Harpooning the Idea of Whales ......

I first heard of Steemit because I have an interest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain and I first heard of blockchain because I have an interest in things that are decentralised and promote equality. All the worlds problems are caused by too much power in the hands of too few people. Blockchain struck me as a type of 'digitised fairness' where all people can truly be considered equal , and the beauty of mathematics could be used to write human weaknesses out of the equation.

 
Crypto ..... Kryptonite to Banking Scum. 

Its the antithesis of central banking , its de-central banking where you have complete power over your wealth, and trans-actions are between two transactors rather than including an invisible parasitic intermediary skimming wealth from both parties whilst contributing nothing.


So Im excited, it's truly a great time to be alive, the internet decentralised information and now the blockchain is set to decentralise ..... Well.... Everything! The world truly has a chance at freedom and equality and for once a type of technology seems to have come along that is incorruptible, that can't be bought out and can't be compromised. Its early days yet but so far I think there's every reason to believe that blockchain could like the printing press bring about a renaissance period in human developement.

 The Age of internet enlightenment

I've enjoyed the work of Jeff Berwick on youtube for many years now, he's a man I align with on many topics and his honest assessments of how the state apparatus work are very accurate. Hence why he makes so many good calls, because he understands that centralised power no matter what it calls itself is a danger to all humanity. He describes himself as an "Anarcho-Capitalist" .... Anarchism meaning "No Rulers" (Archon is ruler in Greek and in Gnosticism), Capitalism in its purest form is simply allowing free markets to work as they should. Good ideas rise to the top, poor ideas fall away. Its important to realise that the free market is not a man made system, its a system of nature. 

 
Nature has rules, and humans have wants and needs, if an idea aligns with these natural laws it should fair well on the free market, if it doesn't it should sink away and die. This isn't how things work at the moment because we don't live in a meritocracy we live in an oligarchy where rich people decide everything. Bailing out broke banks is a really bad idea, but it doesn't matter because the rich want it. Overthrowing stable regimes and starting wars is a really really bad idea, doesn't matter because the rich want it. Clean energy and clean food are great ideas but that won't matter because the rich don't want them .... Not for us anyway. 

The point I'm making is that centralising decision making and power is a provably bad idea! 

.... And so on Mr Berwicks great advice I joined Steemit. 

 
Ive had my account for almost a year but have only recently found time to contribute and there are some lovely enlightened people here on Steemit it really is a hotbed of ideas and information. I'm truly not on here for money, and so I'm in a position where I feel I can give my honest opinion without worrying if I upset a few people. 

 
My problem with Steemit (and it is a huge elephant in the room type problem) is that its a centralised system! A hierarchy with Whales at the top and the incredibly patronising term of "minnows" at the bottom. Its everything I had hoped Blockchain would put a stop to, with power in the hands of a few rather than the many. Is it just me that finds this odious? This is not a meritocracy at all its no different to how any corporate entity operates, with wealth and power being filtered to the top of the pyramid. 

Its the blockchains version of Hillarys "Superdelegates" Its Facebook with just a few more Zuckerbergs sharing the spoils. 

Heres a quote from a Steemit post explaining this hierarchical system ...... "Valuable content is defined by content that whales and dolphins will up vote" That nearly made me puke all over my keyboard! 

 
Valuable content should be decided in the public domain, on its merit, not on the opinions of a few .....

Give me all your Steem this is a robbery!

Four Fins good , two fins bad

This is the definition of ELITISM. Not to mention the fact that you can purchase this power on Steemit if your already wealthy. Theoretically George Soros could invest a few million and start creating and upvoting posts promoting globalism and child sacrifice and he would do well simply because he's rich!

 
Everyone should get the same voting powers surely? If thats not the case then the platform by definition is a platform for inequality.

 
The idea of a "minnows support group" is equally as patronising and is clearly an attempt for those holding the power to placate the 'Minnow' masses and stop any awkward 'Emporers New Clothes type moments. New users don't need charity if they are contributing decent content, alls they need is a fair level playing field. The reason minority groups need support in our real society is because the top heavy system is so unfair on them to begin with, why use that as a model?

  

I know criticism on Steemit is quite rare, because people don't want to effect getting rewards, I don't think this is a good thing as constructive criticism often leads to positive change. I feel like I've just walked into a Church on a Sunday and started shouting expletives , but if this issue is never raised it could really harm Steemit in the long term. I've already suggested in some comments that Steemit needs a real hard fork, forming a Steemit Classic much like Ethereum for example, a new platform appears that ensures in its mechanisms its decentralised and everyone gets a fair vote. Merit and good content become the primary factors leading to wealth. Lets see how that would do in a fair fight? Id take the Pepsi challenge ....

As for voting on this post, to all Whales and dolphins ...... you can stick it in your blow hole!!