation, not the end of it.

At the same time, however, I believe it is important that we not be too restrictive. One of Steem’s unique value propositions is that it is an open source protocol that rewards content creators in valuable cryptocurrency tokens. There are countless platforms that Steemit team members can use to publish our content for no rewards and there are many with more users.

Real-Time User Feedback

But there is only one platform on which we can publish our content and receive rewards based entirely on the votes of our users, and that is the platform we created. It’s not possible to “eat our own dog food” without taking advantage of the one feature that makes our product unique and that has the added benefit of providing us with direct feedback from our users. No other platform has the ability to tell us in real time exactly how valuable they believe our contributions to be. For that reason, it is important that we try not to limit our use of the platform unduly, for the more we do so, the more we deprive Steemit team members of valuable feedback.

The more restrictive we are with our ability to dogfood, the less inclined we will be to use our product and the more disconnected we will become from the Steem user base. For that reason, I do not believe that we should attempt to develop complex systems or rule sets to govern our usage of the platform, but instead leave it to social norms that result from our interactions with one another through the platform as members of the Steem community.

Trusting Steem?

Either Steem has everything necessary to enable its users (including Steemit team members) to self-regulate, or someone must add the features necessary to enable that self-regulation. The only way to learn what those features are is for the people developing those solutions to use them freely.

More Than Dogfooding

While this article covers what I believe to be the most important justifications for Steemit team members to have free usage of the Steem blockchain (which would include accepting rewards), I also believe that there are other reasons that are less tangible but potentially equally as important. To me, Steem doesn’t just reward content creators, it helps to build storytellers and I believe that storytelling is a priceless skill.

The Importance of Storytelling

Few people are naturally inclined to storytelling. The fact that our compensation is almost never directly tied to our ability to tell stories causes this skill to go underdeveloped in so many of us. The tragedy is that there are almost no occupations in which the ability to tell compelling stories around what you are doing is not a tremendous competitive advantage. In fact, I believe that there is arguably no more important skill in life than the ability to tell stories that capture people’s attention and makes them excited about what you are trying to do to make things better. For me this is one of the little-known “killer apps” of Steem; it rewards people for developing the most valuable life-skill imaginable.

Feedback Welcome

But what do you think? As I wrote earlier, this should be a collaborative process. We need to know how our users feel about everything we are doing. It is my hope that this encouragement will lead our team members to use this platform in a way that gives users a more direct insight into what they are working on. More importantly, I hope it encourages them to share why they are doing what they’re doing. What are their motivations, and what are they trying to accomplish? Do you agree? Let me know in the comments section below!

@andrarchy
Head of Communications and Advocacy

P.S. I plan to use whatever SBD I earn on this post to support community-led efforts.

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I've always been shocked to think your team nearly never uses Steem. Yet is making decisions. :)

I don't think you can understand a user experience with out.. Well, having a user experience.

I am glad to hear this and I think they can and should accept rewards.

The community can either vote or not... :)

Glad to hear it. Yeah it seems kind of obvious, but given our unique situation, it's also a more delicate situation than most companies have to face. But I think our team understands their privileged position and will use the platform accordingly. It's not that we won't make mistakes, we will, that's precisely the point. It is only by making those mistakes that we will learn they are mistakes and change our behaviors. Community isn't about widespread agreement, it's about widespread discussion. I have total confidence that everyone on the team is capable of having mature, well-reasoned discussions with our users and that the value of those discussions will be priceless. Thanks for the comment!

I just added my opinion...

Bring on the dogfood! 😀🐕🥑

I just gave you 4 cents! I feel so...

I tried to give you 26 cents, but, you declined payout on your reply 😂

😂 Old habits die hard!

great post!

and i don’t care what you guys do with your rewards. but think it’s great to start receiving them!

be a product of your product!

i’m just happy to see you guys being much more active!

that’s a huge win for steem. and steemit as well.

and congrats on the new position!

Posted using Partiko iOS

Thanks Jon! And don’t think I don’t see what you’ve been up to ;) Keep up the good work!

Hi @andrarchy

Steemit is one of the best things that have happened on the internet so far and I think we have only seen the start of what this platform will do for people all over the world.

Many new members need help at the start when they post or comment so they don't have to make the mistake of being flagged.
There are many rules to deal with and many do not read the Steemit FAQ

I always use a link to Steemit FAQ on my posts and hope that many see it and click on the link.

A link to the Steemit FAQ should come automatically when an article / post is written at the bottom. This will help more people read the Steemit FAQ and get a better understanding of Steemit

Nobody is asking for the people behind some of the now many other businesses/front-ends on Steem to stop posting/accepting rewards. Nor would it make sense to demand that from new businesses we want to see start up here or migrate to Steem. So why should it be different for Steemit Inc employees? To the contrary, I would say it may make even less sense for them.

Good points, glad I wasn't totally off base

I'm all for it.

