Merit & new rank requirements

[JayJuanGee]

Hey guys,

I just saw my activity jump up for no reason after making my last post today.

I read somewhere that you only get 14 points max of activity per 14 days. But I somehow got 28 points on my first 2 days of being a member. It was so weird, but at the same time... I was posting volumes in one post.

Then I started posting 4-liners because posting pages in one post got kind of energy-consuming. And that's when my activity got capped at 28 -- I noticed that even if I posted a really long, thoughtful post, my activity didn't go up. All because I posted small posts.

So I think the new theory is that you get activity points based on your posts rather than frequency of posts.

I think the system does a weighing of sorts. Like if you start off posting really long posts, the system won't cap your activity.

And then if you start posting shorter posts, the system cap comes into play because the system thinks you're just trying to farm points.

But it looks like when I started posting again after my 14 days were up, I got a jump in activity, at exactly +14 points.

I'm not sure if that happens to other people, but maybe that's the system weighing my voluminous posts within the 14 days that weren't credited as activity.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

Probably your first few days of forum membership overlapped two activity periods, so therefore, you were able to reach 28 activity points in a very short period of time. 

The start and end of activity periods have preset beginning and ending activity period dates, and those dates are not based on your actual registration date.

[timoshani]

In addition to activity, everyone now has a merit score, and you need both a certain activity level and a certain merit score in order to reach higher member ranks. The required scores are:

Rank	Required activity	Required merit
Brand new	0	0
Newbie	1	0
Jr Member	30	0
Member	60	10
Full Member	120	100
Sr. Member	240	250
Hero Member	480	500
Legendary	Random in the range 775-1030	1000

You get merit points when someone sends you some for one of your posts. Additionally, when someone sends you merit points, half of those points can be sent by you to other people.

Certain users are designated as "merit sources". They can create new merit out of nothing, up to a limited number per month (which differs per source). I will not be posting a definitive list of merit sources (so that people don't bug them too much), though you'll soon figure out who they are if you pay attention.

There is currently no such thing as a "demerit". I'm hoping that the positive merits alone will be fine. I could add demerits pretty easily later on if necessary, though.

I'm hoping that this system will increase post quality by:
 - Forcing people to post high-quality stuff in order to rank up. If you just post garbage, you will never get even 1 merit point, and you will therefore never be able to put links in your signature, etc.
 - Highlighting good posts with the "Merited by" line.

While we will not be directly moderating this, I encourage people to give merit to posts that are objectively high-quality, not just posts that you agree with.

Do not beg for merit excessively.

Useful infographics

Forum users have helpfully created some infographics to explain the merit system:
paxmao's infographic
ibminer's infographic
8Habits's infographic
JetSet11's infographic
zentdex's infographic
alia_armelle's infographic

If you want to be a merit source:

 1. Be a somewhat established member.
 2. Collect TEN posts written in the last couple of months by other people that have not received nearly enough merit for how good they are, and post quotes for them all in a new Meta thread. The point of this is to demonstrate your ability to give out merit usefully.
 3. We will take a look at your history and maybe make you a source.

I am especially eager to have merit sources in sub-communities such as the local sections.

Trivia:

For current members, your initial merit score is equal to the minimum required to your rank. Of that, a certain amount (less than the usual half) is spendable. The spendable amount was calculated based on your current rank and the number of activity points you earned in the last year. A Legendary member who hasn't posted in the last year would still be Legendary, but would not have any spendable merit.

If someone sends you 1 merit, the 0.5 sMerit is not wasted; it is just not shown until you get another merit point.

There are stats here, and you can find someone's merit summary by clicking the "merit" link on their profile.

[SevenSign]

In addition to activity, everyone now has a merit score, and you need both a certain activity level and a certain merit score in order to reach higher member ranks. The required scores are:

Rank	Required activity	Required merit
Brand new	0	0
Newbie	1	0
Jr Member	30	0
Member	60	10
Full Member	120	100
Sr. Member	240	250
Hero Member	480	500
Legendary	Random in the range 775-1030	1000

You get merit points when someone sends you some for one of your posts. Additionally, when someone sends you merit points, half of those points can be sent by you to other people.

Certain users are designated as "merit sources". They can create new merit out of nothing, up to a limited number per month (which differs per source). I will not be posting a definitive list of merit sources (so that people don't bug them too much), though you'll soon figure out who they are if you pay attention.

There is currently no such thing as a "demerit". I'm hoping that the positive merits alone will be fine. I could add demerits pretty easily later on if necessary, though.

I'm hoping that this system will increase post quality by:
 - Forcing people to post high-quality stuff in order to rank up. If you just post garbage, you will never get even 1 merit point, and you will therefore never be able to put links in your signature, etc.
 - Highlighting good posts with the "Merited by" line.

While we will not be directly moderating this, I encourage people to give merit to posts that are objectively high-quality, not just posts that you agree with.

Do not beg for merit excessively.

