Maybe the issue is not about the merit sources, but about the quality of the posters. Every time I have a smerit to send, I look for a good newbie, to try to encourage people making their best to continue this way. I always spend minimum half an hour, if I'm lucky and find someone, which not always occur.

Besides, one of the most confrontational parts of the merit system is that merits are given 1 by 1, the most of the time. I think this make truly difficult to rank-up, so I kind of understand how can a good poster get desperate, for example, ranking-up from member to full member is going to take a while, at least you are a genius (there are few in this forum by the way).
So the actual formula works:
- Low content, merit sources with no one to reward.
- Low merit retribution, 1 by 1, good members will find the ranking system hard.

To the OP, just consider that to be a merit source, as has been told, means recognition and trust, not economical or personal interest. Even if it sounds unbelievable, there are people in here concern about the forum and with the goal of making it a better place for everyone instead of just gaining economical rewards.

You can check out a lot of stats in here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4428616.0  This is a post created by @DdmrDdmr in wich how many people have ranked is detailed.
Also check this, from the same author: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3395255.0
In there, you will be able to see your own and other's merit networks.

Regarding the spam problem, no, there isn't, for the moment, any stats, but you just have to check out Meta or Reputation to make yourself an idea of how big the problem is. In fact, there is in crescendo, but, at least, most of the spammers become now "Forever Juniors", I mean, members with a lot of activity and zero merits.
The merit system is actually working, but just in the sense of the ranking-up problem.

Ok, let's be clear about that because I'm getting tired. I'm not accusing you directly, I'm asking to the community about how legit can be to move a thread to one from another board with the mindset of earning merit.
This is just a discussion about how legit a new action seems, not about you. I'm not accusing you, I don't ask for you to be banned, I just ask a legit question to the forum, that's all.
You are taking this too personal. If someone just disagrees with you it is normal, you don't need to put thousands of deleted posts (by the way impossible to check out), you can explain if you find it legit and why, that's all.
I can't see the drama.
I just found something I did have doubts with and ask to the community, but you are taking it too far, too personal. Relax, chill out!!! I even wrote that I don't think you are a shitposter, I just made a question about a new and strange behavior in the forum.

I will lock the topic now. For my answer is there: to me, if a user is doing that again and again, then I will consider it against the merit spirit but this is (indeed) just a personal appreciation.
The Meta board is about how the forum policies works, as well as other factors. Policies change a lot, so I was trying to get into a debate and to discuss a whole new behavior.
 So just chill. Nobody is attacking you. You are in a forum, and it is probable that some people disagree with you. This is not about ranks or merit awareness, or because we feel more important, this is just a fair question.

Did you get your BTC back?

Take a look at that post: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2356386.0
Your problem seems the same, and in that thread, it was solved.

Yep, OP, only if that address was automatically generated by your electrum wallet and it is in your list. Check it out.

Check this: http://docs.electrum.org/en/latest/faq.html

In there, they explain how to import it.

It's been a while since the last time I used an Electrum Wallet, but if I remember it correctly, Electrum is always changing addresses for security, but you can consult (or must) all your used addresses by typing crtl+A or simply following the Wallet>Adresses in the main menu of the Electrum wallet.
If it does not appear, maybe you can ask Liberty for the address they send the BTC to you and import it into your wallet, for all the generated addresses are under your private key (they belong to you and only you).

Notice I haven't use electrum for a long time, but I had once a similar problem and this is how I solved it.

I don't think so, but notice the post I quoted from the user:



That's why I felt confused, that's all. This is the first time I find something like that.

I don't like the user mindset, for he's explaining to newbies that only high rankers have the change of giving merits, and it doesn't true. Besides, he's writing some threads about how high rankers are judgy and mean, which is not true. That's all. If you don't agree with someone it doesn't mean you're attacking the person, as The Pharmacist pointed out, this is a discussion forum, and we don't need to agree in everything.

