I admit it, I am a user of bid-bots sometimes.. The first step to getting clean is always the hardest. They're just so... useful and rewarding... I sometimes feel I don't have any choice but to use them... The more I stop using them, the more attractive their rewards become..
Image Source: Addiction Blog
In my recent post about neutralising bid bots, I put forward an idea that doesn't involve any kind of control of anyone, but which may result in the playing field in the Steem eco-system becoming more fair. In the comments there I started to feel and realise just how similar the use of bid bots is to a drug addiction or other kind of addiction.. Here's why:
Addictions tend to exist in a way that involves the 'reward circuits' in the brain (involving neuro chemicals such as dopamine and seratonin that are sometimes called the 'feel good' chemicals). Just like gambling, we get a 'hit' of pleasure when taking the repeated action. This has been highlighted by the operators of Facebook as being one of the key psycho-social problems with Facebook and it apparently has them worried.
Gambling addictions often involve gamblers losing massive amounts of money and yet they keep going and don't stop when they do win. This may be because they associate the 'winning' with a gaining of something other than money - like reputation. This scientific study into the neuro chemistry of Facebook use showed that the use of social media was not co-related to financial reward, but could be shown to be related to gains in PERSONAL REPUTATION. Personal reputation (in the form of the reputation number) is directly increased when using bidbots.
Often, addictions are formed by a desire to feel differently/better. The aim of the behaviour that becomes addictive, on an emotional and often subconscious or unconscious level, is to change the way we feel. If we feel unloved, un-empowered and disrespected (as many people do in life currently), then we may be more likely to get involved in an addictive pattern. Although users of bidbots might not think so consciously, there is a chance that some of them are using the bots as a way to try to feel better/safer more respected. (This reminds me of the 'body builders' who use chemicals to literally inflate their muscles, instead of doing actual exercise).
The less demand there is for bid bots, the more the potential ROI increases, which then stimulates more demand. This is similar to the way that drug addicts go through a process of increased 'demand' when withdrawing from use (and also how drug dealers may even lower the prices of their drugs to try to get people hooked again who are going clean).
There are usually justifications to be found for the addictions, such as "it helps me relax" or "it solves a problem that can't be or is too difficult to be solved another way". In some cases, this may be true - but usually (if not really always) there ARE better approaches to the problem and better outcomes possible. I see myself an others say this about bid bot use.
What's the solution?
I am not saying that everyone who uses bidbots is an addict! I am just saying that we would be wise to link up the psychology, neurology and patterns here so that we can be sure we are making the best possible choices for us and our friends.
It is possible to use alcohol, drugs, TV and gamble without being addicted - we need to be conscious to do this and to not lapse into unconsciousness that creates a habit and routine of it. I suggest the same with bid bots - which is why I currently only use them to promote particular posts that I consider to be very important and that the world needs to see (Such as this post about organ harvesting in China).
It is far better to take action to get to the root causes of the issues and implement changes that work better for everyone overall.. So that instead of creating a bunch of Bidbot Barons - along the lines of Columbian drug barons (but with less moustaches and sub-machine guns hopefully), we can create a community that sticks to the original vision of the Steem whitepaper whereby posts are rewarded for 'proof of brain'.
In summary, here are my thoughts on improving the bid bot situation peacefully:
Everyone has responsibility to think about what they are doing and to learn whether bid bot use is helping them in the long term or not. It is quite possible that a short term profit/visibility gain results in a long term loss of value in Steem since investment in the platform is reduced due to outsiders not liking the situation when they encounter the way that posts are boosted currently.
Steemit inc. could take relatively simple action to introduce their own vote selling system that creates much more balance - as I outlined in the post I linked at the start here.
As with drug addictions, by increasing awareness of the problem and helping each other to solve our problems through mutual and constructive support - we can overcome all the issues. I think this is really how Steem was intended to work from the beginning.
What do you think?
Let us know in the comments below!
Wishing you well,
Ura Soul
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