<center>https://5.imimg.com/data5/BG/YW/MY-13219699/statistical-analysis-500x500.jpg</center>

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I have been thinking of doing a utopian contribution for quite some time. The problem was that i couldnt find a worthy topic to cover. Until i ran into this idea.

<h3>Intro:</h3>

DPOS is a very specific system that has its upsides and downsides. Some may say that STEEM is basically a plutocratic system where those with power (Stake) have massive control over the future of everyone involved. And that is true in many regards. But still, this is a system that works quite well and we have all agreed to accept the inherent inequalities and flaws as well as the positives of this system. 
What i wanted to talk about in this research post is the very obvious correlation between "Being a dick" and your Steem power. 
This correlation is of course based on the ever so present "social classes" that exist on the Steem blockchain. 
Due to this class hierarchy we see very obvious difference in behavior exhibited at each of these levels of the societal pyramid of influence.  

<h3>Glossary:</h3>

"Dindex potential:" _Potential of achieving the highest levels of the "Dindex"_
"Dindex": _A measure of the level of being a dick._
Calculation of the "Dick index": 

![isoc_tri_050_36982_lg (1).jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPfJeEedF2JZri5pUvXkViFSNwncJUDw7F6B8oVDEdNwb/isoc_tri_050_36982_lg%20(1).jpg)

<b>qnd</b> = Quarterly number of drama posts/comments. 
<b>anid</b> = average number of insults/or personal attacks per drama post/comment.  
<b>nai</b> =  number of apologies issued.

 

<h3>1. Plankton:</h3>

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<center>https://www.amnh.org/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/news-and-blogs/2018-images/2018-february/plankton-krill-180216/3057329-1-eng-US/plankton-krill-180216_imagelarge.jpg</center>

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Their behavior patterns are akin to the behavior of a fish on dry land. Flapping around on the ground, hoping to survive until the RC high tide returns and saves them for another day. 
Their effect on the platform is negligible. Their "Dindex potential" is close to 0. Due to their limited ability to interact with the blockchain and their focus on attracting any kind of attention whatsoever, they rarely spend time on anything else beyond that.  

<h3>2. Minnow:</h3> 

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<center>http://fishesofboneyardcreek.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/5/6/13567119/503849865.jpg?419</center>

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Minnows are slightly more influential, mostly consisting of, up to a year old, accounts that put in way too much work into their content for too little rewards. They are highly invested in the platform due to <b>time spent</b> and for them STEEM needs to succeed or they essentially wasted a ton of time. 
At this class level the "Dindex potential" is much higher. Since the time frame of minnow account age spans generally between <b>couple months to 1 year,</b> the time frame of action is much greater and the restrictions of bandwidth (now RCs) arent as big of a constraint.
After 1 year of account age, minnow activity drops drastically due to realization of futility. 

These accounts can increase their influence and "Dindex potential" quite a bit more by grouping up in collectives, or <b>"dick enterprises"</b> that are led in many cases by larger accounts that offer their protection. 

The biggest drawback to here lies in the incentivized behavior of trying to "fit in" inside some kind of community that offers support and protection which greatly diminishes the potential of achieving high "Dindex" values . 
This leads to calculative action mostly under the leadership of a Dolphin or Orca community leader that has already established itself as a pillar in the community. Whales in most cases (except a few community focused whale accounts) arent interested in Minnows because of whale self-sustainability and lack of gain from direct interaction with minnows.

<h3>3. Dolphins:</h3>

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<center>https://defenders.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/dolphin-kristian-sekulic-isp.jpg</center>

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These accounts on the other hand are well positioned and due to the stake they posses their influence is quite great. Dolphins are STEEM accounts that are the first to cross the <b>"threshold or importance"</b> in the STEEM community. Before crossing that point,  influence was completely based on VEST amounts, but after crossing the threshold, their actions start having a larger effect on the platform, not completely related to their SP/VESTS. While Minnows could all be bunched together into one group of, more or less, equally important/unimportant accounts, some dolphins on the lower side of SP can compete and even eclipse those dolphins with higher SP. 
Dolphins act as a magnet for minnows or rather a blueprint for success which minnows try to copy and follow. 
Dolphins are often community leaders due to still being far from the <b>"circle jerk" threshold</b> that comes later.

