Giving and receiving is how I see Steemit work too 
It is flourishing with a giving and receiving approach. I like to upvote on as many posts as I can. Why? Because I personally believe that writers put a lot of effort and energy into post writing and acknowledging through upvoting is the least I can do. It is an easy thing to do if you have some steam power and I have acquired some. To me it is acknowledging effort. I like it when I get upvotes and comments, makes me feel good. It must have the same effect on others.
I see posts without any upvotes, very few upvotes or very little bitcoins earned with the upvotes. I like to make it happen, it's easy, just click on the little green circle.
Steemit is a fun community, I like it. I plan to keep upvoting as many posts as I can. It makes me feel good. The more value my upvoting is the better I feel, the more Steemians get.
Whatever we do in life there is a consequence, good or bad. Or another way to say it is what you put into life is what you get out of life! Plain and simple. It is a two way system.

Cheers