A Wake Up Call For Steemians - Morals, Values, Ethics... (If these themes bore you, you're probably part of the problem.)

This picture sums up my view of several key Steemit adopters/investors I've seen slowly devolving into small "banks" that prey off of the business of others. The irony is that nobody should need their services in the first place, if the Steemit ecosystem was properly engaged and respected by all.

Power doesn't always correspond with intelligence, morals, ethics, and values.

I think this picture is fairly effective as well. The irony is that the only difference between these silos is Steem Power and people accepting their status. From day one, new adopters are brainwashed that they are to be called "minnows" (aka insignificant fish). Think about that for a moment. I fell for it too.

The rewards pool is merely one short-sighted resource on Steemit if all you care about is income.

Steemians and adoption are the true resources.

Influencers need to prioritize selflessly rewarding Steemians from the ground up without strings and/or some quid pro quo ROI expectation.

Some questions/thoughts:

1. Is Steemit really progressing or is Steemit, "Inc." forcing it backwards?

2. Have key influencers acting as mini for profit corporations gone too far without recourse?

3. Is the blatant shift toward Steem Power centralization and profiteering Steem bank cartels that prey on others acceptable?

4. Bid bots pretend to be our allies, but their basis of existence is at the very root of what could cause Steemit to collapse.

5. If witnesses fear politics and conflict to safeguard their income, what will incentivize them to be true leaders that question authority and drive positive change?

6. Why write when so few have the patience and interest to read, and reward authors in meaningful ways? Maybe it should be to get auto-votes and use upvote bots to game the system as so many of our leaders do.

I don't have these answers, but raising them to provoke some critical thinking is a start.

What I do have is a short story to share that I feel has many parallels to the Steemit.

The Giving Tree has been my favorite book since childhood. Perhaps it's because I don't read much, but I think it's because the message taught me at a young age that giving is better than receiving. I recently gave this to my first nephew for his first birthday, as my Aunt gave me a copy when I was little.

Appreciation, giving back, and sharing are good things that sustain growth and well-being. One can only take so much until there is nothing left, leaving everyone without.

Being a bad actor blinded by selfish short-term intentions is harmful. As more leaders compound in this fashion, long-term repercussions will be severe. Influencers may be powerful in our little niche here, but it doesn't mean that they're doing things the right way...

The short story is copied in below. It's worth the quick read. Replace the "Boy" with Steemians and the "Tree" with the Steem blockchain.

The Giving Tree By Shel Silverstein

Once there was a tree....
and she loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come
and he would gather her leaves
and make them into crowns
and play king of the forest.
He would climb up her trunk
and swing from her branches
and eat apples.
And they would play hide-and-go-seek.
And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree....
very much.
And the tree was happy.
But time went by.
And the boy grew older.
And the tree was often alone.
Then one day the boy came to the tree
and the tree said, "Come, Boy, come and
climb up my trunk and swing from my
branches and eat apples and play in my
shade and be happy."
"I am too big to climb and play" said
the boy.
"I want to buy things and have fun.
I want some money?"
"I'm sorry," said the tree, "but I
have no money.
I have only leaves and apples.
Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in
the city. Then you will have money and
you will be happy."
And so the boy climbed up the
tree and gathered her apples
and carried them away.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time....
and the tree was sad.
And then one day the boy came back
and the tree shook with joy
and she said, "Come, Boy, climb up my trunk
and swing from my branches and be happy."
"I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy.
"I want a house to keep me warm," he said.
"I want a wife and I want children,
and so I need a house.
Can you give me a house ?"
" I have no house," said the tree.
"The forest is my house,
but you may cut off
my branches and build a
house. Then you will be happy."
And so the boy cut off her branches
and carried them away
to build his house.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back,
the tree was so happy
she could hardly speak.
"Come, Boy," she whispered,
"come and play."
"I am too old and sad to play,"
said the boy.
"I want a boat that will
take me far away from here.
Can you give me a boat?"
"Cut down my trunk
and make a boat," said the tree.
"Then you can sail away...
and be happy."
And so the boy cut down her trunk
and made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy
... but not really.
And after a long time
the boy came back again.
"I am sorry, Boy,"
said the tree," but I have nothing
left to give you -
My apples are gone."
"My teeth are too weak
for apples," said the boy.
"My branches are gone,"
said the tree. " You
cannot swing on them - "
"I am too old to swing
on branches," said the boy.
"My trunk is gone, " said the tree.
"You cannot climb - "
"I am too tired to climb" said the boy.
"I am sorry," sighed the tree.
"I wish that I could give you something....
but I have nothing left.
I am just an old stump.
I am sorry...."
"I don't need very much now," said the boy.
"just a quiet place to sit and rest.
I am very tired."
"Well," said the tree, straightening
herself up as much as she could,
"well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting
Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.

1, 2, 3, 4 - Book Text Source, 5

Thanks for reading,
@steemmatt