UPDATE
A new version of the Pixie comment has been identified. Rather than just seeking followers, they are being used as chance to upvote themself and collect the steem. This is ok if they tip themself and the other person. Just tipping theself becomes a Pixie comment.
I am yet to be trolled on Steemit. Not in a way that I have been perceptive enough to realise anyhow.
In the past, it seemed it was just the way that Mother Nature intended things to be. Just as 'where you find soil - you find insects'; 'where you find garbage - you find flies'; so too it was that 'where you find public internet forums - you find Trolls'.
But is this no longer a universal truth?
There was always going to be a shift in dynamics once the prospect of directly earning currency was mixed with a public posting forum - namely Steemit. Drivers behind people posting were going to change and behaviours along with them. Some of the behaviours we have witnessed are spamming where people are just throwing anything up in the hope of getting a few upvotes - don't you love those posts with a YouTube video without any writing to go along with it, or the straight copy pastes from a range of sources outside of Steemit.
Another behaviour that has been observed is the Pixie comment - which is different to a Troll comment both in motive and effect on the poster and wider steemit community. Some would argue they are merely an attempt to increase the Pixie's followers, others would go further to suggest that they are an attempt to achieve financial gain for the Pixie - achieved by the spreading of positive and happy messages around the Steemit landscape. Those comments may be broad enough to be applicable to any post on Steemit, or have just enough to tie in with the post - sometimes conveying a misunderstanding of the content. Always they have a positive spin and attempt to incite goodwill in the receiver.
I think we are far enough into the digital era that we can safely presume there is a common understanding of what a Troll is. A person who causes trouble or is just downright rude.
A Pixie is a completely different creature by nature - some descriptions from around the net include -
"Pixies are wee, magical creatures who throw merry parties and shower blessings across the countryside.."
"Pixies may be small, but they are rich in magical power. They often use their powers to bring a smile to the face of a human friend."
"They are beloved for their childlike appearance and bubbly spirits, even though they do play the occasional prank on travelers."
I have compiled a short list of Pixie comments as examples, whilst leaving the Pixie commenters anonymous:
My apologies to those commenters whose examples I have used above who were offering heart felt and sincere comments which I have misinterpreted.
You needn't search wide and far to find examples for yourself.
This shift in behaviours is a welcome one. While the behaviour is not ideal, it certainly is a testimate to the culture that is currently in place throughout the Steemit community, and is certainly a preference people will have over the alternative Troll comments which are common in the majojrity of public internet forums.
Steem on and thanks for stopping by
strapped
