Since becoming visual on my blog a few months ago.. I’ve gotten some interesting reactions. Most have been extremely encouraging and supportive.. some have been down right vulgar.. and a few have been hurtful.

I’m not complaining, I knew what I was getting into when I decided to start showing my face on the internet, and was mostly prepared for it.

While being called names like slut and whore could definitely be hurtful.. they actually just made me shake my head and giggle... I mean.. what about my blog and the photos I share would ever give someone that impression???

In fact while discussing this with someone on discord the other day they said..

Your blog is about as provocative as an old widow churning butter.

And I think that is pretty fitting..

No matter what you do in this world, someone is going to have something negative to say.. so.. knowing that I am not anything close to those names and don’t feel I am putting that image out through my blog.. I can just laugh and move past those.

What I can’t seem to get past?

“You only get votes, opportunities and the support you do because you’re a pretty face.”

First of all, as someone who struggles with self confidence this immediately confuses me slightly.. I don’t actually think I am a pretty face.. so why the hell would I get votes for that? And my blogs are not anything I would call entertaining for someone looking for that... they are boring in comparison to many here on the platform.

Why can’t I just get over this? I mean it’s not nearly as mean as the other things right? Or is it? Maybe it has to do with where the comments came from? Is it because I feel this negates all the work I’ve put in? Or is it a pride thing, I don’t even know...

But, let’s be honest here.. I’m not naive and understand how marketing works. I get we all are essentially building our brand here and individuals vote for what they like.. that’s the point. I also know that I could easily make videos of me smiling into a camera everyday talking about nothing and probably make bank... but that’s not who I am.

So, who am I?

I’ve been on this platform for 10 mths and started with nothing, I posted high quality content for my average $1-$3 and was glad to do it. I powered up everything and used my votes to uplift authors all I could. I didn’t buy my rep through vote bots and have maybe self voted a handful of times.

I have and continue to spend hours a day building communities (some like c-squared and helpie), mentoring curators and new authors alike , while curating to try to get the amazing authors on this platform seen... and guess what..

No one sees that.

Now I could continue on my tangent here about how maybe one of the votes I started getting recently could maybe have something to do with that mug up there.. show proof that I got great support and engagement when no one knew who was behind the account.. I could say that maybe, just maybe the support I’m getting has something to do with me going to steemfest and has nothing to do with my face.. but, this idea got me thinking of something even more interesting than all of that pointless nonsense...

If We Are Only Looking At The Surface, Are We Missing Important Things?

Now, I don’t even mean looking more than skin deep here.. that’s nice and all.. but, I mean the blockchain.

There have been many times on the platform where I will hear about how great a user is, how much they do to build and support communities, how much they help people etc. But, if you actually look at their activities.. they are supporting no one but themselves. And I’m not exaggerating.

This isn’t just users either.. it’s communites, curation initiatives, groups etc.

So why do we think they are so great?

Because they say they are..and we don’t bother to look. We are taking them at face value, and not looking at their actions.

I am one who believes that words are cheap, but actions are everything. And since the beginning I’ve had a habit of looking into those I support and what they do. Why? Because it’s my stake and I think it’s important how I use it.

I’ve come to realize not many do this though, and that confuses me...

Why aren’t we spending the time to look into the people and projects we support?

Now, many could simply say.. because I don’t care. and that is fine.. it’s your stake after all to do what you want to do. But I don’t actually think this is the mentality of most individuals here.. I think they just are taking people and initiatives at face value.

I think this happens in the opposite way as well though.

Users we see as villans and evil because of their public persona or what someone has said about them, becomes our reality.. but if we actually took the time to look at their actions, we might be pretty surprised.

I’ve found some of those accounts that many have a negative view of, are doing a hell of a lot more for this platform than the ones I currently see people putting up on a pedestal.

Many accounts and initiatives that are praised for the work they do.. are actually doing some pretty shady things.. and it’s right under our noses.

So, are we doing ourselves a disservice by taking everything at face value?

Are we being fooled by the Pretty Face that they show the world? Are we supporting those that are actually doing right by the platform? Or are we supporting the negative here, that just happens to have been wrapped up in a nice package?

It’s up to each individual to decide what to do with their stake, but if you are one who feels that you always try to support those that are doing good and supporting others, and really being an amazing part of this community...

You might want to take a few minutes to look at those you support and their actions...

What you find may surprise you.


I hope this discovery leads you in a positive direction.. I hope you find that those you had a negative image of are actually pretty amazing by platform standards. That has happened to me quite a few times actually.

If it leads you in a negative direction, where maybe someone isn’t exactly who you thought they were.. make something positive out of it. Go find someone who is truly doing good and support them instead.

This is our blockchain and we can use our stake to help make it what we want it to be... we just have to take the time to look.

Much love,

💕 Justine