SHILL Issue 68

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@SOLMills_
Influencers have been a bit of a hot topic over the
last 48 hours. Seems to be a contentious issue
and I'm seeing a lot of strong feelings on my timeline.
I think some of the anger is misplaced. My
thoughts.
There's nothing wrong with being paid to market.
It's a valid job. In an ideal world, all products
would have value & no one would buy (or market)
rubbish but we do not live in that world. Buyer
beware! People well understand this in our little
corner of the blockchain.
I said I would never sell my God - and I haven't.
Want to know where it went? Read on.
For more than nine months now, I've been talking
(though not nearly often enough) about the lack of
diversity and inclusion in Web 3 and NFT projects.
The problem, as I see it, is two-fold.
1. Every week, without fail, my Discord and Twitter
is filled with embarrassing language towards
gender, race and sexuality minorities. Web 3, right
now, is NOT a safe space for minorities. How can
we talk about onboarding the next million users
when the space looks like this?
However, many influencers act in an unethical
manner because they actively try to deceive. Marketing
is more effective when it is not perceived as
marketing. Influencers wish to portray themselves
not as marketers but as our friends, or clever advisers
and smart traders.
Influencers want you to think they are here to help
you, that they're offering good advice, that they
know more than others and that you will profit
if you follow them. An obvious example is one
influencer who whitewashes himself by labelling
himself a "caller".
Should marketing be more obviously labelled?
Should future regulation of the Crypto space (inevitable)
extend to the area of influencing? I am less
familiar with European and American regulations
but, in Australia...
it’s illegal to be a financial influencer without a
financial services licence (i.e. up to five years jail
and fines over $1M) and all other online influencing
requires the equivalent of #ad to be included
with the message.
What do you think Anon?
2. The success of an enterprise is often directly
linked to diversity and inclusion. If we all think and
act the same way, we don't grow together. Diversity
of experience and thought will enrich us all as
individuals and as a community. The space will
grow.
Thinking about it for 9 months (and talking about
it sometimes) I still see no change for the better.
Some days, it seems worse. I'm challenging myself
to make a difference. I've given my DeGod to my
partner and I'm going to set her up a Twitter and
encourage her to get involved.
I chose my DeGod specifically because it's a
meaningful sacrifice to onboard someone new.
There's no point giving her a worthless project. I
want her to engage and hit the ground running with
contacts in an established project. I want her to
challenge and inspire.
I'm going to go one step further & attempt to make
this much like the ALS Ice Bucket challenge. I'd
like others to do the same with a meaningful NFT
(it doesn't have to be their DeGods or SMBs) and
to onboard one new person who they think will
help improve diversity in our space.
I nominate
@PrimitiveMoney @credlessk @TopoGigio_sol.
No obligations, but if they want to jump on board,
awesome, and hope to see them nominate three
more people each. But Anon, if you're reading, and
you want to get involved yourself please just get
started.
SHILL Issue #68
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