With the right explanation, newbies will understand. I myself was roped into steemit because of its monetary opportunity. But I realised that monetary shouldn't be your main reason to be on steemit.
We need to contribute in adding value to our fellow steemian lives. In any way, you could possibly think.
Thank you for sharing.
Agreed @papanog. Steemit is like an ocean, so much to learn from others experience. I get new recipes, tips and even valuable reviews from other Steemians postings. The money is just a bonus if people upvote. I think people feel that effort should always equate to value and in this case, since they are on a platform that pays them when they contribute, they expect to get it always. Its all about setting the right expectation so you dont get disappointed.