The real essence of labour is the harvest. In relation to the forum, the beginning stage is not easy as a newcomer needs to be patient. Atleast for a newcomer they should be getting no matter how little some reward for their resources in terms of time and materials. The harvest is the benefit (merit).
The main benefit you can derive from this forum is knowledge. If you can gain a sufficient understanding of Bitcoin, you have achieved your aim of been here. The materials from this forum could help you in your financial and other endeavours. Therefore, don't measure your progress or benefit based on how much merit you get. Merit will definitely come as you make a positive contribution to the forum.
when I started discussing my activities and involvement in the forum to some people around me about it, the next question is," how much have u earned", I was absolutely discourage as I remained mute till date. I was seen as a mentor until they got to realise that no pay until time "proves u worthy".
These days people are attracted to ventures that bring quick profit. People don't give much attention to learning and are not also patient enough to develop themselves. This is why they will always ask for the financial benefit of joining a platform. This get-rich-quick mentality has also been fueled by diverse scam platforms on the internet. Joining the forum is not by force and it is important to introduce only people who have the interest in learning. You should let them know that this forum is mainly for learning, earning from here is a fringe benefit of patience and continuous learning.