Theymos I need a larger sMerit quota

[LoyceV]

It's kinda hard to enforce a rule to make people receive and send a transaction inside Bitcoin Core. Let's say everyone sent some bitcoins to their own wallets. But then those transactions will be in the newest block so their nodes would have to sync anyway before they could spend it.

It would be a nice addition to do after syncing the node.

And on top of that there is no way to prove which transaction belongs to who

You're currently asking for screenshots, which can just as easily be faked or bought.

This made me realize another "problem": I bet many of the users who took your 14 day node challenge have never even used Bitcoin from their own wallet. That could be another challenge for Newbies, instead of using centralized exchanges to store Bitcoin. But withdrawal fees are ridiculous for many exchanges.

One of the reasons I followed that topic, was because I hoped I could dump some Merit there. But it didn't feel right. I'd say lower the Merit amounts there, most of the posts aren't worth reading.

I will say we shouldn't be over critical of a contest, or try to suggest what others do with their smerits.

I was considering my own sMerits It still feels like a burden to get rid of them.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

Perhaps if you stopped gifting the same users [BPIP] HUNDREDS of merits, then you might just have enough merits to gift those who deserve them.
<snip>
... and your appear to be using blackmail in your trust feedbacks of others:

I don't know about that blackmail accusation, but as far as the first statement of yours goes I see a lot of merits being given to Legendary members who obviously don't need them to rank up--and I'm going by BPIP data.  While it's true that anyone is free to give merits to anybody else, isn't one of the main points of having merit sources to have them help lower-ranking members to rank up?  I'm not saying NotATether isn't doing that at all, nor do I have a problem with him, and I'm certainly guilty of meriting Legendary members, but circulating a big portion of your sMerits amongst Legendaries doesn't really keep the merit machine in motion the way it was intended (IMO).

OP, take that constructive criticism in the respectful manner in which it was given. 

Theymos, while you're at it increasing merit allocations, it will be nice if you get along to adding new merit sources. My application is already a couple of years old, along with the applications of some other members.

Hey Theymos!  Care to drop in and perhaps give us pissants some guidance, thoughts, or anything else regarding the future of the merit system?  Curious minds want to know!

[criptoevangelista]

Perhaps an option to keep away some malicious users would be to have a minimum requirement to participate in the challenge... a minimum of activity or a minimum of merits...

If you check well, you will notice that NotATether is running a challenge of 14 days node running for 14 merits and that is why you see the 14 merits he gave recently.

I count 57 of those transactions since half way January. I followed that topic for a while, and got the impression most users only join to earn Merit. It would have been much better if they actually care about running Bitcoin Core, but I highly doubt it. I didn't read all recent posts, but I haven't seen a single user who actually used Bitcoin Core as a wallet instead of only completing the block download.
One of the reasons I followed that topic, was because I hoped I could dump some Merit there. But it didn't feel right. I'd say lower the Merit amounts there, most of the posts aren't worth reading.

I can't say for others, but I participated in this challenge a few weeks ago and I keep my full node working to this day...

[philipma1957]

While I am not in danger of running out of sMerits any time soon, I am burning merits at a very fast rate and my current allocation is not replenishing fast enough to cover for it.

here are 39 merits

[NotATether]

It's kinda hard to enforce a rule to make people receive and send a transaction inside Bitcoin Core.

Yeh you can - don't give them merits on what appears to be a whim or need to be seen to be *cough* generously handing out merits.

You complain about how the merit distribution is unfair and that Legendary members are giving merits to each other. Why are you bothered by me sending merits to lots of newbies? Actually you should be glad the merit distribution is tilting a little towards the other end.

And on top of that there is no way to prove which transaction belongs to who

You're currently asking for screenshots, which can just as easily be faked or bought.

This made me realize another "problem": I bet many of the users who took your 14 day node challenge have never even used Bitcoin from their own wallet. That could be another challenge for Newbies, instead of using centralized exchanges to store Bitcoin. But withdrawal fees are ridiculous for many exchanges.

Yeah that's true. But I actually accept either screenshots or bitcoin-cli output, since most of these people don't know how to use a terminal.