Useful infographics

Forum users have helpfully created some infographics to explain the merit system:
paxmao's infographic
ibminer's infographic
8Habits's infographic
JetSet11's infographic
zentdex's infographic
alia_armelle's infographic

If you want to be a merit source:

 1. Be a somewhat established member.
 2. Collect TEN posts written in the last couple of months by other people that have not received nearly enough merit for how good they are, and post quotes for them all in a new Meta thread. The point of this is to demonstrate your ability to give out merit usefully.
 3. We will take a look at your history and maybe make you a source.

I am especially eager to have merit sources in sub-communities such as the local sections.

Trivia:

For current members, your initial merit score is equal to the minimum required to your rank. Of that, a certain amount (less than the usual half) is spendable. The spendable amount was calculated based on your current rank and the number of activity points you earned in the last year. A Legendary member who hasn't posted in the last year would still be Legendary, but would not have any spendable merit.

If someone sends you 1 merit, the 0.5 sMerit is not wasted; it is just not shown until you get another merit point.

There are stats here, and you can find someone's merit summary by clicking the "merit" link on their profile.

"I am especially eager to have merit sources in sub-communities such as the local sections."
@theymos more power!

[OgNasty]

I don't see post-merit stats yet, but it certainly feels like there's been a significant decline in new posts since merit has kicked in.  Perhaps this is just an off base feeling and the decline in price is likely partially responsible, but it would be interesting to see how merit has effected new posting behavior: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=stats

[SM23031997]

I don't see post-merit stats yet, but it certainly feels like there's been a significant decline in new posts since merit has kicked in.  Perhaps this is just an off base feeling and the decline in price is likely partially responsible, but it would be interesting to see how merit has effected new posting behavior: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=stats

Yes, We see some significant decline in all stats.

[OgNasty]

(image removed)

YEAH! Me too. Thanks, fella. Thats what im talking about.

I looked through a couple pages of both of your recent posts.  I couldn't find anything worth leaving merit for.  Maybe instead of complaining about the system, you post something of value or try to help someone. 

[SevenSign]

(image removed)

YEAH! Me too. Thanks, fella. Thats what im talking about.

I looked through a couple pages of both of your recent posts.  I couldn't find anything worth leaving merit for.  Maybe instead of complaining about the system, you post something of value or try to help someone. 

Ok boss, thanks for the great advice. I will do the best i can.

[purgs08]

I have no merit click what will i do ?? there's no merit https://imgur.com/a/­JuEHn

[JayJuanGee]

I have no merit click what will i do ?? there's no merit

You could cry, and write short shitty posts about not having merit?

You could also engage in a lot of bounty seeking activities, and maybe attend religious ceremonies to pray for merit?

If I were you, I would not attempt to create good and engaging posts or otherwise participate in substantive threads to help other members because that may end up earning merit.  Just keep doing what you have been doing and that way you don't have to be worried about receiving any merit to weigh you down.   

[purgs08]

I have no merit click what will i do ?? there's no merit https://imgur.com/a/­JuEHn

You could cry, and write short shitty posts about not having merit?

You could also engage in a lot of bounty seeking activities, and maybe attend religious ceremonies to pray for merit?

If I were you, I would not attempt to create good and engaging posts or otherwise participate in substantive threads to help other members because that may end up earning merit.  Just keep doing what you have been doing and that way you don't have to be worried about receiving any merit to weigh you down.   

Thanks, but i what to be an Full member or Member

[popomaru]

What about making a new Bitcointalk?
How about creating a community site that has no merit system?

Activity is good, but merit system is the worst.
I wish something like "Like" on Twitter.

[TheQuin]

Recent merit sent problem
why when i use this URL https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit;u=1059082 i see this list https://s18.postimg.org/ro9gf8a7t/image.png but when use this https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=merit; i see this list https://s18.postimg.org/rbi2987fd/image.png

I had noticed those two different pages too, recently, and I wished that there was a better way to toggle through those kinds of settings.  One shows the merit sent/received in the past 30 and the other shows the merit sent/received in the past 120 days.  I don't know why it is set up that way, but like I mentioned, I wished there were tabs that would allow the ability to toggle between different time periods such as 30 days and 120 days and maybe some other select time period options.

+1 on this. Particularly add all time merits received and given so the history isn't hidden after this has been in place for 3 months.

What about making a new Bitcointalk?
How about creating a community site that has no merit system?

Activity is good, but merit system is the worst.
I wish something like "Like" on Twitter.

Many people have tried to set up alternative forums before. Thay all failed to generate enough content or traffic to make them work. Feel free to have a go yourself if you think you can do better.

[SevenSign]

I have no merit click what will i do ?? there's no merit https://imgur.com/a/­JuEHn

You could cry, and write short shitty posts about not having merit?

You could also engage in a lot of bounty seeking activities, and maybe attend religious ceremonies to pray for merit?

If I were you, I would not attempt to create good and engaging posts or otherwise participate in substantive threads to help other members because that may end up earning merit.  Just keep doing what you have been doing and that way you don't have to be worried about receiving any merit to weigh you down.   

Thanks, but i what to be an Full member or Member

All we have to do now is DO THE BESTS as we can do, to be more constractive and be help to the forum for posting more useful posts.
Hope so it will be worthful and be work out.

[tbalazs]

I have no merit click what will i do ?? there's no merit

You could cry, and write short shitty posts about not having merit?

