I was thinking these last few days, what has really changed with Steemit HF20 (Hard Fork 20) and all its patches, for me, as more or less, the average Steemit user.
Putting aside all the quite techy official announcements and explanations, and even the total frustration especially in the first hours or even days of implemented HF20 changes, I noticed, and I'm facing the following.
As first, when whole this mumbo jumbo was going on and when only a few lucky members were lucky enough to at least comment (I couldn't even claim my rewards as my Resource Credits were in substantial negative number, as it was for most of us), and when first few more significant accounts has been somewhat restored to be able to create a post, I noticed enormous amount of fear.
Despite the overall, in the air densely fluctuating, disappointment and dissatisfaction almost anyone dared (due respect to the exceptions) to express it freely and openly, and especially not in full. I still can't get rid of the feeling of some overall (although not sincere) try to present some understanding attitude.
This false understanding could be seen the best through the massive usage of diminutives with very polite and gentle tone whenever some negative word, describing the real situation, has been used. From the literary point of view, it was a real performance of vibrant and innovative expressive styles, but from the aspect of truth, it was pathetic.
So, what really changed or not?
Putting aside not announced, not asked for, not expected, etc., one week long collective Steemacation (Steem Vacation - the new expression someone's cheery mind created) I can see the following.
New name for the same old features and functionalities
- Before we had Voting Power, and now we have Voting Mana
- Before we had Bandwidth, and now we have Resource Credits (Mana)
What's the real change behind it? I'm sorry, but I don't see it.
Limiting Abuse and SPAM
As far as I can see our old well-known spammers (as well as some undiscovered yet) are still here without any problem continuing to publish their BS (one-photo, one-video, one-meme, copied-pasted, plagiarised, etc.), articles.
I can also see the same amount of the activity from those so-called "low SP users," and I'm talking here primarily about hundreds if not thousands of, e.g. 15 SP (0.100 + 14.900 SP) accounts without a single post being published but with, in average, 8,000 - 10,000 Followers and with over 100,000 Following and counting (there is always some new fool who would be flattered by being followed with such member and would thankfully return the follow without any prior checking).
I already know when I'm going to hit the "Post" button for this post these, in fact, bot-users would arrive in hordes with their follows (if you don't believe me, you may check my activity on steemd.com after this post is going to be authored), to unfollow later on, one by one (depending how well the algorithm of their bot-accounts has been adjusted).
In other words, good old SteemCleaners has the same amount of all hands' job full as they did before.
Wallet Spam is present as well the same way as it was before. (You know those tiny 0.001 SBD or Steem transactions that show up in your wallets to inform you about some new "great" Resteem bot, Vote bot or both.)
The only change that maybe exists (I personally didn't check it as I didn't try to create some new account) is the creation of new accounts which perhaps is not that easy anymore. Besides that, I'm sorry again, but I don't see any more significant change.
Additional questions are, to whom this new "not that easy anymore" account creation now is available after all and is this possibility favoring more prominent SP holders/members or not, as well as how this is going to help us to bring in more new active users!?! (The answers to these questions might be equally satisfying or disappointing, but I don't know them yet.)
Fairness and better Reward Pool distribution
As far as I can see, same people, the same way and with the same kind of articles are occupying the "Trending" and "Hot" pages, no matter how they ended up there (by buying upvotes, through good old connections with some whales and orcas or several of them, being supported continuously, no matter why, by some bigger communities accounts or else).
Voting bots are still here, functioning normally and continuing their work and enrichment the same way as they did it before HF20.
So, to conclude and to answer my question...
What Has Changed For Me With Steemit HF20?
My answer is...
Important and Necessary Changes
From important and necessary changes that I was expecting to happen with this HF20 in the first place, like at least true and more significant abuse and spam reduction if not complete removal, better and fairer good content and true engagement recognition and accordingly better and fairer rewards distribution, unfortunately, didn't happen.
The Only Change
The only changes that I see are the following.
- Shorter time needed (5 days) for the return of SP delegation (when undelegated) which I welcome although it's only two days less than before (7 days undelegated period).
- Additional drop down of the Steem price. (Thank God, not that significant!)
- Highly likely problems with Exchanges being down or blind for Steem blockchain and accordingly Steem/SBD currencies.
Meaning, the very unpleasant impossibility of both, depositing to and withdrawing from our accounts' wallets. And all of that "garnished" with possible longer time frame needed (from simple technical part up to eventually possible lack of will and interest) of the exchanges to adopt and implement all the necessary HF20 changes and afterward patches.
(Personally, I didn't try to move my funds in any direction, so from my own experience I can't tell anything about it, but I see what people are talking about this.)
My Hopes, Still
As first, I hope that Steemit Inc. would invest all the necessary time and efforts to make this Exchanges' transition regarding HF20 as fastest and smoothest as it's possible (if nothing, because it's in their own interest as well).
Furthermore, I heard that some changes (which I was expecting and still hoping for) are not going to be seen immediately but through some time (let's say, several weeks or a month).
So, I don't want to panic either to stay that way in this (for now and for me) "disappointment city." I would rather follow the "faith sign ahead" trying to contribute this network, platform and community the best way I can and know and finally turn it into the Dreamland we all want to be in, and I don't want to give up as long as there is even the slightest hope for that.
Of course, I can't do that alone. As well anyone would be able to do it as long as we are all (more or less) filled with fear that our change expectations, free speech about the existing problems that should be addressed, as well as our moves and attempts in that direction would have grave repercussions in any form of discrediting or penalization.
But if we can truly join together by being "one for all and all for one," get rid and be entirely free of that fear, be engaged, improve the communication, share the knowledge and help, not only by detecting and criticizing existing problems and mistakes but as well being open to actively participate in solving them and offering solutions (if we know them), I'm telling you guys, in that case, only the sky is the limit and we are just one step from that Dreamland.
Posted on Thursday, October 4, 2018