The problem is that he's talking about how he moves his own threads in a search of earning merits. That's kind of weird, and alongside with his "high rankers hate feelings", the attitude gets weirder.

Besides the forum there is another great site, the BitcoinWiki: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Main_Page

In there you will find a compilation of articles, even books to download for free, etcetera.

That's the mean matter, and why I told you I do dislike the SWOT post. You are assuming that high rankers own the merit. This is not true, and also it is a proof of your own lack of information (everyone eaerning merits can give merit, it is not about the rank!!!). I have now zero smerits, for I spend a lot of time looking for good newbies and encouraging them to rank-up (if you are curious just check my post history). The problem I have is you are talking about high-ranked members as a kind of "enemy", as if we have all the merits and judge others.
That's not true. For instance, Jet Cash has made an amazing project to help other to rank-up, and he's also a merit source. If we don't like or agree with your posts, It doesn't mean we are your enemy or that we are a kind or tyrants! I have the right of disliking what I want, and it doesn't make me the enemy.

Notice what I said in the thread: "This is the first time I see something like that, and I just don't know how to feel about the matter. The user doesn't seem to be a complete shitposter, but this attitude is kind of annoying to me."

I was just asking about other's opinions, not attacking you. But you have already created a post complaining about "high rankers" just because a couple of us disagree with your attitude: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4542474.msg40888097#msg40888097

You are just taking it too personal.

It is just the first time I see someone moving the threads from one to another board again and again. This kind of behavior is rare, that's all. Also, I do think you are giving ideas for others to do the same by the post I quoted.


I hope too. I'm not an inquisitor and I've never been. On the contrary, I spend a lot of time trying to help good newbies to rank-up, but the explanation of this one is just vague to me.
Maybe this is better if I just put this one into my ignored list,  I just don't like when someone accused others to be mean to them just because they disagree.

It actually has been happening for long by now. Youtube Red is a kind of new "Netflix", if you subscribe you will have access to their original series and movies, as well as being able to reproduce their videos while your phone is out of the youtube, with no announcements, and so.
To a Youtube partner, it doesn't mean your channel getting demonetize. You can continue being a partner even if you have not the Youtube Red service, and your videos are still going to be monetized.
The recent policies on the youtube changed how your videos get monetized:
- Now you will need 1000 subscribers.
- And more than 4 hours of total time in views.

That's all.
I don't think they are going to ask for all the creators to subscribe into a Red account, for, as it has been said, the youtube partners creators are making content and youtube earn a lot with their efforts. The only different thing I've recently seen is about subscribing into your channel: the ones with youtube red can ask their own subscribers to pay something, as in Patreon.
Also, your videos have different monetization if the views are coming from a normal user or a "Red" one. The second ones gives you more money from each view.

Jajajaj, yes I was tempted to put him/her in ignored, but given the strange behavior, I rather prefer to keep an eye, though. I just don't know what to think. It doesn't seem legit, but I would be glad to see other's insight (and then put this one into my ignored list).

Recently I've found a user encouraging others to move their threads from one to another board just in a seek of merits. Actually, the user has done it several times, from alt to beginners, from meta to beginners, and so. The user also explains to others this behavior as a good way of earning merits:


Those are the threads being moved from different boards:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4539295.msg40849895#msg40849895
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4539282.msg40849849#msg40849849
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4505759.msg40565087#msg40565087
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4465566.msg40070451#msg40070451


This is the first time I see something like that, and I just don't know how to feel about the matter. The user doesn't seem to be a complete shitposter, but this attitude is kind of annoying to me.
What do you think? Is moving your own threads all over the forum seeking to earn merits a good attitude?

Seems like a pretty good thread to me, posted on the correct section.  So, here goes my "Maybes":

- Were those images created by yourself? I mean, are those yours, or you took them from another website? Maybe that's the issue.
- Is there any suspicious link on your thread? If you see at the metadata from it, there is this message along with your images: (FORUM: disabled on this page for security.) Maybe the source of the images is not considered safe?

