In my view, there is no solution to the wars. The platform is what it is by its design. If you create a sphere based on the competition that visibility is the only important component, then the content is basically irrelevant, even if we all like to make ourselves believe otherwise.

Anyone who has been here for a long time can see that the content is, by and large, neither particularly original nor particularly exceptional (mine included).

It's all about networking and making as many supporters as possible, and most manual votes are given out of loyalty and friendly, often superficial acquaintance. Just like auto-votes.

The contradiction between auto and manual voting cannot be removed. It exists and will continue to exist in the online realm.
"Effort" is rewarded, not necessarily excellent or completely irritating new thinking via content. Thinkers, writers, scientists, artists etc. who publish the unusual, provocative and shocking in a sphere will not make a big splash if only because what they publish can hardly be understood. The best-selling beer is the one that contains the greatest amount of water, because everyone likes water. LOL

So I laugh when I hear people saying that they are "quality content creators". What they might mean though, is that they make effort either in how much "time" they spent on their publication or how much "time" they spend on networking.

People know "great names" because they are constantly and penetratingly repeated, but whether these names really accomplished something extraordinary is a different matter. Therefore, it is names that people don't know, that are on some indexes, books that hardly get any significant circulation, irritating texts, hardly understandable, outrageous claims that go against everything that one has anchored in one's own world view, that deserve a closer look in my eyes. Because they are hard to find, hard to comprehend, they are not distributed/visible.

Any sphere that wants itself to go mainstream basically contradicts the idea of being independent from it. It uses the same techniques and strategies that it rejects outside its sphere of influence. Another contradiction as when formulates it as "the aim to go for." It stays interesting when it's a side stream.

Effort (proof of work) wants to be seen by people and it wants to be proven every day. The final product of an individual, for example, which required years of work in a non-public space, is worth nothing if the creator of a work brings it into the sphere in a finished state. This person may have been way to occupied with his work and doesn't have time for networking. LOL
By chance then, this exception to the rule might become "known" or "worshipped" until his work is so vastly discussed, understood and misunderstood that it will be mainstream one day.

Funnily enough, however, all can observe that whoever feels the favour of loyalty, he simply needs to publish a few photos plus a little text and he gets the coveted upvotes.

These contradictions in actions - whether implemented by big or small - are where tempers flare. And indeed, they cannot be resolved. These contradictions are present at every turn.

The eternally same game that we used to observe in the spheres of the elites has extended to the online playgrounds of ordinary people and they are no more masters of this game than anyone else. Whether gentlemen or ladies create themselves because they "wish to do good" or because they do not believe those who compete in the name of good makes no difference, because it is impossible to find out in general (only in particular). Especially not when one enters a sphere anonymously and with multiple avatars.

Your idea and your enthusiasm - which is at the same time paired with tiredness (who is surprised) - is testimony and expression of the contradictions in a system. One day you are as light as a bird, another day as heavy as a rock.

Now it is the whale wars and all other dominating visible events that motivate others or generate feelings from anger, to sadness, from empowerment to helplessness.

This is a great feel-garden for some and a great technical finesse for others. Both, the precise and the spongy, have their playground here.

There is simply nothing that can be called "good quality" without any doubt, because everyone will never agree on it. The attempt to bring a sphere under a complete agreement is therefore not possible. Disputants want to argue and they also fight without chivalry. Without them, however, we would not know where we locate ourselves. They are a means and an occasion to position oneself in the open. There is no other chance. To promote yourself in this contradictory realm you'll find both, supporters and opposers. In order, dis-order is already embedded. :)

If I say there is no "solution" I just mean that it is never "final". It means that one has to live with high ambiguities and try to navigate in a serene way. One by one.