With all the personal attacks and drama on Steemit recently (particularly in the trending page), it's a good idea to remember the one thing you can (sort of) do about it at the micro level.
Vote.
Now, of course you can do this by simple memory or research, and that is often sufficient. But, @Drakos also has a tool that will let you see who is slacking off at a glance, in ways that you will not otherwise normally be able to determine without checking into their witness server/node more deeply.
Find it at www.Steemian.info
Let's take a look at the witness info section. Here's a typical snapshot:
A red name with strike-through is a "dead" giveaway for a dead witness. In the above shot, we can see witness #30, Bhuz, is dead with a 621 minute feed time. If you look at the other witness feed times, you will see that is far too long. Normally, one would decide to unvote Bhuz here until (and at least) he can restore an accurate and timely price feed.
Of course, technical problems are not the only, or even main, way to determine who one will vote for as witness. It's more of a minimum-competency threshold - if a witness can't keep an accurate price feed and a live note operating, they probably (definitely) aren't a good choice for such a technical position.
As Bernie Sanders is fond of pointing out, a lot of these witnesses don't really do anything, and just treat Steem as their own free, passive income. Don't vote for them.
We also have a Radio Station! (click me)
...and a 10,000+ active user Discord Chat Server! (click me)
Sources: Google, @Drakos
Copyright: SmartSteem, PALNet, SPL, @Drakos, Steemian.info
I love drakos' tool and use it every time I check out other witnesses when the time is needed. Great post and I hope many more people use this tool to make sure their votes are going towards witnesses working to keep their server up and running.
It really helps take the work out of keeping up with witnesses on the technical side. Following their public work is hard enough.
I totally agree, best witness resource to date.
It is one of those things that you kind of leave and forget. Although it is one of the most important job of each concerned steemian but I keep procrastinating it. Thanks for the reminder man.
wow...!!!!
great post that @lexiconical
thanks for share the post
useful postings and info
I have noticed that too. Some feel they have gotten the necessary support so no need to pull the string. I will check for any dead witness and unvote that person. Thanks for this
Thanks.. Really informative
I have question for you - and remember this is coming from a complete numpty when it concerns crypto.
How much influence do the witnesses actually carry ?( I heard it is only the top 20, but don't quote me on that)
Do they decide policy? (say for upvoting, flagging etc?)
Is it the otop 20, or do th eothers also carry ral weght?
Do the top 20 actually carry weight?
I'm thinking of comparisons between government and banking.
You can talk about government all you want, but they are not the controlling powers...or policy deciders, in reality.
See what I mean?
cheers.
Ah, well, the witnesses have the technical ability to make actual changes, much like a Congress. Whether they are beholden to other interests is sort of a case-by-case thing. However, they can directly implement versions of the blockchain via Hard Fork, so they are "the deciders".
ok, thanks for the clarification of that, mate.
So it does allow for 'manipulations' via personal connections. Not a criticism, a recognition.
Influence can be bought (indirectly or otherwise.)
(the other 200 stupid crypto/steemit questions are in the post) lol
cheers.
Good post, I voted once at the start of my steemit life and never thought about this again. I don't even know who did I vote for! It's right about time to do something good.
What I'd like to see is a side by side comparison of witness views and opinions, like an Excell sheet with many columns and just checkmarks in cells which the witness agree with or represent. Otherwise choosing the right witness seems like a nightmare.
can I ask you?
if I've voted for a definite witness, but now I want to remove my vote for him, can I do it somehow?
and actually - how?:)
There are 3 parallel lines next to your small icon, click on that and about halfway down you will see the "vote for witnesses" part. Click on that. You should see all your witnesses you have voted for. If you want to remove the one you voted for, just click on the up arrow next to their name. You must use your active key to do this. Don't continue using your active key for posting. Reinput your posting key for normal everyday posting and upvoting, not your active key.
I agree! We should take care of who we vote or keep voting for.
I think after SMT's and communities are in, I think it's high time that the witness-voting process gets an update/revamp. It's way too vague and inefficient as it is right now and far too few people care enough to delve into it and stay informed.
It should be the witness' job to retain their position by continuously convincing their voters, instead of all falling on the shoulders of voters to figure it all out. Short term bad governance is okay but long term it becomes crucial to the survival and security of the blockchain.
Maybe Communities need to be involved too somehow, like a special Community for Witnesses to present themselves and for discussion on scandals and such.
Hmm, I was voting for 3 dead witnesses. Thanks for the reminder to check.
Thanks for this info. I needed to check on the witness list, and this tool is ideal. I have updated my witnesses now.
Excellent your post
You got a 13.97% upvote from @postpromoter courtesy of @lexiconical!
Want to promote your posts too? Check out the Steem Bot Tracker website for more info. If you would like to support the development of @postpromoter and the bot tracker please vote for @yabapmatt for witness!
Of course. I really only flag spammers and those with mal-intent...so not all that often. Plus it's like a penny but yeah...go for it.
No, not really. Steem(it) had that combination of decentralization, lack of censorship, and generally pro-crypto/freedom friendly audience I guess I was looking for. I am repulsed by Facebook and Twitter, and have sworn off Reddit after increasing censorship (you'll note I've written about Reddit censorship in the past, google "a tale of two subreddits lexiconical").
At least, it did a year ago.