Since it is Saturday night and everyone is in bed, I may as well have a little fun and join in with the #milkerandtators movement started by @whatsup. The idea is to post once a day and write ten comments on other people's posts and, I think I already do that most days - I definitely get the top level post in.

While I do get some autos on my posts, I have never actually considered myself a milker though as I have been very open in pretty much everything I do on chain. I have talked about my processes, my earnings, my hopes, my trades, my losses, my failures, my support, my delegations, my opinions, my ideas, my family, my financial challenges, my past, my present, my work, my.... well, you get the idea, I have put myself out there on Steem daily for almost 3 years in many ways.

While I am "pretty sure" that not everyone is going to agree with my ideas and activities, I am also "pretty sure" that most people who have followed me for any period of time or have had the misfortune of meeting me in person realize, I am pretty authentic in my words and delivery and do not have the tendency to embellish achievements.

One of the great thing on the chain is that everything I have ever said is verifiable and while some things might come back to haunt me, I think overall, I have been consistent and open. Maybe this is why I have done relatively well in my relationships with women as, I haven't lied in order to trick them into a relationship of some kind.

The problem with inauthenticity is that eventually, the authentic you will appear and all the niceties in the dating and honeymoon period will fall away and the "true-self" will appear. In my opinion, best be yourself and let the cards fall where they may and this way, you can be pretty sure that those who like you, like you for you, even if you are an asshole.

Too many people try to impress those who they want attention from by trying to be what that person might want. It is like lying on the first date about the food, bands and animals you like, just to get the other person to like you. This happens a lot on Steem where people try to put out content that attracts upvotes without considering if it is the type f content they are suited for.

Nothing wrong with that, but don't be surprised if you run out of content ideas because it is difficult to keep producing daily when you do not like what you are producing, or have little interest in it besides the potential for upvotes. Some people just keep producing content because for some reason or another, someone put an auto on them .

For the old timers, do remember that dude who was milking Johal's auto with what sounded like drunk texts? - was it, fuckmind? mindslut? I don't remember... mind something or other I think - back in the day. He wasn't the only one, there have been many.

The way to differentiate between a milker and a creator is pretty easy, you just have to watch them long-term, which is another reason I do not consider myself a milker. There are 2793 pages of transactions relating to my account and I have been consistently creating daily for all that time. Consistency - Fuck price, I earn Steem. Fuck vote values, I will write anyway.

There are ups and downs in price, there are ups and downs in support. The act of creation does not require payment and it doesn't require anyone to pat you on the back and say "good job". Now, you are creating for you but if you have an expectation of earning something, you still have to consider your audience - so don't blame the whales for the lack of support if you haven't consistently produced the kind of stuff that they are willing to support consistently.

Consistency doesn't really happen in support though, there are always ebbs and flows. However, consistency in production is within your control and that is pretty much a prerequisite for building a support network. I have been very open with this as well and have mentioned several times that I am going to consistently produce content that if it is chanced upon, someone will likely vote it and if it attracts autos, those users can trust that in all likelihood, they would have voted it anyway.

I see the people who vote on my posts without reading them like patrons who support my work s that others can read them. After all, there is still the incentive to earn Steem and since I have put so much effort into this place in various ways, I want to earn also.

Earn STEEEEEEEEEEEEM.

I keep hearing some people say, "the earnings aren't enough to live off..." as if Steem is meant to provide them a living wage. I normally don't give it, but I have advice for people wanting a wage from Steem.

Get a job.

I know, I know... How could I suggest such a thing... what a prick I am!

I am okay with you thinking that, some of you might even appreciate me more for it. This is the thing about authenticity and a rule of thumb to live by. Ready?

No matter what you do, One third of people will like you, one third will be indifferent, one third will dislike you.

It is okay if people dislike you - you will survive it.

Now, to finish this off as I think I have written enough for today, tonight or whatever time this happens to be, I will give some advice. Firstly, I fucking hate bullet point lists - but here is one on some ideas if you struggle to get a post out a day.

• Work out what you are interested in
• Write about it and explore it deeply
• Look for others who are interested in it
• Engage with them

If you do not know what you are interested in, find out why. But other things you can try

• Write about your day
• Pay attention to conversations you have
• Use images as stimulus for content ideas
• Read other people's posts and work for inspiration
• Comment a lot and use them as the base for expansion
• See what other people are talking about
• Get out from behind the screen
• Let your experience be your content

If you really can't find something to write about... Get a job.

Now, there is the 10 comments a day on other people's posts as part of the challenge and if you aren't getting significant engagement on your own posts - you better get out and about and hit those mean streets of Steem. A word of warning for the unlearned though, if you are looking for support - don't ask for it and most importantly....

Don't be a dick.

That is incredibly challenging for some people here.

Of course, you are free to post what the hell you want when and where you want, but you are not entitled to any particular outcome and no matter how much fucking STEEM you have bought, you are not entitled to payment from the pool. What your Steem Power gets you is access to the distribution of the Steem, not the payout after 7 days. Getting downvoted for being a dick? Take a look in the mirror while you masturbate and see what everyone else sees. Pathetic.

Too visual?

Well as I said, it is Saturday night so let's have a little fun.

Have you got a post out for the day yet?

The clock is ticking

Taraz [ a Steem original ]