Although at the end of the day, newbies should not be using exchanges. However, even if I wanted to run a campaign to get those people with large balances - who should have no issues with fees - I don't have enough sMerit to keep both running on a sustainable basis. (Not to mention committing the inadvertent sin of revealing other people's bitcoin holdings. I don't want to imagine what might happen if some crooks used that data for extortion.)

Perhaps if you stopped gifting the same users [BPIP] HUNDREDS of merits, then you might just have enough merits to gift those who deserve them.
<snip>
... and your appear to be using blackmail in your trust feedbacks of others:

I don't know about that blackmail accusation, but as far as the first statement of yours goes I see a lot of merits being given to Legendary members who obviously don't need them to rank up--and I'm going by BPIP data.  While it's true that anyone is free to give merits to anybody else, isn't one of the main points of having merit sources to have them help lower-ranking members to rank up?  I'm not saying NotATether isn't doing that at all, nor do I have a problem with him, and I'm certainly guilty of meriting Legendary members, but circulating a big portion of your sMerits amongst Legendaries doesn't really keep the merit machine in motion the way it was intended (IMO).

OP, take that constructive criticism in the respectful manner in which it was given.  

According to https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/ddmrddmr/viz/BitcointalkMeritDashboard/PersonalSummary, I have only sent 35% of my sMerit to (now) Legendaries. It will most likely be a little less once last week's data is processed. (Also I always try to refrain from sending merit to people who don't need it, even if their post is good.)

here are 39 merits

Thank you very much!

[LoyceV]

I always try to refrain from sending merit to people who don't need it, even if their post is good.

I think this could be a reason to ask for a larger sMerit quota. If you're already sending less to posts that deserve it, those high ranking users can't trickle it down either.

[philipma1957]

I always try to refrain from sending merit to people who don't need it, even if their post is good.

I think this could be a reason to ask for a larger sMerit quota. If you're already sending less to posts that deserve it, those high ranking users can't trickle it down either.

Good point.

[Synchronice]

While I am not in danger of running out of sMerits any time soon, I am burning merits at a very fast rate and my current allocation is not replenishing fast enough to cover for it.

I think that this part of Merit system works really well. 2 merits = 1 sMerit. Yes, it's hard to give merits regularly but at the same time, I think that it motivates people to earn more merits to send more. If we easily give sMerits to people, then they put less work to fill their sMerit quota.

Overall, I think that it will be good if theymos programs Merit system in a way that if someone doesn't spend sMerits on users, they'll get the equivalent merits removed from their profile. This approach should motivate people to be more active in giving away merits. The more active people will be (to genuinely merit those who deserve it), the more sMerit quota will everyone have.

[vapourminer]

Overall, I think that it will be good if theymos programs Merit system in a way that if someone doesn't spend sMerits on users, they'll get the equivalent merits removed from their profile. This approach should motivate people to be more active in giving away merits. The more active people will be (to genuinely merit those who deserve it), the more sMerit quota will everyone have.

i cant speak for other sources but personally i couldnt care less and im guessing some others feel the same.

merit and rank only matters for people who want to earn money in sig campaigns and such. the rest of us? not so much.

[m2017]

While I am not in danger of running out of sMerits any time soon, I am burning merits at a very fast rate and my current allocation is not replenishing fast enough to cover for it.

Perhaps, instead of increasing sMerit limits, you should distribute it more selectively and economically among users? I would like to believe that speed doesn't affect the quality of your distribution.

The solution is obvious: if something is being spent too quickly, then slow down the pace (using it). Otherwise you will have to become a x2 (double) merit source?

You should have called the topic [CHALLENGE] Run A Bitcoin Node: 14 Days To 14 Merits differently, otherwise sending 14 merits will exhaust your limits.

[Aanuoluwatofunmi]

If a merit source demands for more allocation of his monthly smerits, it shows that such user has been fully engaged with the use of the task ahead and needs more to be able to perform better, which i also support the addition of his merits allocation, if not for anything, but the fact that he has been engaging members to learn how to do what will be beneficial to them with the use of bitcoin by running a node, its not about the reward for merits but the profits running a full node challenge will give on every user, i hope Theymos finds this as important and increase base on request.