Brief story
I started somewhere around February or March last year.
I only used to play CS:GO and visit /r/GlobalOffensive only, since I grew up playing this game, but I'm new to Global Offensive (a year) and trading (February or March). I heard about trading on /r/GlobalOffensive and started watching YouTube videos and lurking this sub.
When I decided to start trading, I found it super fun, and it was like a "treasure hunt" for me. Thing is, I took it as a hobby, and the money part wasn't important at all for me. Some people do not understand that not everyone here makes a living outta trading, because it's really a WEAK business compared to what real life has to offer (I won't get in detail about what my real life job is).
With time (3 months into trading), I discovered how childish this community is and I honestly didn't expect that. I tried my best to avoid conversations with other traders.
Side story: One day, I don't really remember what happened since it was a long time ago, but one of the mods "sent me a warning". I didn't really know how the rules here were back then, but I replied to him, super nicely, and his reply was "stop replying or else!!!!" something like that.
What.
It was the day I realized even some of the mods here are probably under 18 and are childish too, probably think they're running a real life business, or that they're more important than other people. Kim Jong Un style. I ignored it because it wasn't worth my time.
Other than that, though, I was still having fun! Really.. It wasn't that bad before.
I took a long long break somewhere around October, and traded very briefly. I made it all the way from 40 keys to something like 575 keys since I started trading. I cashed 350 keys out and kept 225. I used 75 keys to level up my profile, buy games, and now I have 150 left.
When I came back somewhere around January 2nd, I realized this place has become a big shithole. The quality of the sub is just really bad, mainly because of the downvote shitstorm this place has been getting.
You cannot post something without getting downvoted. If you sell a Dragon Lore FN for 200 keys, you get downvoted.
I dunno what changed since the beginning till now, but I agree, this "treasure hunt" doesn't feel the same anymore. I am probably going to cash out the rest of my keys soon or use them to level up Steam and buy games.
I do not know what the problem is (new users? BOTS?) but I feel like leaving ASAP.
Would I leave this sub for a better place? Yes.
Would I want to leave if it was the same when I started trading? No.