Is this acceptable use for the merit system?

[eternalgloom]

I've recently created a thread in the services section where I'm giving out merit for leaving a constructive comment on my thread.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3309769.msg34548271#msg34548271

I just want to make sure if this is allowed or if it's frowned upon. The direct consequence is that my thread is getting bumped, but this is not my actual goal for providing this service.
My goals is to get some quality feedback and incentivize that with a small reward in merit.

If this is against the rules, I'll lock this thread immediately. Would be happy to hear from a moderator about this

Edit: Forgot to mention that I have read the FAQ about the merit system, just not sure if this falls under 'selling merit' (which is not allowed of course).

[InvoKing]

I've recently created a thread in the services section where I'm giving out merit for leaving a constructive comment on my thread.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3309769.msg34548271#msg34548271

I just want to make sure if this is allowed or if it's frowned upon. The direct consequence is that my thread is getting bumped, but this is not my actual goal for providing this service.
My goals is to get some quality feedback and incentivize that with a small reward in merit.

If this is against the rules, I'll lock this thread immediately. Would be happy to hear from a moderator about this

I am just giving here my point of view which shouldn't be used as reference ofc.
Since you aren't giving smerit for everybody and you are selecting high quality posts to be awarded then i assume it is fine. Having your topic boosted is expected but you should know when to stop it when it gets out of hand by shitposters.
If DT members are giving you a negative trust then i wonder know where they were with all the merit trading abuse going on here... (partially theymos recommendation)

Edit : i see interesting feedbacks here with a great analogy, good.

[bill gator]

I think giving incentive to post in a thread is against the rules. I've seen threads get locked for giving out merit for posting in their thread. I've seen threads get trashed when people give away merit for free as long as the person posts within the thread, because it is giving an incentive to post in a particular thread. "Earn Merit by Leaving a Comment on my Thread" Just leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but this is just my personal opinion/interpretation.

[Welsh]

Take a look at this: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2559282.0

Just because this is in the altcoin section and is primarily directed at thread announcements offering bonus coins for commenting on their thread you are doing the same as a merit bonus and I would think that the same rule would apply to this case. Obviously, a moderator would be able to tell you for certain, but I can't see why this is any different as it has the same outcome (bumping the thread even if that's not the intention)

You've got an informative thread there and I'm sure people will naturally add to it without the incentive.

[eternalgloom]

Take a look at this: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2559282.0

Just because this is in the altcoin section and is primarily directed at thread announcements offering bonus coins for commenting on their thread you are doing the same as a merit bonus and I would think that the same rule would apply to this case. Obviously, a moderator would be able to tell you for certain, but I can't see why this is any different as it has the same outcome (bumping the thread even if that's not the intention)

You've got an informative thread there and I'm sure people will naturally add to it without the incentive.

You're absolutely right, I'm locking my thread (in the services section) right away. Should have asked first, hope I don't get my overview thread locked because of my mistake.

[ArkiCrypto]

Well this is just my opinion, I think it's not against the rule directly but the thought that you're encouraging someone to post on your thread and leave a message and rewarding them a merit is like saying "give a great review to my thread and I will give you merit" It's like your paying persons to give good review to your thread after all it's just my own perception and that how I see it.

[eternalgloom]

Well this is just my opinion, I think it's not against the rule directly but the thought that you're encouraging someone to post on your thread and leave a message and rewarding them a merit is like saying "give a great review to my thread and I will give you merit" It's like your paying persons to give good review to your thread after all it's just my own perception and that how I see it.

I'm actually more interested in the bad reviews, I need the feedback to make my thread more informative
But I've locked my thread in the services section already. I did get one really good piece of feedback from it that I will be using to improve my post.

[Talk merit]

Merit seems to be quite a touchy topic at the moment. I take a fairly extreme view, and I believe that merit should only be used to reward a post based on its own merit. Merit should not be used as an incentive for anything. I have made an exception where a member has made a number of reasonable posts, but none is outstanding, and I've awarded merit for one of the posts, but it is really an award for the collection. I do take time to look for posts to reward, but this seems to result in my adding more members to my ignore list.

I don't really approve of the merit food banks, but I can understand the frustrations of the members who operate them. It does take quite a bit of time to hunt for meritable posts. It gets easier as my ignore list grows though.

