I've been in STEEMIT for almost a year and I won't need more than three fingers to tell you the times when I got voted by what we consider a whale.
SPECIAL NOTE: This statement does not include the greedy newcomers that come to STEEMIT just looking for money!
It is confusing, disappointing, sad, and it honestly SUCKS! who are we kidding?
I read somewhere (I think the white paper) that when you vote a high profile STEEMIT member with lots of money and STEEM POWER or better known as WHALES, you have a much greater chance to get CURATION REWARDS and it is true. The sad part comes when you are the only one UPVOTING them and never even receive a comment back for commenting on their posts; it makes you feel like a SLOT, like a parasite since they know and they feel very important that they don't have to do anything. You are the one who needs to upvote them and comment if you want to get rewarded.
This is by no means a complaint on how the STEEMIT algorithm works; I'm sure 
How can we change that part of the STEEMIT culture, what can we do to reach to the HUMAN side of a WHALE?
Everything I suggest you guys doing, I've done during ten months and unfortunately nothing works.
I've UpVoted several of them, I'm following several of them. I constantly comment on their posts and the most I barely get is a thank you, but no vote.
So I came up with a solution. We the SMALL FISH need to stick together and take care of one another. Do not be afraid to vote, to comment, to share each other contents.
BUY STEEM on every chance you get; send it to your STEEMIT wallet, turn it immediately to STEEM POWER and keep posting so your voting power keeps increasing.
Find WHALES that support the newcomers and support them back. I want to believe that there are more GOOD WHALES that the SELFISH and ARROGANT ones. Spot the good human beings in whale customs. They will pull you to where they are and push you forward.
"Humans are naturally good" as Earl Nightingale said. Our duty is to find that goodness in people and nurture it.
We have to stay happy and positive. Remember, the law of attraction says that "all the human thoughts will eventually materialize".
Do good, do good and keep doing good. KARMA IS A BITCH. I hope you never have to find that out.
