Steem Highs and Lows
I joined this platform towards the end of 2017, when the activities here in Steem felt insane. My ID number is 501,629. We were about half of what the total population is now.
Like most during that time, I was on hyper mode. I couldn't sleep and I was reading and commenting on posts almost non-stop. I met a lot of people and we exchanged comments like we were writing emails back and forth. Those were long comments that were worthy to be published as posts. Now, I found myself commenting fast and sometimes just upvoting without commenting. I am not saying that short comments aren't okay (spam isn't), I just noticed that I didn't have the same energy as before.
Most chat channels were busy. It was easy to join chat conversations and you wouldn't even notice how much time you've spent there. It was normal to see several people typing all at the same time, with several topics going on in one channel at the same time. It felt like a party! But now, most chat channels, whether in steem.chat or discord, are dead.
At the same time, it was difficult for posts to be seen because after publishing a post, tens of other posts buries yours. But it was fun. Everyone was here. Now, you can search the feed an entire day and you still won't find enough for curation (referring to the curation work that I do with Travelfeed). Funny though, whales some still can't seem to notice the little ones who create good content despite the lesser activities (Oh I forgot, there's auto-vote or they just don't care).
People Leaving or Just Taking a Rest?
January felt the same as February... and then I don't remember when people started to disappear one by one. Then I just got used to not seeing most people I know.
And it may be myself as well. From hyper commenting, I have gradually slowed down. There are days I just vote and don't even leave comments anymore. I can't find the motivation some days, other days I force myself to get into the habit again.
I may be feeling what this people who left before they have stopped posting. Or I'm just going back to my normal. Or maybe the excitement is gradually dying and I have to work on that motivation now.
I can go on a day without looking at Steemit. And I think that's healthier now but I'm afraid I might enjoy that too much and I might disappear too. And I don't want that to happen.
And there are other factors like disappointments and frustrations. When no one reads or support your blogs, how can you go on? Sure for some it's just a hobby but there are people who need to make use of their time on something that has a potential - maybe for their needs or for a dream.
1 Million Users, Where Are They?
It felt crazy here when there were only half a million. I have wondered how people are going to organize posts and activities if the numbers increase. And recently, we hit 1 million users. A milestone. But where are they? I have felt this place busier when there were only half a million users. Is activity inversely proportional to the number of users?
How many of these are bot accounts? How many are fake? How many are dead and owned by users who once have so much excitement on this platform?
How many are multiple accounts owned by one person? A lot of people have noticed the in rush of followers whenever they post. People instantly get additional 12, 40 or so followers seconds after publishing a blog (who would never really follow and read their blogs).
Update: After publishing this I had another additional 38 followers or so for no reason. Something weird is going on. Hmmmm...
What's happening to this place?
User Retention
I think it's time we focus on user retention. It would be sad to hit the next million but see lesser activities or quality posts. It would be sad to see those hopeful now stop or leave one by one.
I don't really know how to do that. Having a small plankton voice have made it impossible to be heard. It can also be about setting the right expectations to newbies as what 
Lastly, this isn't a rant but my honest questions and observations of what's happening here. It would be great if you can comment on this post so we can have a discussion.