Why Do We Stick Around? Let’s Talk About This Hive Buzz…
This post is a collaboration of devs, curators, community leaders and movers & shakers of Hive. Collectively we are sharing why we stick around this place and what keeps us buzzin.
Have you ever looked at the number of years someone has been on this platform and asked
What has kept them here for so long?
Or have you been poking in and out of Hive wondering
What’s all the craze about?
and pondering
Should I even join?
If so, this post is for you because those questions get answered today!
What Keeps Us Here On Hive?
COMMUNITY
When on the subject of Hive you’ll hear this word come up quite a bit. Sorry but not sorry if it sounds cliché because it’s one of the top reasons all around why we stay.
I’ve heard several people say they have shared more about their lives here in just a few months compared to what they’ve shared on other social media platforms in over the course of years.
I just find this place more comfortable than other places.
I remember when I first started writing posts that revealed more of my life, I was surprised at how comfortable I was considering this was social media. The love, support and feedback I received had a lot to do with why I was so relaxed when being so open. It also helped that I connected with so many like-minded people that understood me or had similar stories.
I love the ability to have my content appreciated by people from all over the world and that we can all reward each other for engaging over our similar interests.
Speaking of all over the world that’s one of the things I love bragging about. I can literally say “I have friends from all over the world!” Hive has connected me to people and places I never thought I’d be acquainted with. Although other platforms also have the ability to keep you connected to places outside your country Hive offers a bit more…
Before I came to Hive I really liked engaging and sharing things with others over on Reddit and used it actively even way back when it was still small and most people around me didn't understand why it was better than the other social media places that existed at the time such as facebook. Unlimited reach from people all over the world discussing anything and everything they wanted to, no borders and no censorship without needing to give out who you were. Some of those things have changed but still remain true for Hive on top of the earning potential for your time.
Let’s review those lines Acid just dropped for us: On Hive there is no censorship, you don’t have to reveal who you are or where you live and you can possibly earn for the time you put in. Can I say win win win?!
Many of the big platforms censor everything. Many people are leaving such places due to having less control over their own content (from videos being deleted to subscribers disappearing). I can’t imagine what that feels like, especially for those who have spent years building up their accounts and following.
Revealing your true identity here is really up to you. Since 2016 newbies have been introducing themselves with a photo holding up the date and their Hive handle. For a long time this was expected for those joining the platform but still not everyone chooses to do it that way.
Not every reputable member has revealed their true identity…real name and/or face. Yet, these members have validated their work, proven their trustworthiness all while keeping the choice of remaining anonymous.
POTENTIAL
You can’t help but to stick around a place when you have seen so many developments and improvements. You don’t want to miss being part of the growth of something spectacular. Hive is just getting started and with the existing devs (we thank you for all you do) and creatives along with those who are still to come, we have yet to find out just how far this platform will reach.
Two things - the people and the potential. All the amazing community members who are continually inspiring me with their posts, and all the things I see happening for projects both remind me on a daily basis how we've just scratched the surface of how awesomesauce this blockchain can be.
I love the words she uses. I’m looking forward to seeing how much more awesomesauce this blockchain will get!
When speaking of potential and the future of Hive pioneering…
I don't think there is even time in a day to begin discussing everything possible that could be built on top of Hive when the sky is the limit but I'm very interested in seeing projects which take the way our ecosystem/rewardpool work and innovate to build new things on Hive based off of that.
I definitely agree with the sky being the limit with Hive. The way things are set up here makes room for so much more evolving to take place.
Here’s another great comment on the potential of Hive and why we stay…
I think the developing and unrealized potential of what the Hive Blockchain has to offer and the gamification of the social network.
Let me say that gaming is not first on my interest list. I have six gamers at home including my husband so you can imagine I get my fair share of seeing and hearing about it.
Even though I wasn’t looking for it, it was very easy to see and hear about the growth and success of Splinterlands, the next generation of collectible card games. Do you know what the sweetest thing about that is? It’s all powered by the Hive blockchain!
