Merit & new rank requirements

[TryNinja]

Is this a bug ? This user has more than enough merits and activity to be a legendary member but his current rank is still hero member.  

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=558519

That user I linked above was just one of them I think there's more of them who have 1000 merits and 770+ activity who aren't legendary.

Required activity:

Legendary: random in the range 775-1030

This user has only 868 activity. He can become a Legendary in the next period or maybe only at the 1022 activity mark. He got 1000 merits by default because theymos thought it was not fair to only give 500 merits to Hero Members who were in the 775-1030 range and could become Legendary at any time.

[aliceayag]

what is the meaning of merit guys .. i'm a newbie here. Thanks

[TryNinja]

So how can I gain 90 merit just to rank up to Full Member..? That means I need 90 unique people to randomly select me out of the thousands of posts they see a day just to rank up? I was under the impression that activity was the only thing that determined rank, which I was thankful for since I could rank up by Feb. 14. Turns out that after going to 126 activity, I get a private message from a user explaining to me that I cannot receive Full Member rank without 100 damn merit. Are you serious? And this was introduced 11 days ago. My fucking luck.

Users can choose to give you more than 1 merit per post. E.g: I have seen posts receiving 5 merits per user.

I get that it is to reduce spam and increase the quality of posts, but holy shit how am I going to get 90 people to give me merit when there are literally thousands of people posting every single day? Doesn't matter if I post extremely high quality posts or not.

It does. Do you see this user? He was just a Member when theymos introduced the merit system (he started with 10 merit), and now he already has 373 merits. You can try to do the same

EDIT: Also why is the merit jump so dramatic from Member to Full Member? 60 activity and 10 merit is required for Member rank, but 120 activity and 100 merit is required for Full Member? Activity is increased by 2x, but the merit is increased by 10x? That makes 0 sense.

It takes 120 days to become a Full Member. Are you saying that you are not capable of making 100 high quality posts (or even less if you receive 2~5 merits in some posts) in 4 months? The system was designed to separate spammers from good users. it was not meant to be easy.

what is the meaning of merit guys .. i'm a newbie here. Thanks

Wtf? You're in a thread called "Merit & new rank requirements" and you come here asking "what is merit"? Everything is explained above. Can you even read?

Keep up with that shit and you will never get any merit/rank up.

[Decimation]

So how can I gain 90 merit just to rank up to Full Member..? That means I need 90 unique people to randomly select me out of the thousands of posts they see a day just to rank up? I was under the impression that activity was the only thing that determined rank, which I was thankful for since I could rank up by Feb. 14. Turns out that after going to 126 activity, I get a private message from a user explaining to me that I cannot receive Full Member rank without 100 damn merit. Are you serious? And this was introduced 11 days ago. My fucking luck.

Users can choose to give you more than 1 merit per post. E.g: I have seen posts receiving 5 merits per user.

I get that it is to reduce spam and increase the quality of posts, but holy shit how am I going to get 90 people to give me merit when there are literally thousands of people posting every single day? Doesn't matter if I post extremely high quality posts or not.

It does. Do you see this user? He was just a Member when theymos introduced the merit system (he started with 10 merit), and now he already has 373 merits. You can try to do the same

EDIT: Also why is the merit jump so dramatic from Member to Full Member? 60 activity and 10 merit is required for Member rank, but 120 activity and 100 merit is required for Full Member? Activity is increased by 2x, but the merit is increased by 10x? That makes 0 sense.

It takes 120 days to become a Full Member. Are you saying that you are not capable of making 100 high quality posts (or even less if you receive 2~5 merits in some posts) in 4 months? The system was designed to separate spammers from good users. it was not meant to be easy.

I've made over 20 posts since the merit update and have received exactly 0 merit from anyone. Go through my posts if you want, they are better than most peoples. Obviously here and there are some that didn't have much thought put into them. But most of them are HQ.

[utlptc]

So how can I gain 90 merit just to rank up to Full Member..? That means I need 90 unique people to randomly select me out of the thousands of posts they see a day just to rank up? I was under the impression that activity was the only thing that determined rank, which I was thankful for since I could rank up by Feb. 14. Turns out that after going to 126 activity, I get a private message from a user explaining to me that I cannot receive Full Member rank without 100 damn merit. Are you serious? And this was introduced 11 days ago. My fucking luck.

