I’m changing my approach to zaps ⚡️ by upping my default zap amount and shifting my focus from quantity of zaps sent to quality of content zapped (except for during #zapathon of course, where quantity is the goal 🤙).
Why the change? Because I believe the honeymoon phase for #zaps + #nostr is over. We’ve proven zaps work, and while they will get better with additional functionality like splits and zaptags and self-custodial solutions, they are quite functional now in this value for value environment.
Despite #Nostr being new, there are people here already delivering high quality content. If I like what they share, and if I want them to continue sharing it here, then I ought to show them a meaningful amount of support when I consume or engage with their content. Why? Because I like being here instead of wherever else they might be sharing it.
Good content deserves a decent zap when I enjoy it. I’m not a fan of paywalls for this type of interaction because it turns the interaction into a sale, and I’m not very interested in being sold something I don’t even know if I will even like. There are uses for paywalls, but it’s a backwards approach for these types of interactions. #Zaps enable communicating back to someone that their content was appreciated/enjoyed, whether or not they even expected anything in return when they posted it.
Why quality over quantity? Isn’t it better to “spread the pura vida” and just zap hundreds of people 21 sats a time for anything and everything they post? That’s not for me to decide for you, but it is for me to decide for me. I don’t fully subscribe to the idea that zaps should replace likes, because I don’t think it’s natural to add a monetary component to every human interaction. Sometimes a 💜 or 🤙 or 🫂 communicate exactly what is appropriate in that interaction.
Money and time are scarce for all of us, and I consider it more meaningful to focus on giving of my scarce money where clearly you have given to me of your scarce time. A few hundred, or even a few thousand, sats for each of THOSE interactions costs me merely a few cents or dollars of my local currency, and while that is a small amount for me to spare, we all know how good it feels to receive a 3, 4, or 5-digit #zap. Enough of those can actually start adding up to a level of value that makes it worth someone’s time to continue creating and sharing more content here.
If #Nostr is to be a place where people want to give of their scarce time and talent, then it needs to be rewarding in ways that meaningfully encourage them to do so. #Zaps are one powerful way to accomplish this. Of course, people should only zap within their means, and in a way they are comfortable with. Maybe for some that does mean focusing on quantity. That’s for each person to decide.
As for me, I believe I will find it more meaningful to focus my #zaps on the higher quality content and engagement that leaves me feeling like my day was better than it was before. 💜🤙
