Theoretically, all content can be considered on a scale of how much value it adds. Important, relevant, unique content of exceptional quality is almost universally desirable and valued. And most of us would rather NEVER see certain content, like unsolicited offers from distant princes who want to give us 8 million dollars (if we send them our banking info).
Sometimes, even good content fails to pay out.
25 years ago, I co-wrote a book called Cartoon Bomb. My writer-friend Brian and I wrote it while working nights together at a pizza shop, or at his place between my college classes. We sent it away to a few publishers, and heard back from an editor in New York who was interested in pushing the book. In fact, they loved it. The only catch? Because we had never been published before, and didn't have a following, we had to pay most of the production costs.
We ended up deciding to shop it around some more, but never did. The point is, it was good, but not good enough to be paid for. In fact, we had to pay them, until we could prove we could sell books. Looking back, it was fair, but at the time I had felt slightly insulted. I'd worked hard on that manuscript, for 2 years! If they weren't willing to pay me for it, the least they could do was publish it for free!
A lot has changed in 25 years
I've been publishing content to the blockchain for a while now, essentially for free. In the year 2019, I can even "publish" my book here, where it can be seen by almost half the world's population. There's no significant financial cost (other than holding some cryptocurrency).
On Steem, some content is a bit like my book. You can find somebody who likes it and will read it, but you might not be able to make a lot of money with it. It's just not Harry Potter or 50 Shades. But it's certainly not spam, or unwanted material. On the value scale, it's somewhere in between.
Cost scale
All content falls somewhere on the value scale, but also somewhere on a cost scale. Some content is rewarded with massive payouts, other with smaller payouts, and some content just breaks even. Other content becomes partially hidden, and requires investment via bidbots and other methods, in order to be unhidden. Some content is so unwanted and so hated that it's too expensive to post (and keep unhidden).
Merging the Cost and Value scale
In that system there's no censorship possible, but as content gets increasingly more offensive or problematic, it becomes more and more costly to post. The Steem blockchain (and Steemit) has already shown this concept is possible, and in some ways, already partially operates this way.
This post obviously won't change anything directly, but my aim is to get the concept out there so others can think it over, and make changes, and perhaps put it into motion. Ideas can sometimes find their way to the places they need to be. If this is a good one, my post will serve its purpose of getting it out there. Thanks for reading :)
DRutter