Sort:  

If you genuinely want to grow on Steemit, then the first thing you need to learn is to be polite. Even if your content is amazing, but you are rude or biased, people will hesitate to follow or upvote you.

You can read beginner guides and help posts like this one to make a careful and calculated start.

Will do! Thanks.

The reality is that as 'one' there is very little which can be done other than to do precisely as I currently do and as @simplymike suggested... and that is to focus on the good content and give it all the support you can. But it doesnt change the fact that what I have outlined is still a massive problem around here... and perhaps given time and support, initiatives like mine and that of the proposed dolphin council will actually start to make an impact... I hope.