Re-Group - Let's Try It Again?

I have done some thinking.

I am not normally a quitter. I am not normally the type to back down. Why did I quit Yuwie then?

I have close friends on Yuwie. People I care for and respect. Some of these friends and I spent a week exchanging emails after I left the site. I was hearing how a particular member on the site was gloating, saying I had been permanently banned by the administrator. Since this was untrue, I mulled over the possibility of returning to set the record straight. I asked myself if I could keep my cool and deal with this as a person of character.

I tried going back incognito first. This is easy to do as most online profiles are not based fully on truth but on a bit of fantasy and fancy. I would not have created a paying account with false information, so I used a family members information (with permission) so as to avoid being recognized. I found that going back this way made me feel like I was lying. I have always been myself online, freely speaking my mind and heart. Nope, this did not feel right.

So, after a day of mulling it over, trying to decide if I wanted the stress back, I deleted the 'fantasy' profile and rejoined as ME.

I made a commitment to blog about things that mattered; something I'd drifted away from on my previous account because of the continuous controversy going on around me. I also decided that I would make it clear what I was there for. I addressed the rumor/lie that I had been deleted by the administrator first. Then I posted that I would NOT be seeking referrals and chasing page views. If I 'earned' any random referrals for my activity on the site, I would give them away. I had rejoined to express my talents and my views on issues that matter to me. And most importantly, to spend time with those on the site who matter to me.

There was also no way anyone could try to intimidate me if I was not participating in the race for page views. I could freely speak my mind. I felt liberated!

During my short absence, the administrator added a Twitter feed. I had been avoiding Twitter for a long time just on principle. I gave in and added my profile to the feed as a way to get my writing seen by more people. It seemed that the administrator was attempting to make the site more attractive to the masses. Unfortunately, he still doesn't have a handle on the egos and many members remain skeptical about his abilities to get the revenue sharing rate back up. We will see if it works.

Am I still trying to get things to change on Yuwie? Yes I am. One friend add at a time. Do I get involved in the controversy still? Yes, when it's brought to my inbox or profile. It is not my nature to keep quiet. But I will not blog on it again. Instead, I will voice my opinion a bit more subtly and with more finesse. Instead of exchanging angry words, I will try to speak with more understanding and expect nothing less than respect in return.

Have I learned anything? I've learned that when you put over half a million people in a social situation where money is concerned, you get trouble. If you give an ego-maniac a voice and thousands of referrals that must back him up, you will have trouble. Will Yuwie continue to grow? Probably. But it will not achieve greatness like we long time members had hoped. Not if they continue to encourage the page view mentality over the people that are generating those page views. Oh well, some people are content with daily comments and a few pennies.
If you can keep your mind free of greed and avarice, your ego under control and your heart open to differences...you just may make some real good friends on Yuwie....not much money, but great friends! Just avoid people in tights. LOL.