I wrote this post yesterday that brought up some things I have been concerned about lately. Specifically, the fact that the majority of my post rewards can be attributed to groups that I have delegated SP to.
Though I haven't gotten as many responses to the post as I had hoped, the ones I have gotten so far have been great. I was having a short discussion back and forth with when an epiphany struck me. I've seen challenges like this before when I first started Steemit, but I thought, "how cool would it be to start my own"?
I was going to call it the adapotaminnow challenge, but apparently there is already an initiative that has taken that tag. They seem to be defunct, but I didn't want to step on any toes so I came up with the #fosteraminnow idea.
As I got thinking about it, I decided that #fosteraminnow is probably a better description anyway. When you adopt something you are taking it on forever. When you are fostering something you are only doing it temorarily. Sometimes it goes on to be something more permenant, but not always.
I know how exciting it can be when a larger account gives you a big upvote on one of your posts.
It's even more exciting when you know you got that upvote because they actually read your post and liked the content.
Not because they were war part of a trail or because you delegated SP to a specific group.
So here is my idea and the rules for this challenge.
Pick a user who has less than 60 or so Reputation and less than 300 or so SP.
Foster them for two weeks by giving them upvotes and comments on most of their posts.
Any two of their posts per week you need to give a 100% upvote on.
Write a post using the #fosteraminnow tag telling who you are fostering and why.
That's it! Pretty easy right?
Please note, I made sure I said most of their posts because sometimes there may just be a post that you don't like.
I also tried to pick a Rep/SP range that would include active users who show they are trying but might not be getting the rewards they deserve.
Finally, this might take a little time on your part to find that perfect minnow to support. Fishing is all about patience right?
My hope is that this challenge isn't just picked up by a couple of people, done for two weeks, and then fizzles out. I'd like to see it proliferate Steemit so that as many minnows as possible can be fostered.
Speaking of minnows, according to SteemPlus, I myself am a minnow, but I don't feel that excludes me from participating. I am choosing to foster for the next two weeks.
I spent some time digging through my feed trying to find the perfect user. I couldn't say how long I have been following him, it appears he has only been on the platform for a couple of months.
Upon looking closer though I found a humor in his writing and a passion for photography that I totally want to support. Moving forward for the next two weeks I will be focusing a set amount of my time on 's blog (except the weekends, I take a break from Steemit on the weekends).
Are you ready to foster a minnow today?
P.S. With the holiday season upon us, I know some will not be on as much as usual. Please feel free to join the challenge and just start your actual fostering when things die down and you are more active again in a week or so.