I get that it is to reduce spam and increase the quality of posts, but holy shit how am I going to get 90 people to give me merit when there are literally thousands of people posting every single day? Doesn't matter if I post extremely high quality posts or not.

EDIT: Also why is the merit jump so dramatic from Member to Full Member? 60 activity and 10 merit is required for Member rank, but 120 activity and 100 merit is required for Full Member? Activity is increased by 2x, but the merit is increased by 10x? That makes 0 sense.

It's true that it is quite impossible to get more 90 merits for being Full Member. I agree with you. It should be 2x OR 3x more. 100 Merits for Full member!!! I can't even think of being a Full Member..lol

[TryNinja]

I've made over 20 posts since the merit update and have received exactly 0 merit from anyone. Go through my posts if you want, they are better than most peoples. Obviously here and there are some that didn't have much thought put into them. But most of them are HQ.

From your last 20 posts:

2 in this thread.
1 complaining about the merit system.
3 in the "Off-topic" board.
9 in your "Selling Lifetime Netflix" thread. (lifetime... rly?)
2 selling LOL rp cards.
1 trying to join a signature campaign.

And 2 in a "Bitcoin Discussion" mega-spam thread.

Do you really think those posts deserve any merit?

[Decimation]

I've made over 20 posts since the merit update and have received exactly 0 merit from anyone. Go through my posts if you want, they are better than most peoples. Obviously here and there are some that didn't have much thought put into them. But most of them are HQ.

From your last 20 posts:

1 complaining about the merit system.
1 trying to join a signature campaign.
2 in this thread.
3 in the "Off-topic" board.
9 in your "Selling Lifetime Netflix" thread. (lifetime... rly?)
2 selling LOL rp cards.

And only 2 in a "Bitcoin Discussion" mega-thread spam.

Do you really think those posts deserve any merit?

Okay, I really hope you realize the "complaining about the merit system" posts were AFTER I originally posted on this thread. And the "trying to join a sig campaign" post was because I thought I was receiving Full Member to apply for the sig campaign which I already stated early in this conversation. Posts in the off-topic board are from your point of view not worth merit? That makes 0 sense considering the off-topic board is very helpful to a lot of newbies. And my sales threads do not count considering I am SELLING services, not providing help to anyone. So therefore your whole comment is basically pointless.

[technerd]

we are only at the beginning we will see with time if this system will manage to raise the quality of posts and reduce spam

Yeah, sure. That's why legendary are sending each other merits, not sharing with anyone else.

In the meantime don't hold your breath. You won't be ranking up any time soon and neither will I.

Uhh... I think I should be offended.

My rank is legendary, and I've tried to distribute what sMerit I get to posts by newer members that strike me as interesting, constructive, or at least well thought out.

Mind you, the system is new and it's NOT habitual to me yet, but I have made the effort. And it appears to me that I am not alone in this.

Bitching by itself will not get you merit, that I can almost guarantee. Bitching with a point, or sharp wit, very well might

Love your reply. It's good you have such a mindset and I honestly wish all big sMerit holders can have the same attitude as you.  It will give this system a hope of achieving what it truly sets out to achieve.

Frankly, I think this system will indeed "raise quality of post and reduce spam", in a good sense (it will not eliminate spam however). I think what genuine people (myself included) are concerned about is the side effect that it will also reduce the number of genuine people ranking up.  Because as I have said previously, this system is a very subjective system.  The very definition of "quality of post" will differ from one person to another.  The level of generosity will differ, as well as the awareness level of each person.  As you pointed out, it's not habitual to you yet; I'm sure this is also the same case for a lot others out there. And outside of a few threads similar to this, I'm not sure if there are equal ratio of sMerits being distributed per post on all the other threads.  (Perhaps there's an analysis already done that I'm not aware of?)

I guess what genuine members are simply hoping is how to get themselves recognized and achieve the ranking that they deserve without being unjustly hit by the system.  That's why there are gripes and rants on this thread.

[FirEaSeA]

I am certain that acquiring 100 smerits is very difficult to achieve even if you spend 5 years posting here so  I hope full would be 30 and senior would be 80.

