This seems to be the hot topic of debate on steemit. I think it arouse when we changed the voting power default to 10 a day instead of 40. Now a vote takes 2% of your power each and users are more hesitant to randomly upvote others posts. Since they only have so many votes, it makes sense that they will gravitate towards voting for themselves. You can vote for yourself with less power but then you have to do it after the post is made and most of us (myself included) just leave the upvote post box checked off and post. Maybe we can add an option under the posting menu that people can change their voting percentage for their self-vote before they post but I do not know how many people would us it.
The main point I want to make with this post is that we all need to be respectful. People are allowed to self-vote, like it or not, so please do not attack anyone who does it, even if they choose to make 40 comments and upvote them all. I know you do not like it, but it is part of the system and since it is their voting power, they can do with it as they with. If you think it is a problem, then we need to make system changes to stop it. Maybe you can only upvote yourself 5 times a day or your voting power becomes less each time you do. But I am always hesitant for these kind of changes as limiting users in any way can push people away.
We also need to keep in mind the benefits that self-voting has as people are more inclined to buy and keep steem if it lets them vote for themselves and get their content seen. Maybe changing the voting power to 2x instead of 4x and give 20 votes might balance the system more. We need a system where people can take care of themselves and help others. You cannot just expect people will behave in a certain way and the best way is to encourage the type of activity you want is to have the network benefit those activities.
What do you think?
*my upvotes/rep disclaimer: https://steemit.com/steemit/@whatageek/my-steemit-account-where-i-stand-on-bots-self-votes-and-multiple-account