I agree with a lot of what was said here. In the example you provided there was definitely a sense that they were owed something.
However, some of the things you said seemed to be totally divorced from the reality here on Steemit. I'm a little tired of the 'let's just all be positive' bent, just as the 'it all sucks no matter what!' attitude isn't very useful, either. We have to see this platform for what it is, it's strengths and its weaknesses, so that we can as a community guide its development.
nothing is given and no one will give you a vote just because of your pretty face
This is true, but deceptive. You might not get any significant votes just because of your looks or how you share them... but it's definitely a huge help. I don't really begrudge this, it's a reality on any platform and in life.
My issue is that dismissing such advantages makes the use of terms like 'meritocracy' seem reasonable. It is not. If advancement was based on merit, then everyone would start from the same starting place. Same advantages, same tools. From there, those who were better would advance faster. Of course, this is impossible and not how the real world works. Nor will it ever work this way. That's fine. People are responsible for managing this unfairness and making their way, anyway.
However, it's shitty when someone tries to imply that the reason is because you're unworthy. In the case of the contest example you provided, indeed those other kids were unworthy according to the rules of the contest. You didn't state as much, but I assume that when you started the race you all started from the same position at the same time and were required to reach the same finish lane. Life's not like that.
Some people have significant advantages.
That's okay. But it's important to note that not all (and likely not most) people who don't have those advantages are such lazy, unworthy, bums. I don't really think that's what you think, but I think a little of that is communicated in this post and I've seen it elsewhere. It's tempting to just ignore it, but it's important for more posters to have the guts to have opinions that are in opposition to or modifications of those of the powerful here on Steemit.
TL;DR: Yes there are those with entitlement. Yes some are here on this platform. No, being a have-not and finding issue with the culture or platform does not necessarily equal being entitled.