How could I forget @aggroed, thanks for the reminder there!
I'm just going to copy this paragraph out as it's an absolute winner and I certainly didn't say it better myself!
While profitability of bidbots seems a slamdunk, at least for the short term, ignoring the long term effects of controlling the rewards pool for the purpose of profiteering, on a social media platform originally intended to reward quality content and human interaction, neglects the long term profit potential of rising Steem price.
At times during the writing of the post I thought about doing something else as I felt quite hypocritical. As you know I've been a fairly regular user of Bots, and even delegated small amounts to @aggroed's bots in the past. Around the start of the year I contacted him stating I was cancelling the lease, and of course he had no issue - 'It's your Steem Power!' Cool.
My view is that they are here for a while longer yet, and come as part of the package as far as delegating to the projects currently advancing the Blockchain.
However, they are abused with huge votes (my biggest was the other day and was to promote the awesome people who were listed, actually producing more comments than the vote-bots for 2018 thus far. The post had hit 50 replies before I chose to do this - the submission wasn't coordinated with the timing of a voting round, like so many do. These post looks rushed because they are - got to finish it before 'appreciator' voting round finishes!
They aren't going anywhere for now, but their longevity could perhaps be shortened it they weren't fueled by SP and this off-pegged SBD price.
It was a shame to see another whale, particular a manual curator, join the club but I don't blame him looking at the returns.
Anyway, I shall continue leasing more SP out as I earn it, as I did again today and hope for the best!
Thank you!
I have long been impressed with @thejohalfiles manual curation, in an environment that certainly must exert a strong suction on his stake towards more potentially immediately profitable endeavors.
I realized early on that prudent investors need to mind their stakes, and cannot find fault that they do so. I just consider the potential returns from an appreciating Steem to so outweigh any that can be wrested from delegation fees or bot payments that it seems utterly short sighted to fail to coordinate as a group (the whales) and undertake delegations (as @fulltimegeek showed work very well to encourage the delegates, and those they engage with) which will improve account retention, and uplift Steem price.
I do not criticize your choices. You make them as you will. I hope my meta-discussion of the issue doesn't make you feel that I do.
Were that my intent, I am sure you have noted that I can speak plainly =p
Yes I agree, it is their stake and so the choice is theirs only. As far as encouragement and engagement, only one winner though!
Yes I understand, and have read elsewhere in the past, words are not there to be minced at times :) I think I remember you up-voting the self-goat 'bot' that follows a minnowbooster vote one time, and so that's why I'm on my toes :)