First and foremost an investor, I was introduced to the potential of this blockchain in 2017. In an investment newsletter ...
After some DYOR and reflection, I made my first investment days later.
I will cite "divine intervention" for help finding this picture. Almost perfect!
Sources: Creator dassel on Pixabay • Creator Fritz on Pixabay
So ... I "aped" in and made a "big splash," right? No ... I am the exact opposite of a "degen-brained" investor. I started small, by design, to then further investigate and go from there ...
Source: "Genesis Block" of
's - Note well:
For which I paid how much?0.1 ETH @ $332.01 at the time =>$1.476 /, for a total of $33.35. Along with an exorbitant fee of 0.000441 ETH => $0.146.STEEMHIVE - If I had remained on the
Steemblockchain? At recent prices (~$0.37 /Steem), my huge initial investment would be worth $8.32! A loss of ~75% - If I had simply HODLed my ETH instead? At recent prices (~$4,000 / ETH), it would be worth ~$400.00! A ~12X gain! A wiser investment for keeping my hard-earned $$s ahead of inflation. And a much wiser investment of my time ...
- "Ohhh, wait! I know!! I'll be a "smart money" investor and BUY HIVE TODAY (@ ~$0.46 ea.) with my 0.1 ETH, right? Which would now result in having ~870 HIVE instead of my "genesis block" amount above?"That is a hard "No!" Why? I would expect similar results to the above, or worse, if I were writing this 6 years from now.
Fiercely protective of my "pseudo-anonymity," I initially elected to invest only and never publish at all.
"From a small seed a mighty trunk may grow."
"This insightful quote by the Greek tragedian, Aeschylus, encapsulates the potential and power of growth that lies within seemingly insignificant beginnings."
Yep, after a quick glance at my "genesis block" investment ... "Seemingly ... insignificant ... beginnings ...?" No question of that.
Applying my standard DCA discipline to my investments, however, that grew over time, leading to my fateful decision to further "support" my investment. How?
Increase "user adoption," by establishing my first ever (having sworn I never would ...) online presence. From which I could begin writing my own posts, once I finished reading up on what was required / expected ...
Source: "Genesis Block" of
's work to Which has just concluded with the payout on the last of my 10-post "Road Less Traveled" series. Series cumulative stats:
- HP Paid out - 163.801
- HBD Paid out - 463.262
- Upvotes received - 6,511 worth a cumulative total at payout of $331.06
Hmmm. Appears that my added value "quality content" earned a 👍 ... Or two ...
- Note well: This series was part of my private motivation for resuming publishing, as I place a high value on the opportunity to provide links to my children and grandchildren. Having started it, I was determined to finish it, before writing this post.
Over the years, since I began writing in May 2018, I have made numerous references to my "journey." With this post serving as my last publication on the Hive blockchain, that "journey" is coming to an end.
Hopefully, what I have just presented above addresses the oft-made point :
"What?! Leaving? They are just whiny because of their ?...? rewards ..."
No. If anything, I can imagine, from my experience "in here," there might be a few of my fellow Hivians asking something like the opposite:
"Wow! I wish I ?...? What is that guy's problem?"
"Funny" you should ask. It has nothing to do with money, earned in a "free market" (cough, cough) ... It has everything to do with principle.
Here you go (click on the images)...
Conclusion of my appealing HW's
Resulting in this post ...
- With preliminary "end of the road" steps taken, shortly after clicking on "Reply" ...
Authority, Accountability, and Alignment
Successful in 5 different industries, over my long professional career, managing teams of people from 1984 to my retirement, how many times and in various ways did I discuss my "A" words listed in this header?
Too many to count ...
As succinctly as I can manage, under the circumstances, I will now do my best to apply those life lessons to this final post, with an appeal to the Hive blockchain's ... "powers that be."
Do I present it as though in a courtroom engaged in a legal proceeding involving injustice? Or in a boardroom meeting with the Board facing charges of "corporate malfeasance?" In my mind, in this "virtual world," it is a bit of both.
So ...
You be the judge.
The Appeal
The "efforts" of 
Among other aspects of the problem and central to this being my final post, is the injustice of "judgment rendered" ...
for which any aggrieved party,
has no effective means to appeal!
Full stop. Period.
has no
Full stop. Period.
Yes, I agree there is a legitimate problem to be addressed and some good has been done, as a result.
No, as should be self-evident, I do not agree with anything along the lines of, "the good outweighs the bad!" How many "deposits" into your "good will bank account," from positive efforts, is wiped out of "your good will bank account", by ONE negative effort?
Is the ratio 5:1? 10:1? 20:1? ...
"Not fair!" Right. That's life. It does not change what I just said ... Failing to acknowledge that has resulted in ...
Consequences:
- Damage done to the investment of my time and money into adding valueto the Hive blockchain that is no longer acceptable.
Recommendations:
- Figure out, ideally in the very near future, what constitutes a "black and white" (good) case of "abuse." With which you will find all but universal agreement.
- Clue: I am "on record," as helping, when the above was predominantly true. I left, when it wasn't ...