I can sympathise with the difficulties of the OP as well. I've had similar problems with my English help threads and projects.A considerable number of members just look for any excuse to publish low value spam. Any hint of the availability of merit magnifies this considerably.

[bill gator]

You're absolutely right, I'm locking my thread (in the services section) right away. Should have asked first, hope I don't get my overview thread locked because of my mistake.

Oh great, now I don't even get a thank you for being the first one to bring this to attention. Way to go, eternalgloom, my heart is officially broken. If only I had linked to it, then I would have received the thanks I so desperately yearn for. I suppose the laziness of my omission has lead to my downfall, Well-Played, Welsh. I concede this victory, but it shall not go unpunished!

[eternalgloom]

You're absolutely right, I'm locking my thread (in the services section) right away. Should have asked first, hope I don't get my overview thread locked because of my mistake.

Oh great, now I don't even get a thank you for being the first one to bring this to attention. Way to go, eternalgloom, my heart is officially broken. If only I had linked to it, then I would have received the thanks I so desperately yearn for. I suppose the laziness of my omission has lead to my downfall, Well-Played, Welsh. I concede this victory, but it shall not go unpunished!

Don't worry Gator, I do appreciate it just a tad more when people include sources, but you still deserve something for mentioning it first.

On a side note, starting that thread in the services section was one of my worst ideas ever, now I get spammed by people wanting to earn something for posting a reply.
Dude wants me to pay him 2 dollars for every reply to my thread

Hello I want to offer you quality comments for only 2$/contructive comment on your thread.

[bill gator]

Don't worry Gator, I do appreciate it just a tad more when people include sources, but you still deserve something for mentioning it first.

That's hilarious to me that you went back and gave it a merit. I was only feigning my dissatisfaction, and I don't want you to feel extorted in any way.  
I bow to thee, humbly.

On a side note, starting that thread in the services section was one of my worst ideas ever, now I get spammed by people wanting to earn something for posting a reply.
Dude wants me to pay him 2 dollars for every reply to my thread

Hello I want to offer you quality comments for only 2$/contructive comment on your thread.

I think you can report those PMs if you are not already doing so. Plus $2 per reply is robbery for what they're going to offer, unless he is bringing something rather insurmountable and unforeseen to the table.

[hoanghai101296]

Create topics so people can comment on their posts that they think good quality for the forum and you have to be one to check whether the post is worth the praise. Hope it helps you

[Vod]

I've recently created a thread in the services section where I'm giving out merit for leaving a constructive comment on my thread.

You should never give merit for a service provided; that gives merit a financial value.

Feel free to award users merit for constructive comments, but don't promise them any.

[jumbo]

It is acceptable, if you you give people an opportunity to contribute to the forum and the community with a possible incentive of getting some merit as a praise, but do not guarantee any return. Because merit is not a currency, it is not meant to be a mean of payment or a measure of value.

You should never give merit for a service provided; that gives merit a financial value.

Feel free to award users merit for constructive comments, but don't promise them any.

Completely agree to this one. There shall be no offer, promise or obligation to give merit in return for any product or service whatsoever.

It makes it something else, but not merit. It's also like trading karma on Reddit: a very low and indecent practice, yet broadly existing, since there is no effective way to prevent it on Reddit. Here the system looks more efficient in that perspective.

[petyang12]

I've recently created a thread in the services section where I'm giving out merit for leaving a constructive comment on my thread.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3309769.msg34548271#msg34548271

I just want to make sure if this is allowed or if it's frowned upon. The direct consequence is that my thread is getting bumped, but this is not my actual goal for providing this service.
My goals is to get some quality feedback and incentivize that with a small reward in merit.

If this is against the rules, I'll lock this thread immediately. Would be happy to hear from a moderator about this

I am just giving here my point of view which shouldn't be used as reference ofc.
Since you aren't giving smerit for everybody and you are selecting high quality posts to be awarded then i assume it is fine. Having your topic boosted is expected but you should know when to stop it when it gets out of hand by shitposters.
If DT members are giving you a negative trust then i wonder know where they were with all the merit trading abuse going on here... (partially theymos recommendation)

Edit : i see interesting feedbacks here with a great analogy, good.

In my own opinion i think it does not violate any rule in this forum since you select a member that you think he deserve your merit reward. I just want you to know that there are lots of thread that give a merit rewards for their good quality constructive post base on the topic they replied or quoted.