Some thoughts on curation, power downs, and KE

_{Worked with Canva AI}

The rationale behind each vote on Hive is a private matter, both from an individual and a team perspective. This is something to know rather than to understand. Starting from that principle, what interests me here is to comment—respectfully—on some ideas regarding certain aspects that, undoubtedly, influence content curation decisions. I’m referring specifically to the practice of powering down (which, for example, could stem from a market strategy or an urgent economic need) and the so-called KE, respectively. The first issue is as old as the blockchain itself, while the second, closely related to the first, has been part of public debate since last year.

My opinion on this matter is that everyone is free to adopt the strategies and decisions they see fit on Hive, though they must also be willing to accept the consequences that arise from their actions. For example, in my own case, I would prefer to keep my Hive Power intact, only in accumulation mode. First, because I like to watch my assets grow on the chain, but also because I know it demonstrates a long-term commitment that benefits all of us who belong to the Hive ecosystem. By this, I mean that when I withdraw HP, I do so out of urgent necessity, not with potential price increases in mind—which, in any case, is a legitimate move.

A few months ago, one of the users who supported me from my early days on this blockchain nominated me to be included in the curation list of a hiver with significant voting power. However, the user had set a requirement that those nominated could not be powering down at that time—which, in fact, I was. Of course, that restriction was debatable because, I repeat, in my case it was something I did very reluctantly, as I am doing again now. Nevertheless, I respect that user’s right to decide who he supports based on his rules, and with his (hard-earned) assets.

On the other hand, the so-called KE generally reflects how much of our historically accrued blockchain rewards we retain. In this sense, some communities have defined thresholds that users must not exceed to receive votes from their official accounts. In some cases, there’s transparency about the use of this variable, while in others, it’s an intuition. Thus, some valuable content could go unnoticed simply because the user is de facto blacklisted due to a high KE. But again, we must respect those who consider this not only a valid factor, but who also feel they don’t have to understand or accept the reasons why, in some cases, it is so high.

For my part, I’ve adopted the well-known strategy of publishing some posts where all the returns are staked. It’s my way of compensating for an HP withdrawal that I dislike but find myself forced into from time to time. In this regard, indeed, I believe that projecting how we rely on Hive to get out of a tight spot, is always an important demonstration of utility when it comes to helping those yet outside the ecosystem grasp its real potential. Without discounting the philosophical and technical evolution embodied by Web3, many are here to gain greater economic security and support. Didn’t we? How do you all view this complex and subjective issue?