It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.
- Benjamin Franklin -
For over five years I've been writing on the blockchain; I've found enjoyment through it and have learned things from people I'd never usually have the opportunity to meet. Since I began here, I've seen many people come and go, some I've missed and others didn't even raise the slightest of blips on my radar. Some don't have the time and some lose interest and who can forget those who rage quit? Of that special breed of person bespawler, there are a quite few.
I was in conversation with a Hive user who's been around a little longer than myself today, discussing what it takes to build a solid account here. I use the word, build, because we both agreed that that's exactly what is required. A solid and sustainable account starts with a good foundation and as it rises higher and higher care must be taken to construct it in such a manner that it won't crumble.
Builders
Most do a good job, the best they know how, and because I curate a lot and run communities I see those accounts grow and develop.
What's usually common to those I refer tis their ability to listen and learn, accept constructive suggestions, ask questions and actually apply the answers they receive to their posts. They get involved with others, comment on other people's accounts rather than waiting for people to comment to them, spread their votes around and support communities. These things make it easier for those of us who have been around longer and have bigger stake to support them...and those newer accounts grow commensurate to the efforts those people go to.
I see many such people in my communities and, whilst they don't always get it right and need to be nudged in the right direction now and then, mostly they accept the nudge, apologise for their errors, and move back to the business of building their accounts.
Breakers
Not everyone does so though. Every now and then someone chooses to think of themselves as...I don't know, special?
These people tend not to listen to the advice or directions of others; I'm not sure why, a feeling of entitlement perhaps, along with selfishness, mean-spiritedness, an egotistical or narcissistic nature...or maybe it's just stupidity. A good example could be a user who doesn't follow community guidelines set by a community owner. When addressed they often take it personally, see it as an affront on their character or a personal attack, call it censorship and cite the fact we're on a decentralised blockchain and they can do as they like. It's a familiar story.
What they miss though, is that just as they feel entitled to act as they see fit, and rave loudly about it, others are also so entitled to do the same. Right?
It's even more ridiculous when one considers that their failure to adhere to house rules in a community can be solved with a, sorry, I'll rectify my post and ensure I read the rules before I post here again, comment. But no...they engage rant-mode and it's in that moment they begin to break their account.
If you come to my home you'll see a no-smoking sign at the door; I don't even allow people to smoke in my back yard or under my pergola; if they want to smoke they can do so standing out on the roadside. It's my house so, my rules.
Now imagine someone being told this, and totally ignoring the rules of my house by lighting up a cigarette anyway. How do you think that would go for that person? Hint: Not very fucken well.
Should it be different in a Hive community that the owner has put a lot of time and effort into? It's not easy running a community, it takes effort, and I like mine to appear and present in a way I can be proud of. It's mine after all and I'm not forcing anyone to post there so if they don't like the rules, just go away and post elsewhere. I would feel no remorse in ejecting someone who flaunted the no smoking rule in my home, and don't feel any when I address those doing the same in my communities; I'm simply reacting to the choices they, themselves, have made.
Foundation, building and maintenance
The world is full of many different types of people who all think and act differently. We live in different countries and come from different cultures and there's many differences; behaviours acceptable in one location may be totally unacceptable in another - The situation in Iran with Mahsa Amini is a perfect example. Naturally, some of these things, beliefs and ideologies make their way onto the blockchain and can cause issues. But humans are also similar in many ways and with common courtesy, manners, understanding and rational thought most of us can congregate in the community together and find enjoyment without being offensive, acting poorly or breaking it.
Laying a foundation then building upon it is the only way forward here, along with some nurturing of ones account and relationships. Together with some of that courtesy and manners paradigm from above an account can be easily built with integrity and in a time-effective manner.
There's always going to be those on the fringes who choose other paths, act in a manner unbecoming, negatively or simply don't follow the very simple guidelines we have here and that's ok...There's a place for them also...once they've caused their accounts here to crumble. The returns there are bad virtually non-existent and a blogging platform that centres around incessant whinging and negativity about this platform seems like a pretty hellish place...But people find a home there, and good luck to them...better there than here.
I wonder what your thoughts are on building an account here; this, for the new and older users alike. Also, are you a builder or breaker? What have you done to accomplish either? Feel free to comment below if you like.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Any images in this post are my own