I really like this post... it's just the kind of thing newbies need to read early on and the rest of us need a reminder of. A sort of 'how steemit really works' guide.

I'd add in - to steemit isn't for everyone....

• If you have socialist leanings, you'll probably find this place a struggle because the people who set it up and set the algorithms* are very wealthy and the system is designed to reward capital investment over creativity.
• If you're a socialist and sensitive to marketing that puts up an ideological smoke screen claiming a system rewards content creation and capital investment equally, steemit's probably not for you.

It makes more sense if....

• try comparing the problems in global society to the problems on here, it puts it in perspective.
• there is some evidence that people as a whole on steemit are actually more community minded (more charitable) than people in mainstream society.
• You keep in mind that many of the people on the trending pages have bought their votes.
• You put your blinkers on and only interact with people in your communities (once you build them) (not sure that's that positive!)
• And yes, lots more!

Whatever the issues are on steemit, and I do have a problem with many of the above, just seeing the workings laid out like they are actually helps and makes it more likely that I'll stay.

If I had more time I'd've organised this comment a bit more coherently (but I work full time and I gtg hit the coal face!)

*actually I don't know who besides @ned runs steemit (no one seems able to tell me) so I'm now just going to keep saying this until one of them comments yay or nay.