- Maximize "restraint" in "judging" what is a "gray area" (potentially bad) case, with some required humility and introspection, when your "judgment" clearly runs counter to that of other investors in this blockchain!
- Provide for a legitimate means of appealing these "judgments." What is in place now is ?...? I'll leave it to others to fill this in, as they deem best ... Clearly, for me, it is not good / close enough. Nor can the word appeal be properly applied to it.
The Board / Court / "Judge"
I will now make a notable exception to what I have long known violates Hive ... "etiquette." I will "name names" ...
- I'll only list the account names of the top 7 supporters of DHF Funding for Proposal #293. Without which the votes of everyone else is ?...? Feel "free" to characterize, as you may wish, dear reader ...
In this "virtual world," you have been assigned authority, based upon the size your investment.
Other than two very simple questions, I will not waste my time or yours, with a "text wall" which won't matter ... The questions, related to even a cursory glance over anything I have written here, are:
When was the last time you invested
any of your time in evaluating the
performance of your "staff?"
any of
performance of your "staff?"
Be honest in your answer. Ideally, "out in the light" for the rest of the Hive blockchain to witness. Do you not have a "stewardship responsibility" for holding them accountable? And, in so doing, ensuring they are in alignment with what they are supposed to be doing?
- The instance leading to this post being written was not found in your "staff's" Hive Watcher report for Feb 2024. I obviously have no way of knowing how common an oversight like this is ...
To the extent you have invested some time:
Are you in
agreement?
(with what has been
done under your authority
and in your name!)
done under your authority
and in your name!)
"Don't bring up a problem, without recommending a solution!"
You have been presented with mine. For the sake of the good people who depend on your wisdom, discernment, and judgment, I hope it might play some small role in serving its intended purpose ...
The Shareholders / Witnesses / Jury
Addressing a simple question to the current all-important (to the Hive blockchain ...) Top 20 Witnesses:
Is this
okay?
(Particularly asked of
those of you on both lists)
those of you on both lists)
In response, if you are in any way in the "Complicit" or "Complacent" categories cited below, then just add my account to the "collateral damage" list and carry on with your day!
"Nothing to see here! Move along ..."
With only a very crude form of governance currently in place, all of the rest of us are "witnesses," to how well that is working. And, perhaps more important, to how effectively anything remotely close to "continuous improvement" efforts are going, to enhance the value of our investments "in here."
You are now "witness," dear reader, to my assessment.
My only regret is losing the associations formed over time, with a diverse group of people, spread all across our big, wide world. It is the remarkable strength of that ... "holding power" ... which has kept me going up until now.
I genuinely and sincerely wish you all the best, for a better tomorrow!
Responses to Appeal
To close out this post, I will classify everyone into one of the three following categories, with respect to the "central theme" of my last post:
Complicit
At a minimum, those actively voting in favor of DHF Funding (at $290 HBD / day!), for this ... "abuse."
In addition, we find all those who give "hearty approval" to how wonderfully well the "central theme" of my final post is going, in enhancing the investment value of their stake in the Hive blockchain. At the "expense" of damaging that of far too many others ...
It is highly unlikely anyone in this category has read this far. Or even opened this post ...
Complacent
The "silent majority's" opinion / position / ?...? default response? Covers most everyone else, outside of "Complicit" with various versions of more or less the same thing:
"Well ... That's not right, but ... At least it didn't happen to me ...
"Just keep your head down ..."
And on and on it goes ...
Conviction
Doing nothing is no longer an option, for me. In life, dear reader, what has been your experience with:
- Abusive personal relationships, in all of there various forms ...
- Abusive "Almighty State" relationships, in all of its various forms ...
- Abusive "corporate malfeasance" relationships, in all of its various forms ...
What, if anything, do these share in common, by way of how people can be driven to finally respond? In all of the various forms it takes, many people do what they can:
... to "vote with their feet" and
get out!
get
There is an unmistakable sadness and heaviness of heart I feel in reaching this decision. I had not lightly reached my recent decision to resume posting, as I know what it takes.
After the completion of my latest travel-related series, I was going to resume my "Back to Eden" gardening series, as I really enjoy the simple things in life. And I know there are very solid people in that community, deserving whatever I could do in my small way to support and encourage ...
But ... No ... HW's malignant efforts not only reappeared, but they did so ... "right up in my face!" There was a time when I attempted to derive sufficient benefit over and above these value destroying actions to keep going, in spite of it.
I am unwilling to do that anymore. As an investor, I believe "money flows to where it's treated best" ultimately. And I have better things to do with my time ...
- Although an occasional POL ("proof of life") comment might appear here and there ...
End of the Road
Wait,
As this post has presumably made clear enough, however, I have all but zero thought this post will make any difference whatsoever. And have acted accordingly ...
Otherwise, I have done what I believe to be right, in an attempt to potentially help those who choose to remain active here. And I leave in peace.
Until "next time," all the best to you for a better tomorrow, as we you all work together to build up our your Hive Communities and add increasing value to our your Hive blockchain! 👍 😊
While at $290 HBD / day!) and absent seriously needed reforms, actively ... "manages" ... to destroy it. 👎😔
🌲 No trees were harmed in the publishing of this post! 🌲
