Bitcoin Forum

I'm thinking about posting a FAQ sticky about everything you need to know about forum activity since we get half a dozen threads every day asking the same things like "how do I rank up" or "why is my activity stuck" etc. What I want to know is is there anything I've missed that gets asked and should I also include other frequently asked questions about the forum or just keep it to activity/ranks? If you have any suggestions for both please share them.

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Forum activity:

The way activity is calculated is complicated to understand, but simply put you can only get 14 activity points every two week period. This is basically all you need to know but I will explain the intricacies and technicalities of the system below to avoid any confusion:

★ You can only get 14 activity points every fortnightly period.
★ The fortnightly periods are fixed and do not start when you sign up.
★ A list of all the dates of the activity periods can be found on this spreadsheet  (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12saLhlUoqIdairxzuSPu6EYGrt7FN2lOstO1yDjCEbA) (credit goes to jambola2 (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=148258) for compiling it).
★ You can technically get more than 14 activity in two weeks if you sign up between periods.
★ You only need to make at least one post in each activity period to be able to collect the activity at a later date. For instance, you could make one post in three different periods and you would then have 3 posts and 3 activity, but a potential activity of 42. Once you made the 42 posts you would then have 42 activity but no more. If you made one post in 35 different periods you would then have 35 posts and 35 activity but a potential activity of 480. That means you would be a Junior Member but if you made the full 480 posts you would instantly become a Hero Member.
★ If your post count eclipses your activity by 14 or more then you will only need to make one post in the new period to get the full 14 activity. For instance, your post count is 200 but your activity is only 28. To get another 14 activity you will only need to make one post in the new period and you will then have a total of 42 activity.

Ranks and activity:

Brand New: 0 posts
Newbie: 1-29 activity
Jr. Member: 30-59 activity
Member:   60-119 activity
Full Member: 120-239 activity
Sr. Member: 240-479 activity
Hero Member: 480 activity
Legendary: Somewhere between 775 and 1030 activity

Here is a table of the activity periods and time it will take you to achieve each rank:

1 X 14 = 14
2 X 14 = 28
3 X 14 = 42  ---  Junior. Member (1.5 month)
4 X 14 = 56
5 X 14 = 70  ---  Member (2.5 month)
6 X 14 = 84
7 X 14 = 98
8 X 14 = 112
9 X 14 = 126  --- Full Member (4.5 month)
10 X 14 = 140
11 X 14 = 154
12 X 14 = 168
13 X 14 = 182
14 X 14 = 196
15 X 14 = 210
16 X 14 = 224
17 X 14 = 238
18 X 14 = 252 --- Senior Member (8.5 month)
19 X 14 = 266
20 X 14 = 280
21 X 14 = 294
22 X 14 = 308
23 X 14 = 322
24 X 14 = 336
25 X 14 = 350
26 X 14 = 364
27 X 14 = 378
28 X 14 = 392
29 X 14 = 406
30 X 14 = 420
31 X 14 = 434
32 X 14 = 448
33 X 14 = 462
34 X 14 = 476
35 X 14 = 490  ----  Hero Member (1.3 years)
36 X 14 = 504
37 X 14 = 518
38 X 14 = 532
39 X 14 = 536
40 X 14 = 550
41 X 14 = 564
42 X 14 = 578
43 X 14 = 592
44 X 14 = 606
45 X 14 = 620
46 X 14 = 634
47 X 14 = 648
48 X 14 = 662
49 X 14 = 676
50 X 14 = 690
51 X 14 = 704
52 X 14 = 718
53 X 14 = 732
54 X 14 = 746
55 X 14 = 760
56 X 14 = 784  --- Legendary rank (2 years)

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Activity FAQ:

Why is my activity stuck/not moving?

Because you can only get 14 activity every two week period. You will have to wait until the next period starts to get another 14.

Why has my rank/activity not updated?

It can take up to an hour to update. Just be patient.

Can activity or my rank decrease?

Yes. It can only decrease if you have all the posts you made from a particular period deleted or the threads you posted in trashcanned. If you do it's possible to drop rank until you have enough activity again.

Can I get more than 14 activity in two week period?

No. However, you can technically get more than 14 activity in a fortnight if you sign up in between periods, but you can't get more than 14 activity in a fortnightly period. For instance, if the period starts on a Wednesday and you sign up on Tuesday you can get 14 points on Tuesday and another 14 on Wednesday providing the period has started. You will then have 28 activity points but won't be able to get any more until two weeks' time when the new period starts.

What happens if I miss a period?

Nothing. You just won't get that activity and you miss that activity forever. Just make sure to post in the next period to get another 14.

Why can't I change my avatar?

You need to be a Full Member and up to be able to have an avatar.

When do I become Legendary?

You will become Legendary randomly somewhere between 775 and 1030 activity.

