Month #1: QT's Experiment within THE Experiment

Diary posts. A good idea? As at least a historical marker of sorts on QT's odyssey through the fascinating virtual world of the Hive blockchain?

I think so!

^{Source: QT's post titled "Virtual community. Reality?"}

In reflecting on making some decisions about my own participation in it, here is the key to my choosing to write this post, after my first month.

QT's experiment
within the

Hive experiment!

Here are three key components of this experiment, as touched on in my introduction:

Being a very private person, I intend to remain that way.

Candor is my preferred method of communicating with others.

From my experience base in crypto, I will never enter into a locked smart contracts again. While not technically fully locked, 13 weeks is an eternity, when it comes to investing in crypto.

These would be prioritized by others differently than I might myself, but none of them are fully aligned with advice found in the posts on the @newbies-guide account.

Being a Silver Blogger, I remember when the Scientific Method was a fundamental part of our education. This post will apply it somewhat as an update on how this experiment is working out.

Checking Boxes

First, at the core of this experiment is the key word, monetize.

^{As I first mentioned here, this Silver Blogger had never heard this word earlier in life. Is all that it entails, particularly with reference to social media, too lightly glossed over these days?}

"Nothing to see here. Move along. It's all good!"

Ohhh. Okay, then. How did I do on participating and contributing "quality" content?

^{Source: HiveBuzz}

225 comments. 22 posts, with streak ended. 10.2 Comments / Post. 57.06 rep. Is that interacting enough? Writing ... "quality content?" As I stated in my introduction, I will leave that to others. What I am very clear about is that it does not matter what I think.

________________________

Having said that, of these comments, I have received a Top Comment award eight times:

^{Source: Top Comment's Weekly Curation, Week #12 report}

Which puts me at the bottom of the Alltime list, after my 1st month. I really appreciate this initiative noticing and affirming that I am putting some effort into creating some helpful comments, when they don't have any idea who I am. 🤝

^{Note: It is still not clear to me what tripwire I might inadvertently stumble through in mentioning another account. That said, I'll run the risk and try to draw attention to @friendlymoose and his Top Comment efforts. Please consider giving him some of your support!}

Month #1 of
Experiencing
Hive

Reading content on Hive here and there is one thing. Contributing to it yourself, both in creating your own posts, as well as commenting on the posts of others, is experiencing Hive.

Highlights

The initial appeal of interacting with others all over was definitely reinforced. This was what motivated me to ever start contributing, in the first place.

The hoped for goal of having at least a little bit of thoughtful, genuine, meaningful interaction with others was met.

The overall "look and feel" of interacting on the Hive blockchain was impressive. I had settled on PeakD's UI as my preference and happy to report that decision was reinforced.

Not So Much

Following what I understood to be "best practices," it "left a mark" still lingering that my introductory post received zero responses, until days later. With the oft-stated goal everywhere in the crypto world of "increasing user adoption," I do not know how this could be viewed positively.

Please note well I said responses NOT upvotes ...

Comments like this, from Curangel, were not helpful. If meant as any sort of "behavior modification" exercise, it had the opposite affect from what presumably was intended.

Yes, I believe I am crystal clear on the intent. Since no referenced effort was made to actually look into my account, I was presumed guilty. That was a mistake.

________________________

Life has its ups and downs. Experiencing the Hive blockchain firsthand is no different. Got it.

Decisions. Finding QT's Hive
niche!

Following along with the general idea of applying the scientific method to conducting an experiment, what are my observations, at the end of this first month?

Positive. Hive is a fascinating virtual world where one can interact with others all over our shrinking planet.

Uncertain to Neutral. How genuine these interactions are, when unavoidably centered around monetizing them, is debatable.

Negative. Directly linked to the idea of monetizing human interactions, that games are being played is indisputable. What I have experienced of the checks and balances for effectively dealing with them are questionable, at best.

^{Source: Creator nickpanek620 on Pixabay}

What is a key conclusion I have reached, in summing these up? Of all the rich diversity of human interactions encountered inside the virtual world of the Hive blockchain

the
majority of them

do not appeal to me.

Before publishing, I elected to delete my detailed characterization amplifying on this conclusion.

^{This sentiment is part of my ongoing discussion starting here, which I have been having with @minismallholding about community. Which includes our memories and reflections on how they are in decline and why that is.}

________________________

What are some resulting decisions then? They are focused on a key word above - majority. Which fortunately still leaves us with its opposite - minority:

There are still good people, with good intentions as far as can be reasonably discerned, actively participating.

These interactions definitely have value and are worth finding, fostering, and strengthening.

With its central profit motive, requiring the investment of both time and money, interactions on Hive are better thought of as business transactions. Conducted under the guise of generating "quality" content and building communities?

The initial decision to not buy and power up more HIVE has been reinforced. For the foreseeable future, I will grow my account "organically."

By making this financial decision, I have made the challenge of overcoming WIIFM more difficult.

________________________

Is there a permanent niche somewhere on the Hive blockchain for QT? When I decide to next write one of these diary posts, I will give you an update on my answer. For now, I am grateful for finding some acceptance in the Silver Blogger and Thoughtful Daily Post communities.

And with that ...

^{Source: QT's post titled "Week 1: "Pilgrim's Progress" of QT on the Hive Blockchain"}

QT is steadily climbing up the staircase. Taking it one step at a time.

________________________

From my background, gathering information and making well-informed decisions comes naturally. While often not easy, it is essential that decisions be made. As I know from hard experience, failure to make a decision is still ... a decision.

For now and the foreseeable future, one key decision reached is I know the time commitment to do any better is a showstopper. It is far more likely I will invest less of my time than more of it.

No, I did not say I will not continue to contribute content. However the hard reality of this decision plays out, though, will have a direct bearing on how much.

I always have and will appreciate whatever thoughtful comments others may want to share. My commitment to viewing my participation on Hive as a partnership is unwavering and undeterred.

Best wishes, until we meet again,
QT