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**There are three types of people as I see it, in regard to the blockchain-based social media platform Steemit:**
Those who sing its praises loudly, those don't know about it, and those who bitterly complain. There are more categories and nuances than these I am sure, but these seem to be the ones that jump out at me most immediately.

**As an anarchist, I see the Anarcho-Capitalist community largely on board and excited about Steemit.** People who have been for years spending sleepless nights writing treatises on non-violence and the free market--rigorously and tirelessly debating with friends and family--can now be paid for all that "brain power bandwidth" they had been so selflessly burning up for their cause, by posting said treatises, debates and viewpoints on Steemit. AnCaps and Voluntaryists are encouraged to up their game, as well, because posting shit articles to the platform here means you probably won't make that much. The people now on board are excited, vocal, and prolific.

**Second, all around me I see people who have *no idea what the hell Steemit is.*** I have been spreading the gospel as much as I can to people who I think would bring value to the platform with ideas. I also want them to personally benefit from leveraging the platform, and from the just generally high quality content that appears here. 

Some of these people have legitimate questions. *Where does the money come from?* *Can I turn Steem into dollars?* *Is this a Ponzi scam?* Some of them are having trouble with the format of the platform itself, as it is still in beta mode and somewhat raw. To be honest, I have not fully wrapped my head around some of these concerns that are raised, but I think I understand the basic idea. Trying to explain things like cryptocurrency and subjective value to people who have never entertained the notion that money is simply an agreed upon means of exchange can be tough, though.

**Finally, the bitter and the borderline malignant.** There are still some people I have seen both within and outside of the "movement" (anarchist/liberty movement), who are just downright hating on this platform. Sometimes it's because they haven't made as much money as they thought they would. *It's rigged. You have to know a whale to make money!* Sometimes it is envy. *Jeff Berwick writes three paragraphs for 15,000!? What a joke. I think he is a "silent partner."* Sometimes it is ignorance. *The creators pumped a bunch of money into this, are waiting for investors, and then are going to pull out!*

Now, to be honest, this last concern does spook me a bit. Kind of in the same way as when I sometimes realize my heart has been beating for 32 years and *Oh, f'&%. what if it just stops!?* Okay, okay, it is not *that* scary. Seriously, though. I have no idea if it is a "pump and pull" scam. I can't see investors leaving half of their money behind as Steem Power though if they are going to try to jump ship all at once. I mean...*half.* 

Yeah, you may say, but what if they just buy a bunch of Steem dollars or Steem, and don't care about using Steem Power? Well, even if it was a "scam" these investors being suckered wouldn't know that, and would certainly want to protect their investment by leveraging Steem Power to make sure the community and the platform itself continues to pump out good content and attract new users. Do you see what I am saying? If you are an investor, you want to take care of your investment. I can't see anyone with a significant amount of money invested in something not wanting to have a hand it it's growth.

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*The symbol for "hot spring" here in Japan.*

Finally, and this is my main point.
**I HAVE MADE MONEY ON THIS PLATFORM.** Yep. That's it man. This is my Steemit "gospel." I have been paid for my work. Work that I have been doing for years for no other reward than the act of doing it, which is enough, because I love it. Well, Steemit pays me for it. Those sleepless nights spent writing and creating? Guess what. Now somebody gives me something for them if they value my creation. This allows me to free up time and leverage things in the physical world so I can have a more happy and relaxed lifestyle which facilitates even more creation and **much more efficient** utilization of my talents. 

Building a small following here and networking within the platform, as well as bringing some of my previously built Facebook and YouTube followings here has helped. Well-known names in the anarchist community have given me advice, encouragement, and when my material is good, upvoted it. The first few days I wasn't making anything. Now I am beyond pleased with my moderate successes as far as finance is concerned. As for the caliber of my work, I have never felt more confident, even though the journey of the creator is, as we all know, never really "finished."

You may have read my previous post about quitting my job. It is true. I quit before I was even really active on Steemit, last week, and then almost as if it were planned, dived in seriously that *same day.* I wasn't consciously planning on acing my job and finally striking out like this, but it just happened, natural as a river flowing. So yeah, I'm making money and improving as a writer, thinker, and researcher, and living my dream which has always been to be a full time creator. I hope you will help me to continue to build that reality by upvoting this post and following me if you enjoy the content. As far as Steemit goes...all I have to say is *thanks.*

***

*Graham Smith is Voluntaryist activist residing in Niigata City, Japan.*