Oh, how easy to blog about the topics that fellow steemians love to read, the ones that get the most upvotes and comments, the high paying lots. Yes, blogging on Steem is all about the fame and fortune.
Yeah right, I hear you'll say! Of course, the easy Mills and Boon type blogs win favour.
What about the tricky issues, the ones where you could end up getting no votes, or worse! The hot-under-the-collar ones that just want to make you scream; that make you scream out loud, very loud! After all, what's the point of the life-saver if no-one is brave enough to swim in the fun-zone, in the surf, with the dolphins and the sharks?
Well, here's a curly one for you. Take a deep breathe. As Jon Olson is fond of saying: embrace the suck!
You know how these things go. Read one blog, check out the comments, click the names of people you like and follow them, read some of their blogs...
Hold on, what's that! Hmm, something not right here. Let's check a few details.
After a few minutes search, I'm still not sure. So, I look who is interacting, and off goes the email. One reason I join my friends lists is so I can get their email addresses, neat eh!
In the far north of New Zealand, we have a saying: "tatou tatou". Loosely translated, with the spiritual context implied by the Maori, "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours".
I'm not being nosey, just careful. Whenever I come across an issue, I like to get that addressed. I'm not a problem solver; no, just a problem fixer.
You may see me on Telegram frantically firing off one comment after another, then a pause, before another barrage. I'm just seeking information, something that I can use and more importantly, pass on to a friend in need at a later time.
Being careful, when so many other people charge forth without regard for their own safety! That's why we have the life-guards, to aid the misadventurers.
So, what's the point of this posting, you may well ask?
Simple, I have stumbled across imposters here on Steem and worse still, they're also on the CTPtalk tribe. What to do with these two? I have done further research and now I'm convinced they are making misleading statements about who they really are.
OK, easy you may say, just kick them out, never to return.
Ah, there's a catch! They're refugees from a country in turmoil. I'm certainly not one to refuse to help the misadventured! After all, my family have been refugeeing since 1592 when King Louis of France converted from Protestant to Roman Catholic, and promptly kicked us Huguenot Royals out.
I went to church this afternoon - our service is at 2:00pm on Sundays - still unsure what to do. I wanted to blog this matter, that's for sure, just the best approach 'twas missing.
The lesson today came from Psalm 73. In particular, of note to me, was Psalm 73:16-17 (NIV)
"When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny."
Yes, that was it! My journey to church, to worship, and to listen to the Word had given me the answer.
Too easy to point the finger at another and say: wrong-doer! Much harder to be critical of one's own actions or inactions.
A few weeks ago, I joined Steem and the CTPtalk tribe. On my blogs and when commenting on other blogs, I have been expressing forgiveness and love. I see that these poor souls have become lost. Somehow on their journey to salvation, they have picked up bad teachings.
So what do we do about these two?
Here's my suggestion: we give them a chance to come clean. I know who they are and where they live. That friend of mine has been emailled further details so that he too knows the truth.
Time now for these two to come out and admit their failings. I'm not going to judge them, just help them succeed. Perhaps you will too? Anyway, let's wait a little while in the hope they may read this blog, see the clues, and realise they've been caught out. Amazing what you can find on Twitter these days!
Bad enough to have imposters in our camp, how about the inquisition! Yes, I've been reading about the downvote issue too. With winter approaching in the Northern Hemisphere - after all 90% of humanity live there - perhaps cool heads will prevail?
Here's my tuppence worth, a comment I left earlier today on one of Jon Olson's blogs:
"As for downvoting, we need a different system or else war will break out, and that'll just drive the small fish away. How about a downvote means no other Steem action for 10 minutes; 6 downvotes in 1 hour. That'll soon make steemians consider their actions as I doubt anyone but the most determined will downvote more than 10 times in a day."
If that doesn't work, then time to get the miscreants off into some serious dopamining! Hi-hoo-hi-hoo...
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
Ian Ballantine
Wellington, New Zealand
October 13, 2019.
Lyrics: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=ON+THE+EVE+OF+DESTRUCTION+lyrics
Playlist:
PS: Barry McGuire has spent quite a few years living in New Zealand, off and on. He has also been to many places in the USA. You might like to note the comment re his trip to Sharpstown High School, Houston, Texas.
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I see the Light, I see the Light...no, hold on, sorry that's the corner dairy: Pak'N Save, Kilbirnie