There is also the Hive Gaming Community that keeps game lovers connected allowing them to share their gaming experiences. In the future the community plans to create competitions and tournaments for gamers to participate in.
If you’re a Hive gamer buckle your seatbelt and enjoy the ride as new developments unfold!
What Are The Things That Keeps You Buzzin?
IMPACT
I think what keeps me going is when someone lets me know I've made a difference for them or had an impact. I also love the conversations and seeing those reply notifications.
I can really relate to this. I’m the type of person that continues to do what I know is helpful even if I never receive any feedback for it. If I know what I’m doing is beneficial, that motivates me to stay focused and proceed with my goal.
It’s only a plus when we do receive feedback and responses confirming we have been helpful and a blessing to others. It makes my day reading comments of affirmation letting me know the work I do here is making a difference and has been impactful for others…especially newbies. You just never know how much a comment inspires and revitalizes someone which is why I always encourage them.
Seriously, scrolling through my feed both on Hive and on Twitter is usually enough to inspire me to keep my focus on building my account and helping to spread the word.
Hive has that affect on us. When you meet so many awesome people and read so many incredible stories that are touching and inspiring you can’t help but to keep scrolling and reading more.
I have grown in many ways since being involved here. I have been influenced in positive ways by the educational posts shared, the creativity, the passions expressed, heartfelt testimonies, the leadership and guidance from fellow veterans…it’s been a RL changing experience for me.
There are several things that makes me continue despite the price and the market cycle. The first one would be having my hobby and passion channeled. I also like how the platform enables anyone to be creatives and discover new interest after reading others experience.
This is why the development of Communities is so loved and appreciated. Being in the midst of like-minded individuals who have the same love and passion fires you up to do those things you’ve been dreaming to do. You get inspired and encouraged by seeing your passions carried out in others and it becomes very fulfilling, elevating you to do more and do better at aiming for your goals.
When you’re on Hive long enough you’ll find a predilection for other things you never knew you’d enjoy. This platform and it’s members is what inspired me five years ago to pursue photography and use it to ameliorate my publications.
INCENTIVIZATION
People spend hours writing up elaborate informative posts on different platforms just to get a like and possibly have their work used by someone else without being credited for it. There’s no telling who is getting paid for the work you do and you won’t ever see a cent of it.
I love knowing that the work I put out on Hive is incentivized which directly rewards me and in return motivates and encourages me to keep providing quality content. This makes it worth my while because not only am I having fun and doing what I love to do but also getting rewarded for it.
It's not just about the rewards, though that is unique to this space, but the way community and engagement is incentivized.
You heard it right. Not only are you rewarded for the content you share but there is also the potential for earning rewards for your engagement here.
Curators and community leaders LOVE seeing engagement and LOVE giving out those bonus upvotes for it. When we see someone being responsive and interactive in the comment section we can’t help but to appreciate that. We hope those added rewards continue to encourage this type of mingling and communication.
As mentioned above, the potential I saw in Reddit early and how it improved not only my daily intake of the internet but also my hunger for information I couldn't find elsewhere, that same potential exists on Hive but thousandfold. When the userbase gets to those levels here we are going to see a new era of information, storytelling and effort which isn't just hobby and people spending time to generate it cause they happened to bother with it like on Reddit but also being rewarded for their time and get something out of it. That's what I look forward to, thousands upon thousands of users curating posts and what interests me even more, comments, the wisdom of the crowd at work and how that will evolve where everyone is vested in the same ecosystem, a new "internet" through web3 to want to see it do well where most who join agree on because it won't just reward a set few owners and shareholders but anyone and everyone.
I love reading
I’d love to witness this new era. The storytelling and wisdom shared are already a big part of what keeps me here. Being a part of an ecosystem where everyone is rewarded is definitely a place you’d catch me sticking with.
If Someone Asks You Is Hive Worth Joining, What Would Your Answer Be And Why?
