This is a post regarding the article: http://motherboard.vice.com/en_ca/read/steemit-is-like-reddit-but-where-upvotes-equal-a-cryptocurrency-payout
1) The article focuses more on the cynical side in my opinion. People post for $$, and early adopters have all the "wealth", and people are worried that it is a 'Pyramid Scheme'.
a) People that post quality content are rewarded. If they are noticed, that is.
b) People that post quality COMMENTS are rewarded. These get more noticed than original posts (In my case that is).
c) You don't have to make an investment to be a part of the community.
2) Questions about stability.
a) As long as people feel that their posts are 'worth something' - whether it's potential payout, OR FOR SELF WORTH, there will be posts. And miners. And stability. This is the same for any other internet site out there.
3) Value Statistics are Meaningless.
a) Show me a graph where 46 people control 63.79% of the stake. Look at any corporate structure, and you can see one or two people with that much.
b) The main problem that I have with the article is the assumption that posts 'Don't Matter'. People build up a reputation, they build up a following, they build up a library, they BUILD here. Everything is here. In the future, we will see digital collections of works from this site. A movie could be 'born' from this site. It's a collective group that is trying to better themselves in some way. Minnows don't need money, they need to make content they feel good about, and in turn others enjoy and maybe someday will upvote. Again. and Again.
4) The 'trivialization' of 
a) Stellabelle has built an AMAZING idea here. She's earned everything that she's worked for here.
b) It didn't TRULY acknowledge the time and effort she's spent over the years as a writer - the tone of the piece makes me feel that the Author of the article has a sense of acknowledging the success, but throwing it away as a 'novelty' or an 'anomaly'. Over time, we will see many different 'Steemit Success Stories' - I guarantee that...
c) Stellabelle has created a COMMUNITY here. Like minded individuals creating for the better good through storytelling, the secret writer project - which INSPIRES people to write. She's a 'star' here, but has earned it in every way...
5) Steemit is much more than "How Much Is Steem Worth"
a) The thing that bothers me the most is that (IMO), everything about this article feels skeptic and cautionary. It DOESN'T COST ANYTHING TO BE A PART OF THIS. Look into direct marketing systems, and the quick start packages and promotional materials and the etc and the etc... Yes, you can purchase your Stake here - but IT IS NOT REQUIRED.
b) The community here is GLOBAL. People are learning about other places. Other cultures. Other experiences. For those that can't go on a trip somewhere far from them, they can read about it and see about it here. You can learn recipes from all over the world. You can learn and discuss ANYTHING. Oh, and then you can maybe get some cryptocurrency rewards for it.
6) The last line of the article angers me. "May prove to be a bait-and-hook masquerading as a free lunch"
a) I was attracted here by the thought of rewards - I'm sure many others were too. It's an exciting potential and possibility that hasn't existed before in this fashion. You get out of Steemit what you put into it. Some people get "lucky", some people have "skill". but most successful people on the platform WORK for it.
b) There is no such thing as a 'Free Lunch' here on Steemit. However, there IS free learning, free discourse, free knowledge... the community here is growing in a positive way, and I'm glad to be a part of it.
What are your thoughts? Please leave them in the comments below!!
-bigedude
