Thank you for your kind thoughts.

If a social platform is to be successful, the real value in our community rests not in wallet size, but quality size. I find it unsettling that some who can be viewed as greedy are attacking others who they call out for being greedy, more so when others jump on that bandwagon. In many cases out of greed as well because they want those sweet fat upvotes, and are willing to discard logic if they must to obtain them.

I talked about this before, but whatever someone wants, is what they want and they hardly budge from their high horses. So I don't talk anymore.

Please don't allow any on their high horses to dissuade you from exercising your voice. Regardless of the size of your wallet, or the size of your community you are a stakeholder here, with as much right to give voice to your positions as the largest stakeholder or those with large followings. We reveal ourselves to others when we are willing to walk our truth regardless of how unpopular it may appear, and I would submit that at times appearances can be very deceiving. Often others will remain docile until someone else first acts.

I'll share an example.

Many years ago I was selling at the swap meet. There were two old men, and one of them had his two very large sons with him. They were in the aisle behind mine, and I had a clear view of them.

The old men were arguing, which caught my interest. After a moment, one of the large sons pushed the other old man. By the time I ran over to intervene a large crowd had already formed. Without slowing down, I grabbed that large man as I swept his feet from under him, knowing from my training the ground will hit your opponent harder than you can. Especially as in this case when my weight is atop him.

Based on the seeming cowardice of that crowd, none of whom were coming to the aid of the old man, I expected his brother to kick me, perhaps in the head even as I was exposed at this point.

To my surprise, several men in the crowd rushed forward. Some grabbing the brother before he could move on me, a couple coming to me to make sure the one I rode to the ground wasn't getting up, although he wasn't going anywhere. And we held them until the police came.

I remember being very angry with that crowd of cowards at that time. hatred burning in my heart that so many so called men would stand by and allow an old man to be handled in such a way by much larger and younger man.

In hindsight (I still have anger at them) though, it occurred to me that this is people in general. Most unwilling to be the initial stand against wrong, but willing to step forward as they see another and then others do so.

None of this is predicated on ones financial worth, or circle of friends or education etc. It all comes down to having the will to go against the crowd when they are wrong. And understanding that there is a chance others in that crowd of inaction might not only align with what you are doing, but be prompted to action once you have initiated it.

We all have much more power than we are taught, the so called masters training the masses to keep their heads down and not cause waves. Because sticking your head above the crowd challenges the idea of so called masters, as one with their head up high is declaring equality with the proclaimed masters and it emboldens others to do the same.