Maybe is just because the mods are humans and they make mistakes too.
Anyway, it is better to wait and see what the moderator has to say.

Thanks for that. I strongly believe this is one of the most important advice you can give to others. There are too many users in here joining bounties and spamming all over the forum with these kind of nonsenses as "Bitcoin to the moon".


Seconding this one, please just read. Sometimes I've tried to give merits by a giving-away-merits-thread, but most of the people didn't bother to read the rules, it is annoying and kind of sad. One is really willing to award merits and there is nothing but frustration as a result.

I would add:
- Do not plagiarize. There are many people in the forum trying to earn merits and they just copy-paste a good article thinking they are going to earn some. Well, this is against the rules and they can get banned from the forum permanently.
- Do not care too much for merits. There are many people really obsessed with merits, and the common result is to obtain zero.


Thanks for the thread, OP, and congrats.

I get the point, but I do dislike too much this attitude from the user:

He/she is moving and moving the created threads in a search for merits and encouraging others to do the same... at the end of the day all the user is seeking is to earn merits. I don't know why I just don't feel it appropriate. Also, encouraging the people to move their threads from one to another board just for gaining merits, is kind of annoying. That's why I didn't merit the user, the threads are not awesome and even this one has been moved in the user's will of gaining more and more merits by doing so.

I don't get the point of this thread, to be honest. It is just repeating and repeating all that has been said again and again in the forum, and it is just unnecessary to repeat it again. The perspective you used, this "SWOT" mechanism also says nothing, there is zero contribution.
If you want to understand how the merit system network is actually working and take a far more profound vision of the system, I recommend for you to read these posts:
- https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4428616.0
- https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3395255.0

Both are a really beautiful image of the merit system and they mean a true contribution to the forum.


Sounds interesting 

Because fear means control. If you can make the people to be scared of a "probable" war, then they are going to be unable to think about anything else.
Besides, probably the society will approve their country to spend a massive amount of money on weapons, one of the most profitable markets worldwide. A war is an economical exercise where the industry is dedicated to creating a war in some other country and then to sell the weapons, so they make a lot of money.
Putin has been into the "war speech" for years by now. By creating a new power, nuclear in the Russian case, they are mind-controlling other countries.

I have to say it is "Orwellian" to me: "The war is peace", used to write Geroge Orwell, based on the principle of the fear as a mechanism of mind-control.
Maybe he was too right.

Totally agree. Somehow, the repeated questions seem to be a result of the messy state of the beginner's board. Maybe giving an alternative for those who really want to learn is a nice step.
But I do think this should be a sub-board in beginners and help, it will be easy for them to find some useful guides if they have it on a board with that name.

This is my very favorite part:

"How to solve the problem?
Users can either trade Merit (send it to each other) or buy old accounts of people who no longer use Bitcointalk and want to sell them.

How ever these same old users are poisoning these type of deals by giving fake negative trust points to these people. They are really ready to do everything, in order not to take any more new people into their little club."

So he's talking about:
- Encouraging people to trade with merits.
- Encouraging people to buy accounts.

Man, you are just lazy. That's all. You want us to put for you a red carpet so you can become legendary in a week. The whole "article" is full of nonsense and non-truth.
For instance: I don't know if you are aware, but trading with merits is against the rules. So stop encouraging people to do that.
Besides,  when someone receives red trust generally is just with the will of awarding others, there are many hackers, spammers and so in here. Now, you say it is kind of unfair to buy a high-rank account and receive red trust but be conscious: people need years to make their own name in here, of course, it is difficult to believe in some legendary account sold, we don't know who's behind.
Definitely, it has been written by someone truly lazy and with lots of resentment.
That's sad, dude. This is far, very far, of how the forum works. This is just your resentment speaking. But, truly, what do you want? To rank-up in a week? To become a respectable member by encouraging others to break the rules?
Seriously, what' s your problem.