[wilberthh]

So how can I gain 90 merit just to rank up to Full Member..? That means I need 90 unique people to randomly select me out of the thousands of posts they see a day just to rank up? I was under the impression that activity was the only thing that determined rank, which I was thankful for since I could rank up by Feb. 14. Turns out that after going to 126 activity, I get a private message from a user explaining to me that I cannot receive Full Member rank without 100 damn merit. Are you serious? And this was introduced 11 days ago. My fucking luck.

I get that it is to reduce spam and increase the quality of posts, but holy shit how am I going to get 90 people to give me merit when there are literally thousands of people posting every single day? Doesn't matter if I post extremely high quality posts or not.

EDIT: Also why is the merit jump so dramatic from Member to Full Member? 60 activity and 10 merit is required for Member rank, but 120 activity and 100 merit is required for Full Member? Activity is increased by 2x, but the merit is increased by 10x? That makes 0 sense.

Always remember that you are not the only one with this issue. And above all, I feel your pain. It might take a very long of time for us to rank up in this case.

Legendary: random in the range 775-1030
This user has only 868 activity. He can become a Legendary in the next period or maybe only at the 1022 activity mark. He got 1000 merits by default because theymos thought it was not fair to only give 500 merits to Hero Members who were in the 775-1030 range and could become Legendary at any time.

@Theymos : I support your update. Personally, I think this is the best way to reduce spammers.

But if what TryNinja saying is true, then I'm sorry, but you are being unfair here.
I'm so sorry to ask this, but what about those people who were so close to rank up before this update as well? If what TryNinja stated is true, then you should implemented it to all of those users who almost rank up as well regardless what their ranks are. Or at least give those people handicaps, like I'll take myself as the example:

I supposed to rank up to full member just few more days before this update (112 activity), but suddenly this update comes in and I gotta collect 90 more merits in order to rank up. Exactly the same like the other members rank with "60 activity". I think this is unfair.

Once again, I support this, just askin for a little consideration. Thank you in advance, sir @theymos. Have a great day

[TryNinja]

Okay, I really hope you realize the "complaining about the merit system" posts were AFTER I originally posted on this thread. And the "trying to join a sig campaign" post was because I thought I was receiving Full Member to apply for the sig campaign which I already stated early in this conversation. Posts in the off-topic board are from your point of view not worth merit? That makes 0 sense considering the off-topic board is very helpful to a lot of newbies. And my sales threads do not count considering I am SELLING services, not providing help to anyone. So therefore your whole comment is basically pointless.

Let's check your reply again:

I've made over 20 posts since the merit update and have received exactly 0 merit from anyone. Go through my posts if you want, they are better than most peoples. Obviously here and there are some that didn't have much thought put into them. But most of them are HQ.

1. The merit system was introduced 24 January.
2. You said you have made 20 posts since the "merit update".

Since the merit system addition, you only made 12 posts (which 5 of them are from your Netflix account selling thread). This means that without your sale thread that "does not count considering that you are selling services", you only have made 5 posts + 3 complaining about the merit system. So therefore your whole comment about having received 0 merit for your "20 HQ posts" is basically pointless.

Again, where do you deserve any merit?

[Decimation]

I am certain that acquiring 100 smerits is very difficult to achieve even if you spend 5 years posting here so  I hope full would be 30 and senior would be 80.

Facts.

[Decimation]

Okay, I really hope you realize the "complaining about the merit system" posts were AFTER I originally posted on this thread. And the "trying to join a sig campaign" post was because I thought I was receiving Full Member to apply for the sig campaign which I already stated early in this conversation. Posts in the off-topic board are from your point of view not worth merit? That makes 0 sense considering the off-topic board is very helpful to a lot of newbies. And my sales threads do not count considering I am SELLING services, not providing help to anyone. So therefore your whole comment is basically pointless.

Let's check your reply again:

I've made over 20 posts since the merit update and have received exactly 0 merit from anyone. Go through my posts if you want, they are better than most peoples. Obviously here and there are some that didn't have much thought put into them. But most of them are HQ.

1. The merit system was introduced 24 January.
2. You said you have made 20 posts since the "merit update".

Since the merit system addition, you only made 12 posts (which 5 of them are from your Netflix account selling thread). This means that without your sale thread that "does not count considering that you are selling services", you only have made 5 posts + 3 complaining about the merit system. So therefore your whole comment about having received 0 merit for your "20 HQ posts" is basically pointless.

