Hello bucoleman, I have only been here 4 days and you are the first person I have found who speak sense and is actually putting out great content. I have to say I am no math wizard but a lot of the stuff on here seems . . . pointless, yet it 'popular'
I am trying to navigate myself and thanks for the links you sent.
It is already tempting to buy steem, but I don't even know how you buy a bitcoin and aren't they like a bazillion dollars??
this also seems what they want you to do - because you think you are going to miss out.
So instead of creating good content you just put out literally 'anything' in a post then boost it. It is actually really disappointing as this platform could rock if it truly rewarded people putting out good stuff into the world. Instead, new people like me turn up and become disillusioned really quickly or start playing the 'game'

So far it appears to be gaming, and basically a Ponzi scheme for the people that got in early. I do hope that I am wrong.

I am going to stick around and put out some more content and see what happens.

Thanks again I have found your posts really helpful.