Of the last however long I have written several articles about engaging well in comments. The most important words on this platform are written below the post, not the post itself. The reason for this is because it is below that final line break that it becomes social. Up until the point someone provides a comment, the author is just shouting into the void.

https://i.imgur.com/V9loce0.jpg

I have been critical of the many highly rewarded users who seem to refuse to engage with their audience in either a timely manner or *at all.* As @clio mentioned today about my own replies:

>What is also important is that you always answer the people who write a substantive comment. And not simply something like 'thank you', but a real answer. - @clio

Yes, I always try and often fail but, I *do* attempt to get to comments. I spend 8-10 hours a day writing articles and on top of that, the replies. Yesterday it was 30-40 comments. Lately it has taken a little longer to get to them because of some family pressures.

Today I read an article by @fullcoverbetting on ***<a href="https://steemit.com/busy/@fullcoverbetting/the-hidden-gem-to-make-it-on-steem-maybe-better-the-hidden-gem-to-make-steem-great">Making Steem Great</a>*** and he mentions two types of Steemian.

>The first type are the real content creators. They write excellent post and make us think about topics. These are the fuel of Steemit! Why do you ask?
Well they are giving the second type of Steemians a platform to interact. People can react on the post and even react on other comments on the post. But the creators do also need this interaction. This interaction is what makes a post genuine and is the most appreciation an article can get! -@fullcoverbetting

He is right. For this place to have decent interaction, there needs to be decent content to interact with and to have decent content in the long-term, it requires decent interaction. Have a read of the comment section of the linked <a href="https://steemit.com/busy/@fullcoverbetting/the-hidden-gem-to-make-it-on-steem-maybe-better-the-hidden-gem-to-make-steem-great">post,</a> and then go to the <a href="https://steemit.com/trending/meme">trending section for memes</a> and run through the comments. See the difference?

The level of thought and engagement on posts of substance and posts of fun are quite obvious. 'hahah' is really not a useful comment is it? The payouts differ quite a lot though right? This is one of the issues here that will hopefully be sorted out. 

As I said to @clio, the comments section is where relationships are built, it is the place where the actual socialization happens. I said to @fullcoverbetting that the author shouldn't *need* to be there for the conversation to take place however, the author *should* be there at least for parts of it. People should learn to respect their audience a little and take the time to respond with more than *'Thanks!'* the author equivalent of *'Nice post!* 

This is *not a book club* where people sit around and discuss the chapters and meanings of some random book chosen. This is *social* media, a forum where the audience can interact directly with the authors. A place where authors can defend or expand upon their words. An arena for discourse on all kinds of topics and a place to discuss many perspectives. 

I see many high earners with 50, 100, 200 dollars on their posts, only 10-15 comments, and *none of them* are theirs. Why would anyone keep commenting? Why would anyone keep reading and upvoting if the author obviously has so much disdain for the audience that they won't even talk to the people who support them? Their content is rarely good enough to stand alone without interaction.

As said, it is under the post that relationships are built and under the post where connections are made. It is in that space where people will find whether the author gives a damn about the community or is just in it for the upvotes. Pay attention because the community builders actually spend some time *building community,* and a great deal of that is done underneath the post.

Just like @fullcoverbetting said that a genuine comment cannot come without reading the post, a genuine reply can't be made without reading the comment. It is the act of listening to each other that is important here, giving each other the space to speak and then trading words. There is massive value in that level of relationship and the bonds created are much stronger than that of *reward for action*. 

Support those *in it for the upvotes* alone and when the upvotes slow, they scream and shout and breakdown and leave because there is *nothing* keeping them here. Again, *good riddance*. I hope many of the highly rewarded *non-engagers* do just that. It will free up a little more of the pool for those who actually want to be a part of a community. There are so many authors of quality here being largely ignored, they won't be missed.

I feel that the tides are slowly turning and people are starting to again realise that the point of Steemit is to not only create quality content but create content worthy of quality engagement. 

Perhaps that is where we can actually differentiate ourselves as the content itself at this point is mostly no different than can be found from a thousand other sites. If the only differentiation is that there is a chance for money, all the other platforms need to do is follow suit. 

The real draw card is building a community that interacts, blends, mixes and ties itself to millions of different points through the network of posts, comments, replies and the relationships they build.

It is also through that same network that broader distribution of Steem happens with less very high peaks and much more foundation. It creates a solid and wide base that many can benefit from. Something to think about at least.

Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]

Funny thing. I am writing this and now I have to walk the dog, get my daughter and I won't be back for a few hours to comment. Talk amongst yourselves ;)