The Red Screens Are a Filter
Many months ago, as the conversations about funding projects on Hive began to get heated, I brought up the possibility that it almost did not matter if we agreed or disagreed, because defunding was in the cards.
Of course, it sounds like I'm being a negative Nancy, but I'm just trying to keep it real, as they say.
You see, there was this implicit idea that if we kept the important projects funded, it would all sort itself out. The hope was that as long as we could retain our talent, we would eventually heal.
The problem with that sentiment is precisely the underpinning.
The only way to keep talent is to keep developers funded.
Listen, I'm not an idealistic buffoon. I have bills to pay too, and I'm certainly trying to squeeze everything I can out of my material possessions. I picked up two jobs recently, and I hope that is the turnaround I need personally.
But that is hardly a solution that would echo into Hive. It doesn't resonate into our ecosystem. Me finding another way to pay my bills doesn't somehow solve the problem of funding development on Hive.
So I want to propose a mental experiment, if you will.
For those who know me well, and for those who might have an inkling of how I think, what would be the sane, normal reaction if I said publicly:
Either I get funded, or I'm leaving.
Meaning, either @mantequilla-soft gets recurring payments, or Tibs and I are out.
I would hope, and I mean this sincerely, that I would be told to fuck off.
Yes. I mean it.
If any talent is here with such a cut and dry approach to it all, I would say that if they leave, that's a blessing in disguise.
I've never been too fond of fair-weather friends in real life, so why would I make exceptions now?
Times are rough. We are likely to see things get worse before they get any better. That's just where we are.
And perhaps that's not entirely a bad thing.
Because this turmoil, these red screens, these periods where everything looks like it's falling apart, are working like a sort of filter.
There are those who refuse to stop.
Those who keep building when there is no guarantee that anyone is going to pay them.
Those who keep showing up because they actually give a shit about what they are building.
Those are the guys and gals I want in the trenches with me.
Not because they are willing to work for free forever.
Not because developers shouldn't be paid.
Quite the opposite.
I want them there because when things get ugly, their first instinct isn't to look for the exit.
And maybe that's one of the few useful things this current mess is giving us.
A filter.
Let's see who remains when the screens are red.
MenO
No need to be a ....
Just keep doing what you like 😎 on hive
Nicely put! 😇
These are testing times, but a lot of people still believe in this crazy blockchain nonsense. I'm grateful to those who put in the work on the apps we need. Cheers
Same, but how can we as individuals support their efforts? I think that's a question worth discussion.
The old saying of tough times create strong men and strong men create good times and good times create weak men and weak men create tough times is more than just a saying.
The question for all of us is do we believe? In easy times believing takes no faith or effort at all. While staying through the thin times does. In regards to funding, what does it take to fund each days work and running any given dApp?
In keeping with @jongolson's gamification post, I wonder if there is a way to gamify funding. I know in the podcasting space the Value4Value model is prevalent, especially within the Podcasting 2.0 space. Is there a funding thermometer that the communities who use various dApps can see? Sort of like how fundraisers work? These are far from elegant ideas, but something for us to consider. I'm open for a brainstorming OpenPods session.
Hello☺️
Some of the best things in Hive have been built during the periods when everyone was convinced Hive was dying.
Maybe Hive is just really committed to giving us character development.😜
Anyway, I’m still here. Still forking around. Still probably making questionable decisions. So I guess the filter is working. 🤔 in my case
I’ve been here for a long time, but as a user, not a developer. Looking at it from the outside—or more broadly—these blockchain technologies are no longer in the spotlight, and the value of this work is declining. Even Hive, with its own economy, is in a downward spiral. I think a lot depends on how well developers can integrate AI into their work, reduce costs, and improve their products.
The fact that existing services could become unstable—or will become unstable—is also a reality if this situation continues.
!BBH
Meh, I keep building anyway. I'm enjoying building a community. HIVE price isn't something I can control. I might as well enjoy the company of those who enjoy the content snd community.
!BBH
!PIZZA
!ALIVE
Doing it for the pleasure and the comradery is the only reason to do anything here. No fault in that. But probably no money in it either.
I'm not really worried about the money. I have other side hustles for that. 🙂
!BBH
!PIZZA
!ALIVE
$PIZZA slices delivered:
@bulliontools(7/20) tipped @sircork
bulliontools tipped meno
Send $PIZZA tips in Discord via tip.cc!
I'll ride the boat down with you man.
I believe in Hive. And Snapie. And 3speak. And Liketu. And Hive Grove. And the countless of other projects that are showing up daily and putting in the work.
I salute it.
I come back about once a year at this point. Last year I got bored and enthused briefly again and tried to build a thing or two here again.
There was no one here to see it.
If you persevere for no one, then you need to be doing it for yourself for whatever reason, because the literal user counts do not support doing it for any other reason anymore.
Crypto in general is through the floor. Its not 2016 anymore. It's the age of AI and if there is any value left in this chain at all and from the numbers, there is not much, not even for the children's card games anymore, all just faded glory now.
I suspect building here is just waiting for some nerd with a Kimi K3 swarm to come automate the last tokens out of the last corners and burn the value to the ground.
I respect your take Meno, its very well intentioned, but its probably misguided to keep putting effort into beating a dead horse. There simply are no living horses really even left here. Throwing good money after bad - or in this case, time and effort into a black hole is probably an exercise in futility. Even the big famous chains are dying. Why would the weeds outlast the roses if the entire garden is dying, or at least in a seasonal drought? The roses will be cared for, but the weeds will be pulled, and hive has always been just a tiny little weed in the garden of 10,000 cryptos with more market cap and more public global interest, better utility or transaction speeds and costs or not.
Every 6 or 8 months when I drop back by to see if its changed, its even more empty, the same dozen people posting the same tired things...
There used to be people to blame for the state of things here and now even those people are gone. At this point, its just decaying like a log on the ground in the woods, still there, still barely a log, but it will never grow into a tree again, and only a few friend groups (a nice thing!) and nostalgia (a value-less thing in chain terms) are holding any of this together anymore.
I've always dropped real talk here when I comment or post, and a lot of dreamers don't like reality very much.
But step back, clear your head of this place, and then look back in? And you will see that reality very clearly. It's ... reality, after all.
I'll be here until it all burns to the ground.
Something is better than nothing.
At least you guys are getting something.
In my case, I am living on my daily post rewards having value lesser than 0.75 HBD most of the times.
wish you all the best
Keep grinding.
The filter is working fine from what I've seen.
So many walking away after milking hive for years is a good start.
To those leaving adios amigos
Don't let the door hit you in the arse as your leaving.
Time to spin up witness nodes folks.