Everyone here on steem is doing a bit of farming.
We say we are here for the community, but the "truth" is that there is lots of community in lots of places, and our community is tied to our currency.
If this wasn't true, then we would not lose or gain users based on the price.
However, with tribes, it feels like some of us are stealing potatoes instead of simply farming.
This concept that has been difficult for me to put into words. Even more difficult than explaining to my kids that the candy dish at great grandma's house is not meant to be dumped into their backpacks, and of course, you don't sit by the candy dish until all the candy is gone.
Here is a difference I see between farming and stealing potatoes.
When you are using tribes as a way to farm, you give something back to the tribe, similar to how you fertilize the soil, or rotate crops.
Farming means that you give "great" tribe relevant content, engage with your readers, and help the platform grow in any way you can and know how.
When you are stealing potatoes, then you are simply using as many tags as you can, hoping that your content is relevant, and you take any earnings that may come your way and you simply go to steem-engine, and change them for whatever you want.
You give nothing back to the community and could care less where you are posting.
It will be harder and harder to steal potatoes as time passes. As more tribe users come, the rewards will be spread out more, and while there will still be plenty of potatoes to simply take, it will be more difficult than just showing up with your sack and picking them up.
Until then, are we going to keep being potato thieves and squeezing all the worth out of new tribes? Leaving their soil used, and abused and ready for a dust bowl?
Yes, we are here to make money, but yes, tribes have real people behind them. They put time and money and effort to get the project off the ground.
Let's stop stealing potatoes.
If you are earning rewards through tribes, stake a little, invest in the future of the tribe as well as yours. Sure, some tribes will fail, and stakes in failed tribes will simply mean bag holding, but don't be a part of their demise! Be a part of their growth.
Another perspective: Stealing potatoes at these prices is like stealing baby potatoes which are almost all skin. You are taking all of the potential away, and hardly getting anything out of it.
Yes, I realize that most of the vitamins are in the skin, still, I think my analogy makes sense