My answer would be absolutely, positively, unreservedly, wholeheartedly, certainly with an excitedly on the side…YES! 😆
Since I’ve joined I’ve told several family members and friends about Hive. Some have joined but have not fully dug into it yet whether it be lack of time or patience to dive in and learn (quick shoutout to my childhood friend 
I am always talking about the material I read from others and how I learn so much from being here weekly (I would say daily but if my husband reads this he’d know I’m really addicted to this platform when I’ve denied it several times already 😳🤫👀😄). I also share about the real friendships I’ve gained that continue thriving even outside of Hive.
I then talk about the support and rewards I receive for the work I do. Through those I have been able to help my husband provide for our family financially which has been such a blessing. I do always mention it does take some effort and grind so please do not expect this type of meed to just fall in your lap.
My answer would be, absolutely worth it. I am seeing it from the hobby/passion perspective instead of the rewards. I always ask anyone what their interests are and show them the community. I tell them that rewards in the platform is really a bonus just like in other places. It's not guaranteed but a nice bonus if you can make something out of hive.
I think it’s important to let potential Hivers know that the rewards are not a guarantee. I think many people have a high expectation when joining after seeing or hearing about high paid out posts.
I can say for myself it took months to a year or more of labor, growing, building trust, putting myself out there and gaining confidence in my blogging skills.
I'd say yes, but it depends on what you're looking for from the platform. I think a lot of people come to Hive with certain conceptions or ideas about it, then get disappointed when it doesn't work out how they expected. Everyone has different needs or wants, so it's probably best approached with an open mind. We've got lots of different options and front-ends now, so there should be something for most people, they just need to find how they fit most comfortably here.
Even if you have to pay for an account it would be worth it in my opinion, the real hurdle is getting past the beginning stage where no one sees or knows about you until you make an effort to be heard. Even that is much easier on Hive where curators have a vested interest to be out there looking for you compared to anywhere else both on web2 and web3 from what I've seen, not that there is anything like Hive or will exist in my opinion, especially not as decentralized and distributed considering all the time it already has existed and worked towards it.
One things for sure, it is much easier for effort to be noticed now than it was a few years back. Now that Hive is more established with experienced curators you have a better chance of getting more eyes on your posts as soon as you get started here. With the creation of 
If people are willing to work at understanding the system here and how to find their way around it is totally worth the extra effort.
Trust me I know. When I began mingling and getting to know people it seemed each connection lead me to a better understanding of what Hive was all about. I soon had the extra boost of support I needed because I took the time to read, learn, research, interact and ask questions. Never be afraid to reach out and ask for help!
Discord is a great place to be for staying in the know and reaching out for guidance in the communities you are involved with.
It's totally worth it, again because of the people and the potential. The Hive community is full of incredibly passionate and supportive folks, and even without the crypto rewards, the engagement and support from everyone makes it all worthwhile.
It is most definitely worth joining Hive. While it's true that there is quite a learning curve, in the end, it is well worth the time it takes to figure it out. I don't know of any other social media that rewards it's users in cryptocurrency and that allows those users to monetize their own data. The fact there is no central organization or CEO that can censor or cancel you is another bonus. Hit the like button on FakeBook and get nothing... hit the like button on Hive and get money. That's a no-brainer to me. And these are just a couple of the benefits of the social media frontend. This isn't including the play-to-earn games and all the other interesting things being built on this Hive Blockchain.
I think we can all gather from these answers that Hive is a highly recommended place to be! 😎
WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE THING OR LIFE LESSON YOU HAVE OBTAINED FROM BEING A PART OF THIS PLATFORM? HOW HAS THAT BEEN BENEFICIAL FOR YOU?
The most valuable thing I’ve obtained from being here is not to withhold life experiences that I have learned and grown from, to be bold and creative when sharing my passions and using the skills I have acquired to help build up what I believe in.
Time and time again through the comment sections of my posts I am made aware that through the experiences I share someone is blessed by it. I learned a long time ago that we don’t go through our journeys just for our sakes but to also help someone else along the way that may walk that same path.
