This post is a response to a post made by 
The Skeptic
I have been wary of technology for some time. I was late coming to the internet (believe it was around 2002 when AOL came out with 7.0) Back then, privacy was already a concern for me, and I had already begun seeing the way the new technologies were beginning to clamp down on us. I also saw another avenue that would add to the disconnect we have with our neighbors. I was already skeptical of most of the so called tech that many heralded as enriching our lives. Without turning this into a rant against tech, let me finish this part by saying all I see is intrusion and fancy words to sell flavored poison as food and often poison as medicine. Not to mention all of the EMF bombardment that increases daily. I am proud to say though, I never fell into the group of the tin foil hats. Their use would actually increase the signals beamed into our brains. I know this from experience. Back in the day we used aluminum foil on our TV's to enhance reception. This was back in the day when you had to train for months at a gym before undertaking the task of moving your 80 pound programming box to another spot.
Theft By Internet
Over the years, as companies pushed to whittle down on that payroll, they began pushing for us to pay via the internet. Great for them, not so great for us. Every year identity theft becomes more of a problem. In just the last year I have been notified by both United Airlines and the U.S.P.S. that my banking information has been compromised. Many will pay companies like Lifelock to try to prevent new accounts from being opened in their names etc. I suspect most computers have multiple spies inside. I mean if huge corporations and governments can't prevent this, I doubt the 49.00 security suite at Walmart can do the job. So lets fast forward a bit, because I can already sense some of you are getting impatient wondering where the crypto part comes in.
The Scam Of Crypto
So, if I have been a bit vague to this point, my position on technology is wondering when and how far it will insist I bend over. My skepticism spilling over for sure into the field of Bitcoin and crypto as we entered the pump and dump we saw last winter. And yet, despite my knowing full well nothing of importance could have occurred that would cause a fake asset jump from a 2000.00 value to a 20,000 value in just a couple of months, I couldn't deny the herds excitement as they rushed to hand over another form of fake money (that at least could buy tangible goods and pay bills) to obtain these internet ledger recordings.
I didn't entertain getting involved though, although I quickly began spending an hour or two a day looking into the hype on Reddit and YouTube. I remember thinking there was no way this was a safe way to hold an asset (which I didn't consider this to be). And lets not even delve into having to live like James Bond to try securing it with safety precautions and gazillion digit passwords impossible to remember.
Then I Encountered Steemit Videos By The Huckster
YouTube began suggesting videos to me on crypto, and that's when I came across the goofball with the weird teaching hat. His enthusiasm alone wouldn't have convinced me. It was his showing that one could earn by writing, and earn well (this last part I found out quickly wasn't the case). I had just come off a year of decent residual royalties for self publishing, and based on the crap I saw getting large payouts, I decided to dip my toes in. This was towards the end of January, 2018. February 5th, 2018 I got my account activated.
I realized after a disappointing start that if I wanted to grow here, to do a few things.
Forget everything the Huckster had said.
Find like minded folks and let them (and their circles) know I existed on THEIR threads.
This last one is the huge one. You might want to buckle up for this one.
- I needed to buy Steem if I wanted to grow here. Deciding that I liked it here, and wanted to stake a place here was enough to spur me to do something no other crypto has or likely will. I went through all the bullshit in getting not one, but two exchange accounts and made a few purchases and transferred it here and powered it up.
This once again was a decision that was aided by the unique security that Steem offers.
13 week powerdown giving you time to try to recover from some asshole wanting to steal your coin (like they are now saying just happened to Cryptopia).
No need for me to worry a desktop wallet will get compromised, no worry over a paper wallet begin damaged or destroyed.
If for some reason I lapse in my James Bond protocols, I am most likely not FUBAR.
If it were not for those unique features of Steem, there is no way I would be involved with crypto, nor taken the next step and transitioned from one who risks nothing to actually putting a little money (that I didn't really have) out of my own pocket into.
And that is my story on how Steem(it) roped in a crypto skeptic such as myself, who still stands by the chain almost a year after joining in. I stand by it, and stand by those of you who I have been able to show support for through my stake based votes. I have witnessed some pretty absurd name calling about selfish people self voting, equating it to the violent act of rape. I don't get angry with them, I figure the math is the math. I do pity them though. There is a richness beyond a digit of self growth when you can help others you SEE, and love for that, grow. I hope to continue growing here, and one day see those in my communities here doing well enough that chains of debt no longer are an obstacle. I will feel grateful that this unique system allowed me to contribute to that.
No other chain. None.