When I heard of vote buying the first time I dismissed it as scammy behaviour, self-voting was another thing that was mentioned in the same breath and I had another meaning of that as I have generally voted for myself since I first started here more than two years ago. In the discussions I followed in different posts, but mainly those written by Hive account@steevc my first impression was somewhat challenged. Vote selling and vote buying could be seen as reasonably legit - a way an investor could gear his investment and a way newbies could get some upvotes... which with the current inequality and low value steem can be more than hard.

I was not really impressed with the argument, and did not change my behaviour. I still think that the solution to the problems mentioned above should be solved in the technology, and that the distribution of Steem and Steem-dollars should be optimised to promote quality content.... Yes, I know: not an easy thing to do!

So after having realised that some of the people I follow and admire do use vote buying I decided to try it out myself. Just like trying out cannabis or cocaine to get a feel for what it actually is.

I paid 4.260 SBD to Hive account@rocky1 and as far as I can see it has doubled this amount. I am now trying with 3 SBD for another post to see how things are calculated...

Conclusion

Well, it is tempting. I am here on Steemit to make some money that will make it possible to have another year of concentrated work on my comic + all the other creative commons coincidences my hand and brain will produce. It also means that I will have more power on the platform voting for the profiles I like and think should have precedence. I am not even sure what the official stand is. Are there any rules or guidelines that says something about it?

But, I am a bit undecided. Any input would be very much appreciated. Calculations get immensely more complicated when moral is introduced (it is actually impossible on a theoretical level as the utilitarians have shown us), and therefore I just normally tend to go with what I think is right AND what makes me poorer and less powerful. But I am aware that this vagabond mentality is not necessarily the right way, but mainly the easy way for the person who do not place to big an emphasis on money.