What happens when we post something amazing on HIVE, but don't go and engage in community?

Nothing. Well, not much. Perhaps you say something like this:

'Nobody loves my writing - I got no comments at all!'
'Why do THEY get all the engagement and not me?'
'I have no time to comment - but I wish people would comment on my post'.

But saying nothing when you scroll through the HIVE feed isn't the way of HIVE.

Last week I delegated to Hive account@garybilbao's project, Hive account@elcomentador (cool name, by the way!). Why? Because his heart was into how commenting adds value to this platform. People need to be seen and heard - and without that, HIVE is nothing. People drift away and give up - and that's no good at all. You can read the introduction post to his project here, but it reads, in part:

For that reason, when we do something and nobody thanks us, praises us, or comments on it (even if it is to criticize us), we feel restless, sad, discouraged, and believe that it is not worth doing something for anyone again. The same thing happens in #Hive, those of us who have been here for a while know that the beginnings were hard, and if we have stayed it is because we learned to love this platform, because we were discovering the way to get ahead and stay afloat. However, many left because they saw no monetary or emotional rewards. They did not feel that invisible touch through a word of praise or even constructive criticism or teaching. They felt ignored, minimized, undervalued, and preferred to go on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, at least there they were given likes and comments that satisfied their sense of importance, their desire for recognition, their longing to be appreciated.

I've definitely received my fair share of emotional rewards on HIVE. What a beautiful buzz it is to spend time crafting a post and for people to comment back, appreciating your efforts or your content. And from that, friendships are born - and genuine community blossoms. And from genuine community arises abundance. Long time users here will vouch for that! It can be financial gain, sure. But it's also fun, and giggles, and knowledge, and compassion and love and friendship. Tell me another platform does that as well as HIVE. It doesn't - because if it did, you wouldn't be here, right?

I've hit the point on HIVE that I don't really need to look at my post rewards, but I still kinda feel sad when people don't bother to drop a comment. I've learnt to let that go a little because there's lots of reasons that people don't comment - your content doesn't interest them (that's fine - I find it hard to feign interest in motorbikes or guns - sorry Hive account@galenkp, I might wanna learn to shoot but reading about them is probably as thrilling for you as reading about yoga!), or it's a quiet weekend on HIVE. And if you're a new user, it's likely because no one's seen you in their feeds yet. Don't worry, they will. Because you MATTER!

How are we told to overcome this invisibility on HIVE from the very beginning?

ENGAGE.

And it's far, far easier than you think!

Sure, we all have times when we don't want to be online for various reasons, or can't be, but when we are, commenting on HIVE doesn't have to be a chore, but something you genuinely enjoy doing - bringing value to the platform, and that warm fuzzy feeling to your insides knowing you've made someone happy.

How do you know it makes them happy?

Just remember the time that you spent hours and hours on a post, pressed PUBLISH - and then the Great Silence. How did you feel? Disappointed? Rejected? Fed up? Undervalued?

Now remember the time when people commented. Felt good, didn't it?

I absolutely loved the method Hive account@artemislives uses for her habitual commenting. Here's a woman that does it because she cares not only about financial rewards, but the very platform itself, and the little HIVERS who don't get seen so often. She (in short - I've dropped a link to her post below):

Sits down with a cuppa and mindset of enjoying commenting - a ritual that punctuates a quiet and peaceful time in her day.
Makes an effort to comment on all kinds of people - not just those in her immediate circle (I love this one, it's important - everyone matters)
Sets herself goals eg 'twelve comments a day' 'answers all comments on her own posts'.
Checks her mentions religiously - it's discouraging when people include you, but you don't respond.

Simple, eh? Not a chore, but something that can be part of our everyday HIVE experience. Because unless you do this, you can't complain about no one commenting on your posts, right?

When Hive account@garybilbao said that people leave because:

They did not feel that invisible touch through a word of praise or even constructive criticism or teaching

my heart melted a little. Here's a guy who believes that comments matter because they are kind. It's not all about financial rewards, but caring for your fellow Hive beings.

So do join in the comment party, even if it's sitting down on a Sunday night with hot apple pie and icecream or a beer, and not stopping til you've made twenty people happy.

And then watch the abundance bloom into something you helped co-create.

How do you manage commenting on HIVE? Encouraging you to read the following posts and consider why it matters, and how you can get involved.

Building a Great Hive Engagement Habit by Hive account@artemislives
Hive Comments Interaction Iniative by Hive account@theycallmedan (this one might get you upvotes!)
Engagement: The Foundation of Enrichment by
The Commentator is Born by Hive account@garybilbao

So ironically, as I write this, I'm well aware that I'll drop off on my commenting over the next few weeks as we go off on holiday and I'm out of reception and enjoying the bush. But when I am here, my vow is to ensure I leave valuable, meaningful comments on fellow HIVERS posts, and be part of a genuine community of real people, whose every post matters - no matter how small or seemingly trivial to some, they deserve a kind word, to be heard. Will you renew your HIVE engagement vows?