Not being afraid to take a chance and do something bold with my passion for needlework allowed me to create a space over four years ago that has turned into a home for needleworkers and lovers of handicrafts. If you are very passionate about something and feel it’s missing here, be bold and creative and see where it takes you!
I have always loved to talk and tell stories (those who have followed me for awhile surely know this by now 😁). I have always tried to be an entertaining person and make things more interesting.
The storytelling, the photography skills I’ve developed here, the ability to write long pieces and keep my audience engaged…I use all of this to help build up this platform in anyway I can. I plan to continue doing so because I’m invested and believe in what’s being built here. I have very high hopes for the future of Hive.
This platform has provided me an opportunity to not only connect but help, encourage, and inspire people of all walks of life. I have helped new users to understand and navigate this place better. I have inspired and encouraged many photographers to grow and develop their skills and confidence. I have encouraged and fostered growth and development in artists from various art communities. It's been a labor of love and it's been incredible to see many users take to heart the interactions and suggestions we've had and to apply them. Seeing the growth and development of fellow photographers and artists have been extremely rewarding to experience.
My name is 
There is a layer of reputation on people who share the same ecosystem you can't find elsewhere. I wouldn't be able to tell you of another place I would've been able to for instance, borrow a lot of money when I was in need from people who knew to a high degree that I would eventually return them, especially since none of us had ever met or knew each others real names. Other than that there's been countless of stories you've been able to read and had an incentive to do so that taught you a lot, connecting with people from all parts of the world and seeing your activity on Hive be part of what changed their lives, it's not something you'd get from anywhere else in my opinion. Early on I felt reddit gave me an edge on information, but on Hive that edge has become a lot bigger and rewards me to keep using and trying my best to return the value it gives me in any way I can.
It’s truly amazing how you can build such trusting relationships without even knowing a person’s real name or even where they live. That’s just how awesome the connections are here. Your actions and how you govern yourself help prove your authenticity and dependability.
The biggest life lesson I've learnt from being on Hive is that I knew a lot less about the world, life in other countries and other cultures than I thought I did. Across the world we have more in common than I ever thought, but we are also experiencing much different lives than I ever realized. Much of what we "know" about other countries and cultures comes through our media and the reality for those living there is not always what they've portrayed. I've never seen myself as judgemental, or closed minded, but being on Hive has made me even less so.
YES and yes again! You get first hand experience and knowledge from interacting directly with people from different countries. I relate to this and thank Hive for being the bridge that enables us access to truths and not just hearsays.
It’s also nice knowing that many have been able to make Hive their livelihood due to a surge of economic collapse…
I can say that I have seen the rewards many people make here change their lives economically for the better. There are countries that are doing quite poorly in their economies and Hive has been a better performing currency than that of their own home country. This is a game-changer when it comes to prosperity and the opportunity Hive can provide us all!
AS WE CONCLUDE, WE’LL EACH LEAVE YOU WITH ONE WORD WE FEEL BEST DESCRIBES HIVE!
Poтeɴтιαl @traciyork
@traciyorkRevolυтιoɴαry @castleberry
@castleberryFreedoм @acidyo
@acidyoCoммυɴιтy @macchiata
@macchiataDιғғereɴт @minismallholding
@minismallholdingOpporтυɴιтy @crosheille
@crosheilleThanks so much for tuning in and reading some of the reasons why we stick around and the things that keeps us buzzin! Feel free to add your reasons to this list in the comment section below.
If you were pondering whether you should join hopefully this post steered you in the right direction and we’ll be getting to know you real soon. 😊
I also hope for those that have been stuck in a rut that this post evokes some excitement and motivation reminding you of why joining Hive was a great choice. 😉
A Huge Thanks to the Curators and Community Leaders who took the time out to collab with me in this effort. I greatly appreciate you and your input. You have each been made beneficiaries of this post!
All photos are my own and were taken with our Cannon EOS Rebel T6.
This collaboration was put together, written and brought to you by
OCD Community Mod & Curator, Founder of NeedleWorkMonday Community, Stock Images Community Admin & Curator