For the first time in a while, I feel like I am on top of things at work - even though I am actually behind in terms of what I need to get organized and coordinated in the next couple weeks. For most of the day, I felt like I knew what I was doing and, what has been interesting of late is that because my new role is internal-facing, rather than direct to the customer, people have actual work stuff to talk about. This is good and bad, of course.
I was asked in a comment today about where I got an idea for a post topic, which was inspired by a Hive post's comment section and a conversation in Discord. But, in general, content is everywhere, unless you live in a white box room, mental asylum deal and have no imagination at all.
It is strange that some people have so much trouble coming up with content, especially when for most part, all we do all day is consume content. Doesn't that trigger some kind of thought, some emotional response, something of interest? If what we do doesn't make us think something worth telling others, why are we doing it? Though, I have to admit, at least in the way I write, it does take a very long time to create a decent post - but not everyone worries about decent.
For example today, someone daily posting a recap post of the daily posts they did a year ago was brought to my attention. They are essentially recapping a year-old shitpost, by taking a screen shot of that post and saying, this is the post from last year. This means that next year, it is going to be a post of a post of a post - all shitposts - nested shitpost inception. It is fucking lazy and ridiculous.
But, to each their own
People can post what they want on this blockchain and if the don't have anything to say, that doesn't stop them from spending a couple replenishing resource credits and saying it anyway. However, I am of the mind that being able to say what you want doesn't mean earning on it - if there is no use to anyone, if it doesn't inspire some kind of engagement that has value, what is the point of it?
But, I think this is also a personal perspective, where perhaps "self-created" content is always important to the person creating it, even when they know it is valueless. On Hive, there is always the chance to earn a little too, so that means there is potential value to the poster - even if there is none for the audience. This creates a problematic dynamic on Hive however, since most people with stake think that content should at least do something to support the ecosystem in some way.
But, value doesn't have to be some lecture or lesson, it really can be derived from personal experience and reflection. But, what I have noticed at least is that unless it is a type of troubleshooting guide, it has to be personal. People like people, or they dislike people, but they feel something about people, or the topic at hand in some way. Like any buying decision, the thing that is the most influential in the outcome is the sentiment, the feeling the buyer has toward the product, service, information or whatever else is on offer. If there isn't an emotional reaction, it isn't engaging the audience.
I think this is why the people who share their personal experience are able to engage the audience, because they are able to evoke connection, since pretty much, despite a whole lot of variation in a lot of factors, at the core - we are all pretty much the same. You might just have a different kink than myself.
But, like birds, kinks tend to flock together too, so there are content niches for people who like the same kinds of things and it might not be a specific topic, but the frame of all the topics. For example for me, I like discussion, so I tend to write my own posts from the perspective of me sitting down with you over a coffee, it is conversation, relaxed and well - the way I am in real life. Sure, I do tend to be more grammatically correct and swear less in my writing, but overall, it is very much representative of who I am by mannerism.
And, just like in real life, there are people who like me, there are people who dislike me and there are people who don't give a crap either way - but, just like in real life, there is generally the assumption of best intention, which means that we can live and let live, even if we disagree. This isn't always the case though, as best intention for some seems to be maximizing their gains, whilst minimizing the effort it takes - which for the most part, limits the value it delivers to the audience.
Self reflection is an interesting process however, and I do a lot of mine onchain because I think it helps me sort myself out offchain too, whilst bring people into the folds of my own life and becoming a part of theirs, as people tend to share their own experiences with me, which means they are consuming and then, reflecting on what they have read or seen enough to jog memories and, be engaged enough to take the time to write them. Most people who sit down in front of Netflix don't reflect on what they experience in that time, it is purely consumptive with no return pother than the opportunity to spend time. This isn't bad per se, but it isn't overly valuable, especially since we are paying for the privilege to consume it.
Privilege. You have it. I have it. But we might not be afforded the same privileges at all times. However, one privilege we both have is we have the same opportunity to choose how we behave. We might have different conditions, we might have different resources, but we always have choices. Not everything anyone does is gold - but I wish people would at least put in the effort as if they are mining for gold from within themselves.
I don't know what the best version of you is,
but I am still aiming for the best version of me.
Writing helps.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]