Does time spent online count towards activity?

No. It counts towards absolutely nothing and is a meaningless statistic.

Do only certain boards or posts have to be a minimum character length to count towards activity?

No. All boards and posts of all length currently count towards both.

If I create an account and leave it for x amount of time will I become a higher rank when I return?

No. You will still be a newbie. Activity measures how active you are on the forum and is to prevent against lazy account farming. If you do not make at least one post in each period then you will not get that activity. 

Why can't I post images?

Because you need to be a Junior Member to do that. To become a Junior Member you will have to have posted in three activity periods and have at least 28 activity. However, you can bypass these restriction by buying a Copper Membership for a small fee here (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2385104.msg24371150#msg24371150).

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So is there everything else I missed or any corrections? I wan't to try keep the info as simple and digestible as possible to avoid confusion and further questions.

This is pointless unless you instantly trash those threads on sight.

After quickly going over it, it seems very well laid out and written. I'll have to take a closer look to spot something, but my main point was above.

That's the plan. I should have said. I'm also going to propose to theymos that all new users who sign up here are greeted by a welcome message urging users to read the rules and provide them with links to this sticky amongst others so they don't need to ask these questions. There will be no excuse for ignorance then.

I like the idea of adding other FAQ since you already included few of them (based on this thread (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1259439.0)) but by doing so, I'm afraid the longer the list gets, less users are going to read it (perhaps just have FAQ thread included in the welcome message too, even if it's not a sticky thread).

Yeah, probably best having separate ones for each as activity alone is quite complicated and the longer these threads are the less likely users will read them or take it all in. On the welcome message I think there should just be a handful of bite-sized 'golden rules' with also links to further explaining the rules and technicalities of the forum in more depth that users can read. Stuff like don't post ref links, don't copy and paste, and don't beg/ask for donations can all be included in the welcome message/golden rules but everything else can just be included in mprep's thread (which will also be linked).

I agree to add this if the moderator(s) lock/trash the threads actively.

That's a very good idea, it will help to reduce the unwanted threads started by the newbies to know about the above mentioned sticky details. More such initiatives should be taken in order to make this forum clean and relevant.

I support the idea and my fingers thanks you hilarious for this topic since they don't have to write too much any longer  ;)

Edit : i will edit this if needed/have new ideas.

See, this is exactly what I was looking for. If you simply erase every redundant thread that pops up, you can stuff it into the ground. No longer will ignorant users create threads and you won't have excuses for what I assume are 'fake threads' created by signature spammers that want to artificially generate an easy topic to reply to.

Call me paranoid, but I have a strong feeling that a lot of newbie threads are just created by people who are trying to get in some extra posts easily by responding to an easily-answerable thread.

There will be some of that no doubt, but I think the vast majority are just lazy idiot kids who can't be bothered searching for anything so they just ask. I mean, what better way to rank up their account and get an extra post in the process because reading certainly doesn't get you any where and they need everything explaining to them. If we have some sort of introduction/welcome post that has links to all the rules and commonly asked questions about activity and ranks etc then they really have no excuses. If they sign up and ask the same questions then that shows you that haven't read anything and their thread can go in the trash. If we want to be even harsher we could just nuke their account. Maybe people will learn to read the rules then.

Not all the users would read the sticky /article properly, as it'd waste of their time . How about implementing the idea of having a small questionnaire after the user proceeds reading the thread/s? If the users fail answering the questions, they'd be redirected yet again  to the sticky, and the process goes on and on like a cycle. And the questions should be shuffled every time a user enrolls for a better cause. Though the idea seems ridiculous but can it be helpful?
edit :-
Add one more question :-
I have crossed the activity of 775,why am I not in legendary yet?
Answer: Because the activity for a user to become legendary differs from 750-1030.
People tend to ask this question too quite frequently.

I was thinking about something well unrealistic tho.
Forcing newbies to read a sticky FAQ then to answer basic questions correctly. Once they succeed the basic test they can start making topics.

Seems a good idea. I agree with this together with the FAQ. But I'm sure half of them will ignore this message and still post shit.


95% of those posts are. Mostly from newbie to jr member rank do this believing they will get more activity by posting more.

I think this is a good idea and needs to be done on a number of topics in other sub forums. For example technical support should have a sticky regarding low fees and a link to all free/paid accelerators to prevent people asking the same question over and over.

They will be forced to read it upon sign up. If they don't and break one of the golden rules they get banned.


This will be difficult to implement and people will just google for the answers.


That question and answer is already there.

Love the idea and the sticky if that's the case.  What you've written is pretty comprehensive and should suffice for anyone with the "how do I achieve Jr. Member status" question--or anyone with even a semi-functioning prefrontal cortex who's actually interested in reading an answer.  Somehow I get the feeling that these morons just won't do the reading because they're way more interested in posting...but this is definitely progress.  Props, Hilariousandco.
This is basically what I've been thinking as well, and I can't imagine most of them can even read English for shit.

