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Typically service oriented work (like curation) doesn't require you to give someone money to make money.

When that does happen, it's often considered a ripoff/scam/sketchy.

The concept of "give money to make money" also applies outside of crypto to pyramid schemes, for profit education, certification courses, and software licensing. They all can be extremely shady operations and it's not hard to find someone screaming about how these things are ripoffs.

The "takes money to make money" mentality in the business world does however make a lot of sense when you're talking about capital, equipment, and hiring. But in a situation where it's about "you" making money providing a "service" (in steemit's case, curation) - being forced to buy in before you're rewarded sounds bad. Some people are against this sentiment.

in order for the capitalist to make money it must be done off the work of others..... in our case we provide a service and by the nature of capitalism unless the owners gain absolutely nothing we can not gain everything we create..... which is making money but not much.....

but thats private property