Bitcoin Forum

Hi, guys. I just wanted to share my thoughts with you.

First when I saw the merit system I got frustrated because I was 4-5 activity points from getting to the next rank.
Then I thought about and felt like this would be a good thing because it didn't just make other people create more quality posts, but it also encouraged me to do the same.
In the same time I also felt like this would help controlling the account farming at some level. If they want to rank up, then they need to create more quality content, if not they will not rank up. So a win-win situation.

After three days of testing it, what is my experience?
I startet creating quality posts with great feedback. A lot of people commented it helped them out a lot and that they really appreciated it. Someone even commented that one of my posts should be a sticky post. Please take a look at some of my latest threads if you don't believe me.

So, how much Merit did I earn through these days while posting lengthy quality posts with great feedback? I earned 1 merit.
Is this how the Bitcoin talk team wanted it to work? It will be hard for me to reach a higher rank if it will continue like this.

It's no different learning about and discussing bitcoin as a member than it is a Jr. member.  :)

I wrote about this earlier. People who create good content and do not receive a well-deserved reward will be disappointed.
Will they continue to fill the forum with high quality messages?
I propose to improve the merit system https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2851171.0 (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2851171.0)
Plz give a feedback, maybe our opinion will be heard

I think one problem you may have is making identical posts on multiple boards.

I believe it is best to have a primary post, and post a link to it in other threads if it is relevant.

It is when you want to participate in Bitcoin talk signature bounty campaigns for ICO's. Other users will get paid more stakes than I will for the same amount of work.



Thanks, I'll remember that for the future. I didn't know it would be a problem since I just wanted to reach a wider audience and my topic had a general topic. Thanks for the tip!

The forum is full of topics like:

• How Do You Feel About This New System??
  
• Merit working as it was intended or not?

• how you guys think about MERIT ?

[/li][li]Is merit system showing positive effects ?[/li][/list]

• MERIT

[/li][li]When do YOU think you will level up on merits?[/li][/list]

• The advantages and disadvantages of the new merit system

etc

The system already exists and functions. Many users dont like it. But no one is proposing an alternative or improvement. The only idea is to replace +Merit to Merit button on a message.
I assure you. I'm not spamming. I read the forum, suggest improvement and ask for your opinion.

I do this only in branches with a discussion of merit in order to attract people who are interested in this topic.[/list][/list][/list][/list]

After looking at your posting history, I noticed you have copy and pasted quite a lot of your original post into many different sections on this forum in order to increase your chances of obtaining merits from users, as a reminder, it is against the forum rules on your action, I would advise you to delete those duplicated posts as soon as possible as your account might face a ban from the moderators.

Actually the idea of merit system is good it aims to acknowledge individuals who make such quality posts which are most of the times being neglected by others. It will also lessen those spammers since their post quality needs to be improve to increase their ranks but in such cases merits has been abused by other since the requirement is quite big they need to beg from some friends for merits and this will not make the essence of merits work properly.

If you look at the recent stats  in this link -
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;stats=recent

It is clear that the merit system is not working as intended, or if it is, then it is taking Bitcoin Talk into a new direction, and I find it difficult to see any advantage in this.

I didn't do it to receive more merit, but to reach a wider audience since it was a general topic. I will try figure out how to delete my topic or edit the post with a link instead.

Edit: Fixed now

Yes, the idea in theory is something I support, but I have experienced how hard it is to earn merit points even with posting quality posts with great feedback, so it's not working very well.

It is good that you fixed the problem on the duplicated posts issue, glad I can be of help to you on learning some basic forum rules you need to take note of.

Well someone giving someone else 1-2 merit points won't make that much of an impact, but I'm sure mods have some way of preventing spamming of merit points or unleast a way to punish it. Also, I'll let it go on for a months or so, only to promote the merit system. People aren't used to it but surely the new system will take it's course and stay with it.

I have just given a look and the first post which caught my attention because it got 10 merits is this one:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=857670.msg29273301#msg29273301

Hm, left me quite speechless. So I've checked further and the next big deal was this 50 merits post:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=857670.msg29212439#msg29212439

Ouch! I went on with the next two digit merit - 10 merits for this:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2047435.msg29272347#msg29272347

Well, you can judge it yourself. I find it totally average. Let's see the next two digit post is a 10 merits + 10 merits post:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=178336.msg29262972#msg29262972

Ahem...

At which point I gave it up.

Conclusion: I am still optimist about the new system, because at some point people will run out of zMerits and people who make a bad use of them will not become merit sources for sure. But will the merit sources be able to keep the merit flowing? Will they be enough? That's the next big question and challenge.

So far the merit system works as it was intended for I've seen good quality post that are given merits another thing is that people become active now in making quality posts hoping it will received the merit they need and want. Merit is really good I'm just afraid others may manipulate it just to get the opportunity to ranks up by using their popularity or like alts to collect the required merits.

When I checked the stats that a user's linked into this thread earlier today, not much merit was given actually. And I think some of my posts hold high quality, but still only 1 merit.

I think it's still too early to tell if this new system works for its purpose. People with multiple account can manipulate to send from their account 1 to account 2, as there is still no rule regarding that. But as for me, this motivates me to post a constructive one.

But as you can see, it's not so easy to have merit. Even you have a good post, many people ignore the merit system. Based on what I observe, they need to go in "merit thread what ever" just to make some noise for their long post (looks like story post) using their link provided. How cruel life is...

Just do our very best to make a quality post even no one gives merit. Its like being honest when everyone’s can’t, just relax, take it easy and you will surely get some merit. I hope for the best in the future and this new system will surely works well for everyone.

I think because of this new merit system, every users now is making high quality post and it lessened the number of spammers which are the main purpose of this system. They are trying their best to create a posts that are constructive, useful and informative hoping to earn some merit for them to rank up and be qualified to a signature campaign. But sometimes even they did their best they can't earn one merit from their post, maybe because their post was overlooked since there are lots of posts out there, or maybe the quality of post did not pass to the standard of some readers and/or maybe they don't like their ideas or they have different ideas.

I think Merit system is working fine like it was inteded by Theymos, because as i browse more and more in different threads i can see the eagerness of somepeople to improve their post, although there are still one liner with no sense, there are quite many good post out there. So im very positive that this merit system will do its work to encourage every member to pursue a good quality of post.

Merit seems working same as that has been generated for, with all the efforts from the users to give quality contents it is clear. As the user can't rank up until he doesn't reach the required merit. This is the thing that has made the merit system work as it is intended. If it is same as the trust rate, none could gave given consideration to it.

If the goal was to increase the level of the discussions, I feel like it's working well. I'm seeing a lot more well-thought out posts, and more people seem to be genuinely trying. It also penalizes account farming, because they will have to try to create quality posts for multiple accounts to rank up.

However, it also seems to have created a rank-up barrier for regular users, which I don't think was intended. Here's what theymos had to say about it on another thread:


I bolded a part for emphasis. The scenario he described clearly isn't happening at the moment, but let's just give it time. He's willing to make adjustments as well, so I'm sure this wouldn't be a problem for newer users in the long run.

Absolutely, don't mind about merit system. As long as you enjoy adding ideas with others while learning too is good. Just enjoy interact from different rank, cause even low rank than me have a bright idea that you never expect.

The original intention of this system is good, but the current results can not be fully concluded. Forums need high-quality posts, but also need to expand influence, increase fresh blood, universal access.