Considering the new PM limits haven't been stickied and are getting difficult for new members to find, you might want to consider adding this information to the thread: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2536728.msg25872334#msg25872334 (Or some variation)


I know you are trying to keep it as simple as possible and avoid information overload, but if you could tone down this information and incorporate it into the existing information then I think it would be beneficial to add it. Possibly add it to the activity timeline.

I'm quite curious - if there is a bug on the forum connected with deleted threads - may it somehow unlock your activity periods?

What exactly do you mean?

If a post gets deleted from a certain period, it shouldn't matter, since you will still have the potential activity for that period, thus shall the activity be rewarded for any other post.

( Unless ofcourse the deleted post is the only post you've made in that period, in which case your potential activity would decrease with 14. ( And depending on the posts you made your "real" activity might also decrease with more then 1?)
^ Someone with more knowledge then me might be able to eleborate/clear this up a bit more.

Should  I include a FAQ section about merit within this seeing as the system is now directly tied in to ranks? Have there been many similar questions asked yet regarding merit or things that people are confused on? If there is post them here and I'll consider adding them.

One that I've seen pop up a few times is people asking whether sending merit comes out of their own earned points.

If you have enough merit, and you give someone merit, and you double click, it gives it to them twice. I don't see that listed anywhere

Yes, but perhaps with the addition of the following table (only) + a link to "Vital Facts and Figures about Merit Point System.(Answers to your Queries) (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2820030.0)".

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Not sure about the "double click" bug, but someone reported a similar outcome through refreshing the page (MERIT BUG (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2821267.0)).

Both bugs are because of the same principle. You're sending the same request twice. Clicking once = 1 request. Refreshing/clicking again = 2 requests.

It's similar to that of giving out trust (try clicking it twice) or double-clicking a report submit button.

Gonna add the following to the Activity FAQ. Is there any errors or anything I've missed that should be added:

What is Merit?

Merit is a new system created in order to reward quality contributions to the forum. Now to rise through ranks you will also need to acquire Merit in addition to Activity.

How do I receive merit?

You are awarded merit by people of the community if they find your post helpful or informative.

How do I send Merit?

There is a +Merit button at the top right of every post. To give merit click on it and follow the instructions.

What is the difference between Merit and sMerit?

There are two types of Merit. You cannot send your merits, just sMerit. For every Merit you receive you will have 0.5 spendable merit to give away as you please.

Can I ask for merit?

There is no need to do this and this behaviour is usually seen as 'merit begging' which is frowned upon by the community and may lead to you receiving negative feedback. Keep making quality, constructive posts and you will surely be rewarded over time.

Can I sell merit?

Selling merit is disallowed.

Can I give merit to my alt accounts?

Well you can, but this is frowned upon and will almost certainly lead to you receiving negative feedback if discovered.

Can I be demerited or lose merit?

No, not currently. Even if your post is removed the merit will still stay.

What is a merit source?

There are a certain number of special Merit sources who receive additional amounts of merit to give away.

How do I become a merit source?

As per theymos' instructions:


Is there a limit on how many merits I can send?

Yes. You can give a max of 50 merit to a user every 30 days.

Merit stats: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;stats

Bump. Any additions?

There was already a thread like this if I remember. The member starting that thread covered most of the questions there. I think that thread is now buried again among these infinite thread being creating everyday about merit system. Here is the link to that thread:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2820030.0

Let's just hope that they will really read it and not go scrolling to the bottom of the page and pressing the "Skip" button. Well if there would be a really  ignorant person that will sign up in the forum, I guess their tendency after reading such is that to post confirmation threads like "Does it really take that long for me to rank up?" and etc.

On the side note, I think that it would still be great to implement this FAQ you're talking about. It may lessen newbies that are frequently creating those topics.

Add, all merit sources should come out as source and let the community know who they are, we all know who DT members are, nobody is bothering them with trust begging, nobody would bother sources either, a link to source's distribution thread in this FAQ should be included.

Here is mine:   
Provide information and receive merits from the most reputable source. (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2992219.msg30768523#msg30768523)
I'm going to torture people before sending them any merit, since I'm not trusted with more than 5-8 sMerits, I will update my thread with a task and would include the same amount of sMerits available as the reward, if people ignore my task, I will spend my source merits on hero members, legendary or staff.

Mention about the possibility of merit decay if merit is received through unfair means or if the merit being hoarded?

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Why not merge FAQ: Everything you need to know about forum 'activity' and ranks (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2766177.0) and Forum ranks/positions/badges (What do those shiny coins under my name mean?) (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=178608.0)? This would reduce the amount of stickies-> more possibility of newbies to read them seeing the lesser number of huge-ass threads.