You could also engage in a lot of bounty seeking activities, and maybe attend religious ceremonies to pray for merit?

If I were you, I would not attempt to create good and engaging posts or otherwise participate in substantive threads to help other members because that may end up earning merit.  Just keep doing what you have been doing and that way you don't have to be worried about receiving any merit to weigh you down.   

Thanks, but i what to be an Full member or Member

It is all about the trust of others here in the forum and the help you can provide.
As I see you are doing real estate things, if I were you I would start thread and replay others question regarding real estate/bitcoin here.
With this there will be members who will donate merit to you

[Gusbaaa]

Do the benefits regenerate over time? Or just a source that can get it? Smerits that we have in the beginning will not regenerate after completion? Only we will get 1/2 of the advantages we receive right.

[Lovecove]

I have no merit click what will i do ?? there's no merit

You could cry, and write short shitty posts about not having merit?

You could also engage in a lot of bounty seeking activities, and maybe attend religious ceremonies to pray for merit?

If I were you, I would not attempt to create good and engaging posts or otherwise participate in substantive threads to help other members because that may end up earning merit.  Just keep doing what you have been doing and that way you don't have to be worried about receiving any merit to weigh you down.   

It's not that easy to get merit when he obviously lacks English proficiency.

People who write substantive, important posts are usually proficient in english. And the ones who aren't usually try, but probably don't get merit because of the bias between their language barrier and native speakers.

I feel as though that's a problem on bitcointalk, tbh. It's like an invisible ceiling that, no matter how active a foreign speaker gets, they'll not be able to advance because it's harder for them to get merits.

[JayJuanGee]

I have no merit click what will i do ?? there's no merit

You could cry, and write short shitty posts about not having merit?

You could also engage in a lot of bounty seeking activities, and maybe attend religious ceremonies to pray for merit?

If I were you, I would not attempt to create good and engaging posts or otherwise participate in substantive threads to help other members because that may end up earning merit.  Just keep doing what you have been doing and that way you don't have to be worried about receiving any merit to weigh you down.   

It's not that easy to get merit when he obviously lacks English proficiency.

People who write substantive, important posts are usually proficient in english. And the ones who aren't usually try, but probably don't get merit because of the bias between their language barrier and native speakers.

I feel as though that's a problem on bitcointalk, tbh. It's like an invisible ceiling that, no matter how active a foreign speaker gets, they'll not be able to advance because it's harder for them to get merits.

Before I posted, I did a quick review of his posts, and there are a lot of shitty ones, and yeah some in other languages, and bounty seeking and other one-liners in English.  If he wants to rank up then he needs to participate in English and to improve his English skills. 

Sure, it is possible that he could receive some merits on the local boards, too, but the way the system is now, seems to be biased in favor of making good English posts, as you recognize.  I doubt that is going to change any time soon, but hey, it is possible that Theymos will attempt to ensure that there are some merit sources who are participating in some of the local boards - to the extent that Theymos may be able recognize members who may be good in that regard or highly recommended by a trusted member to be good to become a merit source.

[hilariousetc]

Sure, it is possible that he could receive some merits on the local boards, too, but the way the system is now, seems to be biased in favor of making good English posts, as you recognize.  I doubt that is going to change any time soon, but hey, it is possible that Theymos will attempt to ensure that there are some merit sources who are participating in some of the local boards - to the extent that Theymos may be able recognize members who may be good in that regard or highly recommended by a trusted member to be good to become a merit source.

More sources can and will have to be added over time and this includes local board merit sources as quality posters in those languages will suffer, but the merit system is only a month old and will have some growing pains for a while but is probably nothing that can't be fixed.

-----------------

Someone created a thread about a merit ponzi that made me laugh:

If you feel this merit system is as dumb as it sounds, then you got my merit. Make a comment, +1 merit. Upvote the last comment, and hopefully the next comment will do the same. Maybe then you can rank up in this forum and actually be noticed. Its gonna take double the time and effort, but if your already posting here, then you know that.

[cryptocommoner]

Someone created a thread about a merit ponzi that made me laugh:

If you feel this merit system is as dumb as it sounds, then you got my merit. Make a comment, +1 merit. Upvote the last comment, and hopefully the next comment will do the same. Maybe then you can rank up in this forum and actually be noticed. Its gonna take double the time and effort, but if your already posting here, then you know that.

Looks like somebody is about the be banned. 

More sources can and will have to be added over time and this includes local board merit sources as quality posters in those languages will suffer, but the merit system is only a month old and will have some growing pains for a while but is probably nothing that can't be fixed.

I was trying to figure out how to do just that earlier in this thread, but it was shot down rather hard.  Whatever is thought up as a source will need to be unbiased as well as not have the ability to be abused which is going to be very difficult.

[sncc]

I have no merit click what will i do ?? there's no merit

It's hard to tell as the image does not work but I assume you are asking why "+Merit" link does not show up.
It will show up once you obtain Merit and hence sMerit, and then you are ready to send sMerit.
With 0 sMerit, "+Merit" link does not show up, though the exception is the case where you obtain sMerits and run out of them, in which case "+Merit" link will remain regardless you have 0 sMerit.