What is a long time?
It depends on what is being experienced. If waiting in a line at a checkout, 5 minutes seems significant. That same 5 minutes spent talking with someone at their hospital bedside for the last time takes on new meaning. It is relative as they say.
In general, time appears to go fast when we are enjoying ourselves or want a moment to last and slowly when we are suffering and want a moment to end. What is a long time to suffer and does the degree of suffering matter?
It has been two and a half years since Steem began, the second World War lasted for six. Can we compare the two? Hard to do without experiencing them both but pretty easy to assume that the level of suffering involved isn't of the same degree. However, again it is subjective because without experiencing worse, the suffering of Steem might be the worst faced.
For most, I don't think that is the case and most have had worse in their lives they can recount. Perhaps contrasting the experience here with other times of life hardship will bring perspective, perhaps not.
It takes four years to get a bachelor's degree, eight for a medical. There are people here who have likely out-earned many doctors, not just over the last two years, but potentially a lifetime if Steem increases enough and for some, it doesn't have to climb so far. Have they saved lives in order to do so, eased suffering? Potentially.
Just by being here, supporting some people with a vote or two might have fundamentally shifted the experience and possibility of another human and their family. But, do they realise it, was it intentional at all? Does it matter?
For the most part though, the content itself isn't going to make the difference as individual pieces but, the content collective could be part of a fundamental shift in the way humans share and interact as well as earn. For some here, they have accessed an opportunity of possibly immense value for themselves but, do they have enough and when will the return come?
What is a long time to change the world?
If we observe people's behaviour we can watch how quickly frustration sets in, impatience and suffering. Everyone wants to end their suffering as soon as possible but, at what cost are we willing to pay to end it? Will we sell future potential short to have a slightly improved experience now?
Everything seems to move at a snail's pace these days as information flies through our senses ever faster, worthwhile or useless it doesn't matter, it doesn't slow down. We want to get where we are going as fast as possible so we can enjoy it for longer perhaps but, impatience doesn't get us there faster and more often than not, the rush slows us down.
How long are you willing to wait and how much work are you willing to do to have a chance at a better life, to create a better position for you, your family and others, develop a career, meet the perfect person, build a strong relationship, raise a child well, become your best?
Some things just take time to develop. All things technically.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
(posted from phone)