Before you get into this post, when you see someone try to argue against it, just ask them this simple question:

Are the people that have the highest earning posts going to be earning more money because part of "everyone else's posts and votes" will be given back to the pool for distribution to the rewards to the most valuable content?

A Dirty Subject

I'm not going to pretty this post up... Because it is an ugly subject and doesn't deserve being made pretty. If you don't want to vote for it because it isn't perfectly formatted, that is ok with me. All I care about is getting this message delivered.

I have never seen as tone deaf a company as Steemit, they are so out of touch with their "average" users its really a shame. They think their technology is so good that they don't even need to listen to the normal users. They cater to the money people, and make sure they stack the top 20 witnesses that support what is good for the rich. Here is just another example of where this is happening.

Hard Fork 20

I read a post yesterday by @tcpolymath titled:

This has been a demonstration of optimal posting strategy under Hardfork 20

I won't rehash his whole point but I will condense it to the simple way that I think.

What Is Changing

First, they are changing the way people earn money here. The company and the top 20 witnesses (ie witnesses backed by money in the system) have decided that they are going to take money from the posts and give it to the "pool" to be paid to "the most valuable content." This is hogwash speech for give it to the people that have the most money and can buy the most votes (ie the rich).

Let me say that again...I want this to sink in.

Right now either the authors or curators earn all the money from the posts. Without making it complicated, the fact is that EITHER THE AUTHOR or THE CURATOR gets paid from making the post or voting for the post. Do you understand that? Simple concept really, either the people that make it get paid or the people that like it and vote it get paid. No one else gets paid.

What will change, you might ask?

Well if they push through their brilliant plan then neither the author nor the curator will get paid if a post gets voted on in the first 15 minutes. But those votes will count and will be paid to someone. Guess who?

Who do you think they will reward with those votes that were casts in the first 15 minutes, come on you can say it?

I kid you not, it will go the the people that have the highest value post. Who are those people? Well they are the ones that can drop $100s of dollars per post. They are the ones that really made a name for themselves and anyone around here for any length of time know exactly who they are!

But wait it gets better...

All Curators Now Pay The Rich Guys

Not only are they taking the money from the people that voted in the first 15 minutes and giving it to the rich guys, they are also taking a piece from all those other votes AFTER the 15 minutes as the early voters steal part of the curation from the later voters. Think of it like the early voters are unwitting dupes that are working to collect curation of later voters for the rich! The moneyed interests wants a piece of everything!

So no matter what, if you vote early you are just handing money to the Jerry Banfield's and Haejins, but if you vote later because a guy has a good post, they will take even more of the money from the curators that later vote the post and also give it to the Banfield's and Haejins!

And what does this incentivize? Well basically you should put out posts that suck so that none of the rich guys get the efforts from your hard work. And if you vote but don't want to pay the rich guys, then you will only vote after 15 min and only for posts that don't have any votes yet. If they have votes, then they will be sending your money to the rich.

Cover Story For This Reverse Robin Hood Maneuver

What is their cover story? IE what is the "valid" reason they say they are making this change?

Well they say it is designed to stop self-voting. That is the reason that they state is a cause for alarm and causes the degradation of the system? Are you kidding me? Seriously? So you are going to take the money from the good authors and legit curators and hand it to the shit that litters our trending pages? Can you guys even say this with a straight face? How can you look in the mirror in the morning?

Omgosh, I couldn't even believe my eyes today when I read the post. I am floored, simply floored at the arrogance and the tone deafness with which these people run this place.

I love the platform for the people that have been here and for the potential of the technology. But if these kinds of decisions keep being made, then @ned and all the money types, you will get what you deserve. I have seen many companies succeed and fail in my 33 years of investment experience. I have managed several $100 million companies myself. This one is clear as can be. The management of Steemit and the top 20 witnesses are going to regret making this decision. If it goes through, then don't let it be said that I didn't give you notice of the failed thinking ahead of time!