Hive community spotlight #36: Interview with @friendlymoose

3 months ago

This is the 36th edition of the hive community spotlight series! In this edition of our Community Spotlight, we delve into the journey and contributions of @friendlymoose, a dedicated member of the Hive ecosystem. Known for his passion for photography and cycling, @friendlymoose shares insights into his experiences on Hive and his initiatives that foster community engagement.

Who is @friendlymoose

@friendlymoose is a passionate photographer and cycling enthusiast who has actively engaged with the Hive community since the summer of 2020. His love for sharing experiences and connecting with fellow users has led him to create photography contests and contribute to the cycling community, making Hive a more vibrant platform for content creators.

Summary of the Interview

Question	Summary
Discovery of Hive	Found Hive in 2020 due to interest in blockchain and content creation rewards.
Early Challenges	Faced complexity of Hive’s structure and initial lack of engagement but overcame them through community support and networking.
Photography Contests	Started to motivate others to take photos, providing a comprehensive list of contests and hosting the #POBPhotocontest for inclusivity.
Passion Development	Developed love for cycling post-football injuries; long-standing interest in nature and photography.
Advice for New Users	Emphasizes fun, interaction, quality content, and persistence.
Vision for Cycling Community	Aims to make the Cycling Community the go-to space for cyclists on Hive, expanding its reach.
Other Projects	Currently focused on existing projects with potential ideas for enhancing comment appreciation.
Relaxation Methods	Enjoys holidays, cycling trips, nature walks, and photography as relaxation activities.
Final Thoughts	Encourages kindness and support within the Hive community.
Shout-outs	Thanks to @run.vince.run for Strava integration and OCDB for community support; recommends @acidyo for interviews.

Interview with @friendlymoose

How did you first discover hive and what motivated you to stay active till now?

Long before I registered my account on Hive I was already interested in blockchain projects. I invested a small amount of money in some cryptocurrencies in the past, but I discovered along the way that Iâ€™m not a good trader. I didn't have the guts to invest large amounts of money because of that. But the interest in crypto projects remained.
It was in the summer of 2020 that I discovered Hive. What intrigued me was the fact that you could get rewarded in crypto coins by creating content. I really liked this idea, so I decided to register an account.

What I like about Hive is that you can write about any subject you like. There is a community for every subject here. And if there is one missing you can create one yourself. One of the things that motivated me the most is the popularity of photography. Being a photography enthusiast it's cool to see so many photographers, communities and photography contests.

What I also like about Hive is that it continuously develops. There are so many different projects; communities, games, and new initiatives. Never a dull moment.
This is why Hive stays interesting after all this time I'm registered now.

Did you face any challenges in your early days of hive? If yes tell us about them and how you overcame them

Hive is quite complex. There is so much to discover and learn that it can be quite overwhelming in the beginning. You have different communities, Hive tokens, staked and liquid Hive, resource credits, curation, several different public and private keys, multiple front ends, witnesses and much more. That's really a lot of information for a newbie. And I had to find it out by myself back then. I couldn't find a manual that explained it all.
I had the luck that I discovered @TheTerminal Discord channel with so many helpful people. I really learned a lot there. I would recommend every newbie to go there. With a special thanks to @thekittygirl and @brittandjosie (Where did @brittandjosie go by the way? I noticed her last post is from April 2024)

Another thing I faced was disappointment about the lack of reactions on my posts. I did receive some nice upvotes on my blogs every now and then, but when I didn't get any a lot of reactions. And when you've put a lot of effort into a post that can be really demotivating.
I overcame this by growing my network. I started following interesting users and commenting on posts. Besides that I just kept on creating blogs. As my number of followers grew (recently passed reached 1000 followers) I also received more comments on my posts.
But commenting is still a thing that can be improved on Hive.