Yes, your position is a bit different from all the other users on this platform, but that doesn't mean you're not part of it. I feel like it would be good for everyone if employees of Steemit, Inc. and 'the users' grew closer - that includes reading, writing, rewarding each other.

I also think more communication is better, for the community, but also for 'outsiders' who might sometimes be researching who is working on the Steem Blockchain Protocol.

My pragmatic view is that you'll discover along the way what is/feels reasonable and what does not regarding posting and 'mining rewards'.

I'd be excited to read more coming from a variety of people from Steemit, Inc., plus I very much agree with @whatsup's comment: this is the best way to User Test the platform as well and grow the 'Steemit.com wish-list' on the go :D

Agree on all fronts!

I am okay with the Steem Inc. team using Steemit and receiving rewards, but I do believe transparency is needed. How about mandating that they identify themselves as an employee of Steem Inc?

In that way, we can see who is voting for them and who they are voting for.

Transparency is the foundation for trust.

Great idea! Thanks for the feedback

Congrats on being the new Head of Communications and Advocacy for Steemit, Inc. Get ready to open that fresh can of dog food. lol :)

lol ... there will be plenty more coming up.

We have an amazing and trustworthy team ...

For sure ... but why don't you just introduce the complete team with all its members? Who are you all from Steemit, Inc.? Other companies proudly present their employees on their websites ... Are you a software company or a secret organisation? :)

Apart from that, yes, of course: start using your own product to make experiences every 'normal' user is making, as well!
Do you remember when @elipowell couldn't answer comments on one of her first articles because she was lacking resource credits? Of course she got delegated some STEEM power rather quickly ... but nevertheless, I think it was a very useful experience ...

Paradox here to be addressed...

No other platform has the ability to tell us in real time exactly how valuable they believe our contributions to be.

In theory, this sounds excellent.

However: bidbots.

Look at the trending page... are the posts with highest payouts those that the community actually values most?

At the beginning of Steemit, likely. Now, no. They are typically the ones that have had the biggest promotional budgets.

For that reason, it is important that we try not to limit our use of the platform unduly, for the more we do so, the more we deprive Steemit team members of valuable feedback.

Again, sounds good in theory. Though in the context clarified above - Steemit team members may not actually be being provided accurate feedback - if referring to the valuation of content - given that the numbers of those “valuations” are not organically-driven, but largely swayed by the gaming mechanisms offered via bidbot services.

Unfortunately, while I can see the dilemma, I don’t see the solutions.

Don’t mean to be venturing off-track from the “dogfooding” topic, nor intending for this comment to be a ‘complaint’of any sort, though just to clarify the flaw in that fundamental statement quoted above as it is a significant one...

I reckon that is an extremely important point, and one that will be critical for Steemit to address, particularly as team members are posting and seeking rewards.

What if Steemit itself, or members of the team, set up their own bidbots? What if they buy votes? These are matters that will impact the team and Steemit quite directly now that they're going to be posting and receiving rewards.

Eyes will be opened and let's hope beneficial changes are effected to improve promotional mechanisms. I've always been disappointed that the Promoted tab wasn't more useful and that profiteering via bots has been incentivized instead.

There are many negatives that have arisen from such policy.

Thanks!

What if Steemit itself, or members of the team, set up their own bidbots? What if they buy votes?

Here, we run into more dilemmas...

If they were doing it for self-gain, it’s obviously a compromise of integrity for the whole platform & team. Though what if it was a move strategically done to get an important message to the forefront of users’ attention?

Granted, the ideal would be that Steemit have a dedicated section where important announcements are highlighted, separate and clearly upfront for all users to see... yet, after nearly 3 years, such a basic function / sanctioned updates area doesn’t even exist!!!

If I want to know the details of what’s happening with the latest hardfork, team developments, etc... where do I go? Seriously. This is not clear!

The only place I’ve found such info is in the news feed when people make posts about them.

“Am I dumb and missing something? Or is this such a fundamental flaw in the organization of key developmental info, that we have to find this in the midst of all other ‘normal’ content, which is likely to get buried in shitposts that’ve had bidbots push them to the top...?”

🤔

The trending page was NEVER filled with community choices, long before the bidbots. At least now if I want to and think I have something important to say, I can make it up there with an investment.

Prior to the bidbots there was NO way to get visibility and the same 10 accounts would dominate for months at a time.

Although some bad content gets on trending, some of us use our stake to try to at least remove the profits and as for the rest of the content... It is announcements and projects and things that people have invested time and money on. Which is way better in my opinion that the 10 favorite people of 10 large account holders and their sock puppets.

Just another point of view.

This thought would add on so well to my own comment I just made before reading yours. I put focus on the “dog food” user experience for team members topic but bidbots = dogpoo jumped in my mind .....of course!

😂

All feedback is good feedback. Interesting factoid, Hivemind makes adjusting the trending algorithm a much simpler feat...

Always good to see an OG like you still hanging around :)

...you haven't read my feedback yet ...lol

well said sir!

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