Just like Bitcoin is an alternative to traditional financial systems, Steem is an alternative to traditional social media.

What is Steem for you?

Steem is tokenization of the internet.

Well, it means social engagement with the *side-effect* of that this engagement is being somewhat quantified, tracked, and immutable.  I say "somewhat" because the tracked elements do not give a full picture of the social engagement.

I run a Minecraft server and one of the things I found frustrating was all the "out-of-band" aspects to the game.  People would communicate outside of the game, for example.  In and of itself, it wasn't a problem.  But it defeated part of the game's nuance.

Another "out-of-band" aspect to Minecraft is all of the external modifications and tools people would use to "cheat."  It would mitigate this by running a vanilla code-base on the latest snapshot.  This reduced the number of external tools.

All this to say, there's a "purist" way to play a game and there's not.  Both ways are defended by the players.

There are people who complain about the lack of engagement on Steem while simultaneously putting in almost no effort to engage.

When I first saw it (August 2016) I knew it was something different. I had been using the Tsu platform that paid users from ad revenue (until they lost funding), but here was something that did not rely on ads and was hard to shut down. Anyone would be able to earn from it. This is different to other crypto where you have to buy it. The fast, free transfers were the icing on the cake.

As I used it I discovered a great community. Of course some just want the money, but lots of others want to build something that could change the world. I have met lots of them at various events that include 2 Steemfests. I was sat with you at the nightclub in Krakow. The people are what make it special. I have made lots of friends.

Of course the money is nice. It has bought me a guitar and my Steemfest trips, but I enjoy helping others out. My Steem was worth serious money at one point, but I am not too down on not taking it out. There is more to life than money. If this thing really succeeds then we all stand to do well from it. Meanwhile I will keep supporting and enjoying great content.

If Bitcoin is peer-to-peer transactions without third-party intervention

Steem is peer-to-peer or even peer-to-public publishing.
Want to release a thought... Steem
Want to release a song without a record contract?  Steem.
Want to write a book without a publishing house?  Steem
Want to release news, citizen journalist style without corporate/gov control of your message:  Steem.
Text Books:  ..  you get the point.

Steem, Decentralizing Information, Entertainment and the Arts.
By the people for the people publishing...  but byoa..  (bring your own audience)

The reference to the word blog on the front-end pigeon holed us and still does.

Blogging is a bit lame and an outdated phase.  I wish the site referenced publishing instead of blogs.  Even "Post" would be an improvement.  Words Matter ask any successful corporation.

![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYsUQYkd5fSpnJC7iiAHF8XKanuzftfCC4gqTkJcmjBn4/image.png)

<center>[![](https://steemitimages.com/175x175/http://steemitboard.com/@birdinc/level.png?201910031858)](https://steemitboard.com/@birdinc)
<center>@birdinc, sorry to see you have less Steem Power.
Your level lowered and you are now a **Minnow**!</center>

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