Decapitating Dragons #1: Fill My Cup Peasants
Let me post something meaningless so I can receive something meaningful.
An all too common theme in environments where rewards are given for content, where one creates a void and then expects others to fill it in for them and then to call it community engagement of all things. It’s the irony of asking for meaning while offering little in return that makes me internally shake my head at. All for baiting in votes or followers.
We see it all too common happening in the house of the spooks.
But there is a more subtle type of content that doesn't ask for votes/life or followers. But for an opinion.
Question:
When posting to be transactional rather than being genuine as the norm, what does it say about the platform and those interacting within it?
What do I mean by transactional?
I'll give you an example from a recent post I found on the chain.
Without pointing names.
More or less the blurt post said nothing more than:
"Hi Blurtians! I just want to ask your thoughts/ideas on some topics...
What can you say about the price of blurt? Is it good to buy?"
...Your thoughts matter... Your answer could help me or our fellow Blurtians..."
That's it basically. Nothing else to add. No opinion of their own, no perspective, no context no stake, nothing. just some sugar cream filling in moldy bread.
"What you guys think of the weather?"
"How about them shoes guys?"
It's a vacuum disguised as a conversation. And that is the point.
The silent mantra:
"Let me create something meaningless, to receive something meaningful."
It shifts the burden of meaning unto you. Then hopefully along the way, receive up votes from others who are most likely going to just follow along and repeat. Easy money. Low effort.
...and we wonder why qualitative engagement drops.
But I'm no saint either. Been a time or two I have done the same. If I do it again, I'll burn the post. My conscious just won't let me let it slip that easy anymore.
So when I tackle any post or comments I dissect, such as my L.O.C. series, I'm attacking old habits and state of mind that longer benefits me. I am in search of understanding.
Anyways, here's what such type of posts brings.
Lack of Self-Initiated Thought
Because the posts contain little to no independent thoughts, it creates a dependency of thought pushed onto the public to fill. Thus burden of meaning is shifted onto the public.
As shown in the example quote:
"Hi Blurtians! I just want to ask your thoughts/ideas on some topics...
What can you say about the price of blurt? Is it good to buy?"
...Your thoughts matter... Your answer could help me or our fellow Blurtians..."
It shows a lack of accountability from the author, freeing themselves from being challenged or questioned for deeper insight. There in lies not one personal angle to show they care. So when I see post like this as this, with titles such as "Your thoughts matter", I can't help but to ask, "does it?".
Manipulative Politeness
"Your thoughts matter."
"You could help others."
These are click bait prompts disguised as "community questions". If you been subjected to email phishing plentifully, you might recognize the tactic with no issue.
I might as well give public keys to of an account, post nothing myself and keep rewards for myself to do what I please with it.
In fact....
Introducing:
Public Key:
5JnZ53kh4SmBYDgmPjGUYFBLLS65Xg1sMDUYM435EXH6bjGK89R
Evidence of Birth Of @pub-lic:
https://ecosynthesizer.com/blurt/@pub-lic
Screenshot:
Total of 100 $BLURT added.
Small examples of farming for algorithmic attention
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Are you familiar with the setting? Surely to whomever may be reading this, may mean that you have spent many years seeing these etcetera examples throughout your life?
A bit more complex form of baiting
"Hey fam! 💬 Just wondering what everyone thinks about success. Like, is it about money, happiness, or something deeper? 💭 Drop your thoughts below, I really wanna know what you think! 👇🔥 #LetsTalk #DeepThoughts"
Poor little me can't make it in this world if you don't give me likes.
“I’m pretending to care what you think, but really, just validate me.
And that's the echo I get from these posts.
So what is farming for algorithmic engagement?
It is the "strategic"(if you can even call it that) creation of content designed to manipulate attention. It doesn't inform nor entertain anyone with more than 2 grams of consciousness and self control over their beastly side.
Ask yourself: Are they building a connection or are they just cashing in on your attention?
Think about it.