You publish regular photography contests on hive. What motivated this initiative and what do you hope to achieve?
I love photography and I think that photography contests are a great way to motivate people to go out and take photographs.
And there are quite a few cool photography contests on Hive. I always found it quite hard to follow them all, so that is why I decided to gather them in a weekly overview.
Every photocontest on Hive (at least, the ones I know of) are in the list. And if I miss one or more; please let me know! Check out #photocontests for the posts.

Apart from that I've been running my own photocontest for a while too now. The #POBPhotocontest started out as a promotion for the POB community and tokens.
The POB community isn't very alive anymore at the moment, so I didn't succeed with that
But the #POBPhotocontest is. I wanted to create a different photocontest than the ones that already existed. I mainly wanted to make a photography contest that is accessible for everyone; both professionals and amateurs, so I did. And the #POBPhotocontest is still active after 131 rounds!
I always try to choose subjects that are accessible for everyone. The contest is not only focussing on photo techniques and high quality photographs; creativity is also very important. My main goal with the #photocontests is to make people go out and have fun while shooting photographs and getting better along the way. And I think that is working well since the contest often has quite a few contestants.

How did your passion for cycling, nature and photography develop?

I've been riding bicycles from a young age. That's quite normal when you are born in The Netherlands. But I developed the love for cycling when my football career was coming to an end. A couple of injuries made me look for a sport that had less impact on my knees. And that is when I bought myself a road bicycle.
My passion for photography has always been there. I like being in nature and like taking nice photographs of interesting things that I can share with others.

What advice would you give to new users who are just starting their journey on hive?

Have fun! Follow people that post interesting stuff and interact with others. Grow your network and post in the communities you like. Make sure you create quality blogs that add value to the platform. And last but not least; be persistant! Growing your account and your network takes time, but it will pay off!

What's your vision for the cycling community on hive?

From the start I've been trying to make the Cycling Community the place for all cyclists on Hive. And I've noticed there are quite a few of us on Hive. When I started the community it was difficult to draw the attention of the cyclists. Many were posting in other communities. It took some time, but the number of subscribers is over 500 at the moment. But I still think there are cyclists on Hive that don't know about the existence of the Cycling Community. So there is still work to be done.
If there are any cyclists reading this; be very welcome!

Are there any other projects you're involved in? Tell us about them!

I think I have enough projects for now
Although I do have some ideas to improve the appreciation of comments on Hive; a problem I mentioned earlier. But that is still in an early stage. Ill create a post about that when it becomes more clear.

What is your favorite way to relax and unwind?

Oh, I have many ways. I dont really have a favorite. I like going on holiday, but I also relax in between holidays
I like making cycling trips and enjoy walking (preferably in nature) and taking photos.

Any final thoughts or messages for the hive community? Or anything else you want to share?

Be nice to each other.

Are there any Hive users or projects you'd like to shout-out or recommend for this interview?

I would like to thank @run.vince.run from the @strava2hive app that allows cyclists to automatically create posts in the Cycling Community from their Strava rides.
I also would like to thank the OCDB community incubation support. Many communities (like my Cycling Community) benefit from this support.
I would recommend interviewing @acidyo
He's from ODBC, is developing a game (Holozing) and also participating in a new project @commentrewarder

Thank you so much @friendlymoose for the honor of having you. Thank you for the great work you're doing to keep our hive community thriving. Hope to see me of you 🌺

Project/Community Highlight

One of @friendlymoose's notable initiatives is the #POBPhotocontest, which aims to create an inclusive environment for photographers of all skill levels. By focusing on creativity and accessible themes, this contest not only encourages participation but also fosters community spirit among photographers on Hive. Additionally, his efforts to compile and promote a comprehensive list of photography contests showcase his commitment to enhancing engagement and collaboration within the community.

Conclusion

@friendlymoose exemplifies the spirit of Hive through his dedication to photography, cycling, and community building. His initiatives and insights not only enrich the platform but also inspire new users to engage and contribute meaningfully. As Hive continues to evolve, contributions like his play a vital role in shaping a supportive and dynamic ecosystem.

🌺🌼🌺