After watching Steemit evolving since its public inception and using an alias (which I never really used), the time has come to introduce myself as in me: a Dutch science and tech journalist, but also blockchain enthousiast since probably somewhere in 2011 or 2012. Can't really pinpoint the exact moment, but from the start it (Bitcoin) felt like something big was happening, albeit in a community which was very unknown to me and hard to connect with for someone who's not a developer.
Even worse, my good geeky friends couldn't fathom the impact Bitcoin and later blockchain in general would have. In their view it was a ponzi or something fishy. And I couldn't really explain what it was because I had to rewire my brain into thinking differently. But that's a few years ago now.
Apart from blockchain and blockchain applications which differ from financial ones, I have a broad interest in the world, ranging from politics, travelling the world and see different ways of life. But also art, architecture, being outside, roaming the world by foot or by bicycle. Enjoy nature (or the opposite, usually because of the weather). Storing those memories on analogue photographic materials or just digital. Or maybe on paper in writing or drawing.
Talking about archaeological research and drinking wine :) Photo by Monique Kooijmans
Alas, sharing those thoughts is nice. But most online communities don't really add any value anymore. As many, I stopped using Facebook, tried new ones like Diaspora and Ello. The latter found its own audience, revolving around the arts. Diaspora (hey, I still have an account there!) was too much Facebook and not enough itself. Or so. Google+, remember that one?
With Steemit I hope to find a new community which is more than a normal social network, but a news wire in itself.