Merit system is definitely unfair (or far from perfect fair) system, so let's stop complaining about its fairness.
For example, no one can choose the family to born, and no one can choose the perfect time to join the forum. Of course, Theymos can not choose the perfect solution to completely end spamming endemic in the forum. That's why merit system launched in January.
I think the idea of merit at least on a numbers level is to be somewhat unfair.. or at least make a low-level effort not worth it. I think bounties are being hurt by high participation and also hurting the bounty's success (some of the things I see posted on twitter posts or youtube are just downright ridiculous, poor English.. poor presentation.. it's all linked together). The reality is the population needed to succeed in whatever capacity the forum requires already exists, and having 0 new members would only make it more rewarding to those participating. The curve is certainly somewhat unfair for late adopters but the only thing in life you really can't ever make up for with effort is time... so it really makes sense. It'll require 10x more effort now compared to an early forum adopter but maybe 1000x more effort 3 years from now... the curve will only work more against you. The idea isn't to be fair, the idea is to find the top 1-5% and have them join in and weed the rest out.
It is likely that you are lying.
I'm with you it sucks.. but I'm going to put in the effort because I see the benefit of the system even if it doesn't serve me. It's not high ranking member's fought that I didn't join in the early days when the "proof of work" was easier difficulty.
If the forum has such automatically allocated merit system. Lots of members will send their sMerits for shit-threads, because they will give at least 1 merit back as a give for their shitty merit giving away.
No sir , I want to mean that if you spend 5 merit by give 5 other people. You should get bonus 1 merit from forum automatically. Not from the people. Sorry if I told wrong. I just share my opinion.