As much as I understand the appeal of a free market, and as much as I'm one to advocate for letting people make their own choices regardless of outcome. I can't help but to think that there is a key distinction not being talked about. In other words, freedom of speech is not the same as enabling scams and lies.

Free market Economy

In economics, a free market is an idealized system in which the prices for goods and services are determined by the open market and consumers, in which the laws and forces of supply and demand are free from any intervention by a government, price-setting monopoly, or other authority.

As a stake holder and a fellow Steemian I not only embrace this idea, I preach it. The corruption of governments and regulatory agencies is nothing that anyone who cares about honesty can ignore. However, I think we are guilty of conflating freedom with debauchery, and I'm willing to bet the word has almost lost its meaning.

I'm only starting this conversation so far back, because I believe that without these foundational blocks we won't be able to have a healthy dialogue and my point might miss its mark.

There is a very old saying that comes to mind when I'm attempting to explain where I'm coming from:

"Your Liberty To Swing Your Fist Ends Just Where My Nose Begins" - Unknown Author

The Trending Belongs to everyone

And honestly, this was probably not the case before the bidbots made their appearance. Of course, I know that there will be some who will jump at my throat for saying this, but a quick gander at the past will show that my point is backed by evidence. (feel free to explore the golden times of trending, you will be surprised)

I'm also aware that not everyone has the funds to buy themselves a top trending spot, and that argument although valid is also moot. Wealth inequality is a topic of much debate with no obvious answers in sight, but I digress.

The point is...

We need to draw the line

There are many things that no matter who the person is, what he/she has done in the past or the size of the wallet we cannot as community enable with the excuse "its a free market". And as much as it might anger a bitbot operator or two, those who do not react ethically are complicit in the act.

I might be accused of creating straw men to make my case, but I happen to think that in this particular situation, it might help to be a little ridiculous to get my point across. So let's play a "What about then?" game for a minute.

If someone sends into trending a post...

• Snatching toddlers tips & tricks - What about then?
• Revenge porn - What about then?
• How to join ISIS - What about then?

Please note, I'm being ridiculous intentionally. I think everyone would see any of these posts and flag it to oblivion, and if that would not be the case, I would be disappointed with humanity, not just bid bot owners. The only reason why I even bring this up, is because we seem to only be able to recognize painfully obvious absolutes and not all the shades that exist in between.

Taking some steps back from my ridiculous examples, let me try some that are very likely to happen or have already happened in our platform.

• Miracle Product to cure all Cancer - What about then?
• Pyramid Scheme ICO - What about then?
• SCAM "OFFER" Announcement by a Witness mind you - What about then?

Ethics > Politics

I can't for the life of me accept anything else and feel comfortable about it. What I'm trying to say basically, is that we can't put money over integrity. That is not a phrase that should outrage absolutely anyone.

However, I will attempt to tackle a few of the challenges and hopefully get a healthy conversation started.

Who determines what should be un-voted?

The answer is not obvious all the time, but I'm mainly talking about the situations when it is. I'm not trying to say that one influential person, that one whale or witness can make this decision alone because of personal vendettas or anything superfluous of the sort.

For example, I happen to not believe in the flat earth theory, but this does not mean that I think they should be punished or censored for what I perceive to be incorrect.

Let's be honest. In the recent days the obvious cases when a bidbot operator could have stepped up and shown the right initiative have be plastered all over our main trending page. I trust my opinion on this matter is shared by most of the participants of this platform and if I'm wrong please call me out.

This could start fights

Maybe, but what's the alternative? What is the cost of not taking care of our virtual home? - I'm willing to have a conversation regarding this possibility, but I struggle to see the violence in unvoting a post that is promoting something unethical. Note that I'm not advocating specifically for flags, even though I personally have chosen to flag the posts that have motivated me to write this.

These "fights" would also send the right message in my opinion. It would basically tell would be scammers, loud and clear. - "YOU ARE NOT WELCOME".

Refunds?

Not my place to say, I happen to side with @yabapmatt on this issue. If I was running a bidbot business I would refund and blacklist a scammer, even if he was a top 20 witness. (I know this is a jab, but I'm being honest). However, I don't think anyone can make that decision for the bidbot operator.

Political Costs

I happen to understand this aspect of the problem more than anyone would imagine. As someone who has participated in "the real world" of the political environment, I tend to empathize with the cost of decisions.

Angering a whale that purchased votes from your bot, might result in losing witness votes, retaliation flags or other infantile reactions. I get it, I understand it, but what we might be failing to consider is the respect and political weight someone who stands by his principals wins when he/she decides to climb the steeper hill.

I've said it before, what @pharesim did took courage. He could have lost his top 20 position as a witness, but instead of him losing his position as a top ranked witness, I'm willing to say he gained more support. I did not hesitate for a second to unvote silent witnesses (complicit really) and give him my witness vote instead. I doubt I'm alone on this matter.

Money != Respect

Who ever attempts to connect those two is doing some mental gymnastics at best. I'm not aware of a store I can go purchase some respect. I'm sorry if I'm being ridiculous, but I feel like this needs to be said at times.

Everyone is free to weight what they value more, but I happen to side with the latter. I would have a hundred times more respect for someone who stands on principles, that someone that calculates everything against the pocket.

In conclusion

Please, to all you bidbot owners, do not be quiet about this. You are all Entrepeneurs, businessmen (and women) who are offering a product that the people like and demand. I have no personal vendetta against you and embrace the idea of a free market. If people want to buy, who am I to tell adults they can't have it?

I'm simply asking you are not silent, you are not complicit, and when you see someone attacking, (because that is exactly what they are doing) the health of this platform, do your part to defend it.