Again, where do you deserve any merit?

You can sit here all day if you want and discuss with yourself whether or not I deserve merit. My point is, that I was 8 activity away from getting Full Member 2 weeks ago, then this update came out, and now I am months, maybe even years from getting Full Member. This update might be good for some users that are already high up in ranks, but for others, it is nearly impossible.

[TryNinja]

You can sit here all day if you want and discuss with yourself whether or not I deserve merit. My point is, that I was 8 activity away from getting Full Member 2 weeks ago, then this update came out, and now I am months, maybe even years from getting Full Member. This update might be good for some users that are already high up in ranks, but for others, it is nearly impossible.

I see why you are so salty about the new merit system...

I just took a better look at your post history and you basically farmed all your activity points and tried to rank up by making shitposts in the Off Topic board. You sir don't deserve the 10 merits you received to stay at the Member rank. Enjoy struggling to rank up with your shitposts or get better.

This just means that the system is working as intended (shitposts like you will be stuck in the same rank).

Here is the type of posts you make at the off-topic board which are according to you "very helpful to a lot of newbies."

Well, recently a friend of mine took the girl I really liked. Now, I cannot stand any of them.

lol

Now I need to sleep bye

[Decimation]

You can sit here all day if you want and discuss with yourself whether or not I deserve merit. My point is, that I was 8 activity away from getting Full Member 2 weeks ago, then this update came out, and now I am months, maybe even years from getting Full Member. This update might be good for some users that are already high up in ranks, but for others, it is nearly impossible.

I see why you are so salty about the new merit system...

I just took a better look at your post history and you basically farmed all your activity points and tried to rank up by making shitposts in the Off Topic board. You sir don't deserve the 10 merits you received to stay at the Member rank. Enjoy struggling to rank up with your shitposts or get better.

This just means that the system is working as intended (shitposts like you will be stuck in the same rank).

Here is the type of posts you make at the off-topic board which are according to you "very helpful to a lot of newbies."

Well, recently a friend of mine took the girl I really liked. Now, I cannot stand any of them.

lol

Now I need to sleep bye

Hello. Looking for the free mBTC 
Username: TryNinja

Hahaha, you go in my post history and find the least quality one to point out, I can do the same to you moron. The only reason you even post is because of a signature campaign yet you act like you are some god on the forum that is extremely high quality 24/7. Sad 16 year olds these days, unfortunate.

[Biomech]

...and this is why no system works here in Mos Eisley

[freedomno1]

I have not checked the system updates in a while by the looks of it as I just checked and discovered the Merit system
Interesting idea Theymos a mini token system to monitor the quality of the thread that supplements the moderation system.
Let's see how this goes.

[shailkumari]

You can sit here all day if you want and discuss with yourself whether or not I deserve merit. My point is, that I was 8 activity away from getting Full Member 2 weeks ago, then this update came out, and now I am months, maybe even years from getting Full Member. This update might be good for some users that are already high up in ranks, but for others, it is nearly impossible.

Don't you think if the admin feels that the current system is too harsh for the members, he will make some changes. He already ensured that the old members do not suffer otherwise he should have made everyone start from fresh.

[bitgov]

I have not checked the system updates in a while by the looks of it as I just checked and discovered the Merit system
Interesting idea Theymos a mini token system to monitor the quality of the thread that supplements the moderation system.
Let's see how this goes.

For sure we need time to see what the effects of this system will be. But as you have noticed, by some users it can be used as a "token", which can lead to trade, and as a consequence, to the loss of the right value.

[virendarnagpal]

we are only at the beginning we will see with time if this system will manage to raise the quality of posts and reduce spam

Yeah, sure. That's why legendary are sending each other merits, not sharing with anyone else.

In the meantime don't hold your breath. You won't be ranking up any time soon and neither will I.

Uhh... I think I should be offended.

My rank is legendary, and I've tried to distribute what sMerit I get to posts by newer members that strike me as interesting, constructive, or at least well thought out.

Mind you, the system is new and it's NOT habitual to me yet, but I have made the effort. And it appears to me that I am not alone in this.

Bitching by itself will not get you merit, that I can almost guarantee. Bitching with a point, or sharp wit, very well might

Actually I could have been Legendary myself if only I had spammed a lot in these years - we all spam at a certain point, you can't explain in every post the sense of life. There are also "shitposts" like "hey I love that and I love this".

