As I do a number of times a day, I logged in this morning to check my feeds for something new and interesting, for some signs of people being empowered or some unselfish soul fighting for a cause but as usual, I was met with a disappointing mix of shit.
Now firstly, I post shit. Basically, because I'm not clever enough to articulate into words exactly what I want to say. So I just carry on my merry way trying, and doing the things I believe in without fuss or feeling the need to garner publicity or glory.
I can't remember how I found my way to Steemit, probably by following numerous links across various social media, but I was struck by the word I often see here: EMPOWERMENT
Now empowerment to me is about helping people to help themselves but all I seem to find are the majority of people empowering themselves by telling other people how to empower themselves.
The first article I read this morning was an article about motivation and how we can all achieve our dreams. Sailing into the sunset on a yacht was mentioned. Err, no we can't. We can strive to, we can work our bollocks off to, but very few will. Even fewer if you look at the situation that half the world has as a starting point. I find it arrogant in the extreme despite the fact this particular article was well intentioned and coming from someone I seriously do admire here, an exceptional benevolent individual, who really does work for the betterment of the community. I guess he misses it's irony. I will print this article out and pass it amongst the street kids of downtown Makati next time I'm there. They might get some nutritional value from the paper and ink.
The problem is, it's preaching to the already converted. The people who need empowering are the ones we don't directly reach on this platform because they are not members. Not members because they are too busy worrying where the next meal is coming from and have no 24/7 access to the latest 2 grand Macbook and the www.
I read an article yesterday from a member who's stated aims are 'the long term purpose of this account is to provide the necessary funds to live a self-sufficient lifestyle at home with my family'. Very noble, and thanks for the article and pictures of you getting your new mains electric supply. Riveting and well worthy of the 48.76 worth of upvotes. At least be real, you're a smallholder working as a blogger, you're self-employed like millions are throughout the world. This is great and I truly admire this guy and his lifestyle choice, but selling himself as something he's not is pathetic. He operates on the same model of existence as the rest of the developed world. PS, you're new goats are cute 'kerching'.
And the Anarchists...ahh all heading off to Acapulco to pat each other on the back and plot the demise of central banks and government. Anarchism - the idea that government is unnecessary. I'd dare to suggest that there is more governance and rules and regulation on Steemit as there are on many other forums and allegedly more mainstream social media. Sounds like a load of educated selfish middle class buffoons operating on their purely self-centred agenda to me. Hopefully, they'll throw a couple of coins to any poverty ridden Mexicans they see littering the path to their nice hotel. Don't get me started on that glory hound on dtube and youtube who thinks he's a rebel without a cause cos he smokes whilst presenting! Get a life and bring some value to the world dude.
And Crypto, ahhhh the darling of the libertarian age. Bollocks. It's just another financial instrument for others to make money. No different to the current financial system in place, just a very clever and alternative way to raise funds for a new start up, like traditional shares, but easier to trade and less transparency and regulation, thus making it more open to to scamming scum setting up fake ICOs to try and extract the hard earned cash of the hard working, and the not so hard earned cash of the greedy traders.
So back to my feeds....let's have a look at 'trending'.....
Oh look. Yippee, FuriousPete has rode into town with his 500,000 followers from YouTube. I'm practically dribbling piss in excitement, and for simply announcing his arrival, has cashed in to the tune of $1151, obviously YouTube isn't paying as well as it used to do. Let's have a whip round for the poor fella. trust me Pete, you're not as furious as me. I'm bloody seething.
He is swiftly followed by, the Hodgettwins, whose videos on Youtube I was implored to watch by a star-struck and giddy witnesses post last night that excitedly informed me that these huge social media influencers were coming to Steemit. I watched, I saw, I thought what a pile of shit. About as funny as an oil slick. Again, happy days. I was just thinking this morning how much the world needs more 'social influencers'.
And at the bottom, yet another Crypto themed post, how could I get through my day without reading it, my life is complete.
We don't need social media influencers, whatever that conceited and ridiculous title means, I keep reading that Steemit isn't a facebook alternative, but yet now we have a twitter clone, an Instagram clone and dmania, where people post 'funny' memes, for rewards of course! Quite odd really 'cos whenever I've looked at Dmania it's made me weep rather than laugh .....
What we need are humanistic influencers. People who want to change the world in it's entirety. One step at a time.
All I hear about is this new transparent, accountable decentralised new world where everything is shared, but conversely, all that's happened is that indivduals have lost even more rights to privacy and the vast majority of information that's being shared is simply being used for voyeuristic purposes and to as a rod to beat the sharer....a little bit like this article has done!
A few of the photos in the photo competitions that run here actually have copyright notices or signatures across them. How conceited is that? I fully intend to lift them and make a post of them, as an attempt to demonstrate the irony. Attempt being the operative word.
Share your knowledge, but share for the sake of empowering humanity and not for the sake of sharing your own ego. Don't just write, but read too. For every article you write, try reading 5 others in their entirety. And comment!!
In the 5 minutes it's taken someone (probably no-one!) to read this, 85 people, somewhere in the world have died as a direct result of hunger or a hunger related disease, 57 of them children.
Empower someone who needs empowering. Today. Please
