The word cult is often misunderstood by the masses as those in power use it more often than not in a derogatory fashion. The truth is, everyone belongs to many cults and dependent upon the situation one or more of the cults you are a member of will determine your choices in situations you find yourselves in. I think of it as the reference points that make up the foundations of our subconscious. We make the agreement that certain facts are true, and for the most part have been trained to operate in most situations on autopilot so our energy can be delegated to other cult activities we place higher in the hierarchy structure we have agreed to as being more important.
Most never question the ideas that they were handed from their formative years except on a superficial surface level. Nor the agreements made from those first agreements. It was important to those in power to fog up exactly how belief works, how your agreements lend power to a structure without your understanding how powerful your agreement really is. One need only look at the existing foundations of their societies to see this dynamic in action. The values placed in the various possessions and systems.
- Religion
- Science
- Education
- Medicine
- Property
There are many doors one can use through these and the other systems, each containing their own set of agreements.
The Glue That Ties Valuation Of Belief To Compensation
Fiat Currency. I think of fiat as the carrot system of those who would farm the masses. Being the ones who create it and benefit from the inflation of the supply, they are able to more easily funnel agreements within the communities they control through a reward/punishment system. All agreements WE hook onto by joining the fiat cult. I wrote on this binding of ourselves 6 months ago, for a better understanding of what I am talking about. Todays focus though is on the valuation of abstract possessions such as fiat and Steem.
Fiat Only Holds Value Among Those Who Agree It Does
I hear many acknowledge this to some extent, yet by watching the average person’s behavior it is evident most don’t realize the power behind this truth. You see it mentioned often in the world of crypto despite the behavior that contradict such words. During the year + since I began researching crypto (initially the valuation of it), I would often read/hear the promoters of coins refer to their brief holdings as their projects. I would laugh even then as they said this as in no way was this their project, other than to buy what they perceived as a temporary dip that they could profit from on the next temporary rise, dumping what they perceived as a false valuation onto an unsuspecting fool. All so they could gain more of that fiat they agreed was the ultimate possession to accumulate.
Fiat that only holds value because of an agreement. A binding agreement between master and slave. If the slave wishes to one day be free, it will be necessary to begin forging new agreements that replace the old.
Steem Is The Means To Replace The Fiat Agreement
I see many who come here with many illusions of what this chain can be. Many come with the pump and dump mentality of getting over, by reaching into the next "chump's" pocket to come along paying more fiat.
All come here with their bindings of religion, political persuasions etc. All those agreements that are on autopilot that are fogging up what is here if you can see it.
It is easy to see who sees it and who doesn’t. One can simply watch the conduct. Do they send the Steem to cash out as quick as they get it? Do they ignore upvoting the communities they pretend to belong to?
I believe ultimately that despite such shortsightedness, that Steem will grow among those who not only yearn for better cults to be a part of, but understand how this system Dan created can be just the mechanism to see that yearning realized. Based on the unique features found with this chain, it appears to be one of the best opportunities here NOW to make it so.
User benefits from inflation.
Empowerment to direct your agreement level (Steem Power) to beneficiaries you appreciate.
Growing number of apps that expand the ability of others to match their reference cults to the chain, whether it be via exercise, gaming, blogging etc.
The important one not to be overlooked. There is a diehard group of loyal users who do see what is here. Despite the loss of many who come and leave disappointed as they couldn’t break free of their preexisting agreements, a percentage stay. Battle tested, they bring value to the communities they bind themselves to. There is no other chain that I am aware of that has this growing system of agreements that makes the chain worth more than the pump and dump the other coins are whose communities are those waiting to fleece their brothers and sisters on the exchanges.
In closing, I will repeat something I have said several times. The only reason alts are paired in valuation to Bitcoin is through the agreement that Bitcoin is more worthy. The first project (chain) that develops so much actual real world use by average people, as Dan designed this chain to be, will become a dominant chain whose reliance on the rise and fall of Bitcoin will no longer be agreed upon. That will be the first step for this cult of Steem, and I feel optimistic that this time of separation is coming soon.
I want to mention what may be an awesome addition to our community before ending. This could be a real game changer for us. There is a project here called @steem.ninja. They offer cheap onboarding with delegation for 2.50. They also rent delegation for those who wish to grow quicker as well as reward others more as I did my first 6 months here. They sell the accounts and delegation rental accepting credit cards (which I assume implies debit as well).
That alone is awesome, but they are going one step further. They are saying that in the very near future they will be selling Steem from their site, allowing the direct purchase using your credit cards. For myself and others I know here, this will be a game changer as it simplifies purchasing the Steem direct instead of hassling with multiple exchanges. I plan on buying some (which I can’t afford but with this much simpler process it looks like my present will be a little harder as I look down the road) very soon after they offer this service and will let you know how easy the process goes.
Thanks for reading this, and I hope you understand how important your decisions are, whether here at Steem or anywhere else your life is taking you. We CAN change our little parts of the world. It’s as simple agreeing or disagreeing. Voluntary choice is best enabled by understanding there is a choice, one filled with power if you learn to understand what power is.