Into the Italian section of this forum there are people complaining about legendary sending merit, frankly I take it for granted, I'm starting to dislike the system and I won't investigate any further since I will just give up "giving my best".
Also I don't like ... licking boots with "hey this sssssMerit rocks".

I'm confused on one thing though. There is this "leitmotiv" going around that merit is going to kill spam.
I find this statement an open defying of logic.
Merit, as it has been show, is just a "like" system, à la facebook, with a substantial difference that accumulating points (that reminds me the points you get on the supermarket to buy a new set of pots or something like that) will make you, eventually, rank up.
In any way that won't prevent spammers from spamming - low ranks can still post, maybe not as fast as they want, but still they can post.
And that won't stop anyone else from posting what is called "shitposts", since there is no "de-merit" (oh crap, now I'm starting to give bad ideas to the administration...).

So, again, what's the point exactly for this ssssMerit system? (I have to make an avatar with Gollum saying "my sssssssMerit", too much fun...)
I'm not being rethorical here. I honestly don't get why the administration had the urge to add something more than just activity.
And activity alone is sufficient to speed down fake accounts.

It is claimed that new merit system is introduced to control spam, low quality, and irrelevant posting system.  Theoretically it is assumed that one person posting a question when gets satisfactory relevant reply may send merit points to the person replying to the question and also some other member can send merit points to the person who replies satisfactorily.   This is named as quality post but it is not so simple, the world is not so merciful  that only on getting or finding nice relevant  reply will give merit points to others.  I think most of the people here gathered to earn some money so selfish interest are the base of everybody’s entry to this forum.   Now what will happen most of the members will be requiring more merit points to improve further his ranking and will be trying to receive merit points.  He will be certainly watching someone else who could give merit points and  on the other hand same will be the position for the other member too so there may be trading between the two, both giving merit to each other’s posts.   Good barter system.
Now junior members like me what they can do under such circumstances.  May be some senior member approaches him to sell merit points for certain amount, so a new business opportunity for senior members having good storage of sMerits.   Jungle (forest) law will apply now only.  Big and stronger eating the weak and the small.  
It is said that quality posts will be rewarded.  But who will decide the parameters of quality of certain post.  Everybody will define the quality standards in his own interest and opinion and knowledge.  
I also fear that this system is started to benefit senior members of the bitcoin.   Because now more  and more people  are joining this  forum and with the old system of promotion many new members will be reaching to higher ranks as a result number of competitors in bounties / campaigns will be increasing thereby decreasing the  earning of seniors already there due to increased competition.  

It is also said that it is a move to stop persons to run various fake accounts which is also beyond understanding.  Law breakers invent more effective tools to break laws; I doubt the forum can be saved from the greed of such people.

Old senior members have been granted hundreds of merit points according to their rankings it is also beyond understanding.  A very senior man who is at this platform active for the last say 4-5 years is holding high rank and is granted say 1200 merits.  He is given just because of his seniority but can we say honestly that his posts were so much high quality and also high quality in large numbers that he deserves for 1200 merits?  No.  But just for his being senior he got it.   What is the fault of juniors than, just one fault joining late by 3-4-5 years.
 
Posts are subjective not objective.  One person may be liking the other may not be liking it.  Two people liking the same reply may not be giving same number of marks to the same reply.  One may be giving 85% while the other may be giving 65%.  So why such a difference in giving  marks to  the reply.  It depends upon the opinion, knowledge, and even mood of the person judging the quality of the post.  A man in good mood (other circumstances being the same) will definitely grant higher marks than the other who is in some difficulty or in sad mood.
I am not against the meriting but I suggest that there should be some objective method adopted for meriting the posts.  A decision taken in haste for the removal of bad elements from the society if harming honest; innocent people should be reconsidered.  A law should be implemented for the well being of the society but justice should be done with all.
If I claim that I tried my best to post the best of my knowledge to the various post there are many knowledgeable people here in the forum who may select one of my post and may prove me wrong, but sir I have to say that I just tried to do justice to my work.  
only God knows whether I will be promoted to the rank of member even; higher ranks have become just dream for me.
Still laughing.  I am of the belief whatever happens ; happens for the good because I am God fearing man.