The supposed milkers--those raping the reward pool, circle jerkers, etc and the steem gatekeepers are one and the same. That's why any form of virtue signaling is laughable.
Those who have been making huge profits selling voters over the years suddenly came up with this EIP to curtail abuse, or in other words, steem that's not going into their pockets. You've made profit selling voters over the years. In your defense it was a necessary evil, so why don't you afford other people the same opportunity? Or do you think people want to make 3-4 substandard posts every day to earn pennies? Do you think people actually enjoy posting everyday?
Now c'mon how many people here are making something substantial these days? So what's this whole talk about milking steem? I don't think anyone has the moral right to talk about these things. In one way you have milked steem, either through your network of friends or buying huge amounts of steem. You've exploited the system. You are no saint.
Currently, steem is torn between two elite groups: the supposed gatekeepers who have actually exploited steem for the longest time and still try to hold on to any piece of their conscience they have left and those who milk the reward pool without any remorse.
To be frank i am fine with those who go about their milking business without poking into other people's business. At least we know how to handle these folks (i believe the EIP was the right response to their activities on steem). But for the supposed gatekeeper who is always virtue signaling, it's hard to call. Now we are left with these supposed two-faced people who consistently poke into other people's business. Steem isn't any better with them. In fact, things were better the old way. Enough went around, you just needed to put a little effort. These days you can double your effort and end up short. That is the reality of steem today. And clearly, a lot of people are not having it. They've left.
The merit factor. It has never been about merit. Your network and stake are all that matters. I have no problem with that but we should always realize that people are willing to exploit relationships and advantages others don't have. If i know that all i need to do is make a couple of friends and get auto votes rather than working and promoting my content i would explore that option because it is easy. No level of guilt-tripping can avert that. It is just human nature to be opportunistic. People are naturally amoral. They do what is in their best interest. The failure has been in our inability to make people see that putting steem first is in our best interest, but how? You've been told to hodl whilst everyone else is cashing out and you watch your investment take a nosedive. Every rational human being would do damage control at that point. So until this can be resolved, i don't see a way forward really.
Get as much as you can. That's the game--it has always been. The early adopters got as much as the could, enough to dictate things here and even chased those who won't do their bidding. Survival is the name of the game. Don't worry about what's right or wrong (you should actually because there is a much bigger world than steem). It's all about self-preservation. No one here is doing anything that isn't in their favor.
I want steem to thrive but there are just so many bottlenecks. The hypocrisy is alarming. I am indifferent about these things. I have played my own part so i am not innocent either. But unlike some of you here i know and acknowledge that. Maybe there is some redemption for people like me, who say things like they. I guess for many, speaking frankly about things hurt other's ego and exposes their schemes/illusion but everybody knows really. Every one of us knows. If you've been here for quite some time you know. Probably this is one of the reasons you don't buy this steem mooning narrative that was so popular at some point. While some were preaching 'hodling' they were selling in chunks but never failed to chastise those smaller fishes who were selling their pennies.
Before now i would probably be very angry writing this post but i have come to terms with the reality of things. I milk as much as i can with my soul intact, help when i can to promote steem. This is my only moral obligation to steem. Asides that, I'm paying no self-righteous entity talking about dignity any attention. Steem is where it is because of their bad habits. Fix it and stop policing people. No one even cares that much to listen. look around you.
Cheers.