Their "Dindex potential" is quite high but due to low data it is hard to determine its true levels. 
Dolphins are very specific, being in the middle of the pack, their position depending on political prowess, balancing their expression of opinion and actions based on Minnow, Orca and Whale reactions. Because of that, their true "Dindex" can never be completely measured. 
Their activity in this regard being mostly hidden from view consisting of subversive actions in the background, where they leverage their community leader positions as bait to attract large accounts.

<h3> 4. Orcas:</h3>

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<center>https://vpr.uthscsa.edu/orca/img/ascending-whale-400.png</center>

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Going one step further we come to Orcas. These accounts are mostly created by buying STEEM and powering up. Their "Dindex potential" is high but unfortunately its rarely reached. Orcas are the first to cross the <b>"circle jerk" threshold</b>. Once passed that point they will start creating new accounts where they will increase their post rate (shit-posting) to a very high level to take advantage of other Orca voting power. 
Finally, at the Orca level, the circle jerks create a constant stream of income for the Orca and going against the Orca circle jerk group is not a smart thing to do even for whales. This offers the Orca protection from the bigger accounts and allows them to ignore to a higher degree the first two groups placed lowest in the hierarchy pyramid.
 
At this level in the hierarchy pyramid, due to a high level of fiat investment Orcas become quite vocal on current platform issues. This is of course completely fueled by their concern of not reaching their maximum ROI potential. By utilizing the strength of their other Orca friends as well as the futile attempts by a specific group of minnows (The "Yes-Whales") to grab their attention with "engagement", they are able to <b>send a message with high reach</b> that will rarely be questioned even if those changes would be detrimental, in large part, to those leaving positive reactions.
The minnow "Yes-whale" engagement ofc being subject to a belief in the statement: 

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![isoc_tri_050_36982_lg (2)sds.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaKpkDPWnJP3s5U8ChmS7eBdHbQ3zr3bE66qhv79CENGS/isoc_tri_050_36982_lg%20(2)sds.jpg)
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This of course is wrong due to the following true statement:

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![isoc_tri_050_36982_lg (3).jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPkPBaWrLFPrxYMFxfBxLWqn4MAX7qy7jasjm2j1bUCWb/isoc_tri_050_36982_lg%20(3).jpg)
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 <h3>5. Whales:</h3>

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<center>https://www.diveadvice.com/images/Socorro-Guadalupe/AMOS_Just_One_Giant_Blue_Whlae_opt.jpg</center>

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Finally we get to whales. It is clear to everyone that whales have the highest "Dindex values" of all classes in the hierarchy and they are the ones that reach that potential to the highest degree. Whales differ from most of the other classes due to the fact they are self-sustainable.
Most of the good they do for the platform comes from a position of boredom. Just like a ruler that would come down from his castle and _walk among the people of his kingdom so they feel content farming in the heat for hours or working in the mines,_  a whale would interact in various other ways as to show his presence and not create panic, that he might leave, among the minnows and dolphins that fuel the economy through content creation and community motivation. 
 
A peak is reached for the whale and there are no goals for him/her to work towards (except HODL and try and use the reward pool to the highest degree), since everything comes easily their way, and regardless of their content quality or community contribution, the minnows and dolphins will gather around them to collect a few scraps that fall from the table. 
This boredom that stems from their self-sustainability and annoyance from smaller accounts that try and gain their support, leads to numerous conflicts between Whales at this level of the class hierarchy.
Whales, at the top of the foodchain are the first to reach the higher "Dindex" values due to lack of any meaningful action that can be taken against them.


 

<h3>Conclusion:</h3>

While an individual might be able to reach higher values of their "Dindex" outside the expected values for their class group, the fact remains, that incentivized group behavior leads to consistency in "Dindex" values inside respective classes..

Below i will leave a table chart with various values. It would be incredibly helpful for my research if you would fill out the chart for your self and check the box of your Dindex value by using the calculation presented at the top of this post. Please post the results in the comments. 

Please add a number for your social class: 

1-Plankton 
2-Minnow
3-Dolphin
4-Orca
5-Whale

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<center>![Screenshot (157).png](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdDWw2rnX6CsoN1PkeKc4heDH3Nwt8xNC53StEkRoG5Pm/Screenshot%20(157).png)</center>

_disclaimer: This was an attempt at funny, for the folks at Utopian._ #comedyopenmic. :D

Now that ive been evaluated by Utopian. Got a 0 for this amazing contribution. Sad. Steem is going down the toilet...... I want to nominate @berniesanders, @fulltimegeek, @themarkymark, @heimindanger.