I don't think anyone is explaining it to them - and I don't think that MOST want to hear the truth. They want the illusion of "I can have a shortcut to financial prosperity and here it is!"

There are so many tutorials and guides and helps and tweaks.... it's completely overwhelming for the few that actually DO want to use the platform correctly. It's sad - it's totally heartbreaking because you're right - had some of the minnows that you mentioned just invested in the platform directly - it would have paid off for them in a real way! But -sometimes people have to learn the hard way. unfortunate - but effective.

I came in Nov 2016. left in March 2017 and came back in Dec 2017?? maybe Jan 2018. Like you - I came back to a different place (and it was getting bad in March 2017!!!) I didn't leave because I was tired of steemit. I left for other reasons, but the fact that it was getting difficult with steemit certainly didn't help.

My point is - I came back and still had to RELEARN so much stuff - and where do you start? who do you trust??? HOW do you know that THIS way or THAT way is the best?

bots have always scared me cuz i'm a control freak. i'm a manual voter cuz i want the power to say who and when and how much. hahaha so I took the time to build...but half the newbies in here don't want to take the time to build!!! and the other half WOULD take the time but they don't know who to turn to and end up getting jaded.

Honestly - HONESTLY. One person told me a very long time ago... (and this was not related to steemit - but related to a seemingly impossible situation that we needed to fix)... he said "Start with one." simple and so profound.

There are enough people who you know in here - that have the same attitude as you. You're not gonna make a post that's gonna have all the minnows swimming your way as their great savior. LOL the steemit ocean is too big.

But if you spoke to the people who know YOU and trusted YOU (in a post directed at them) and really convinced them to start with one, I think that would be the start of a real solution. Find one minnow that looks promising. One that WANTS to contribute, but just needs to be helped a little bit. Help them. That's how change happens. Cuz they will find someone to help. and so on.

I STILL remember my angels in disguise in the beginning. and I still have angels in disguise that are helping me NOW.

It might seem daunting. but it's really not. that's how all change begins.

I do not have any power. lol. none. but that doesn't stop me from talking to other minnows and encouraging them and helping them and pointing the way, connecting on discord, connecting in comments... etc.

you obviously have a way with words. and you obviously have enough of a presence to be seen to get people to interact. so YOU do it lol

rally people to help. don't try to change the system. just start with one.