SWOT Analysis of Merit System

[nngella]

SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis is a tool often used to develop and further improve an organization, a current system, or personal behavior in a way that takes advantage of talents, abilities, and opportunities of the said organization, system, or person.

STRENGTHS

• The Merit System encourages everyone to have quality posts and comments.  It discourages us to post spams and sub-par posts just for the sake of increasing our activity - which is the weakness of the previous ranking system;
• Meriting someone because of his/her post gives that someone an affirmation and encouragement to continue posting quality posts and comments;
• It serves as a feedback mechanism for someone to assess his/her posts.
• It persuades everyone to think and do some researches prior making a post; and
• Members of the forum will become more connected to one another and have a sense of camaraderie.  Receiving a Merit gives someone a feeling of gratitude to the giver while the giver learns to appreciate the works and efforts of others.

WEAKNESSES

• There is no measure to determine if the current Merit Sources are sufficient to support the Merit system (ongoing debate if the current Merit Sources are sufficient or lacking);
• Not all high-ranked members are active in giving away Merits;
• Increased number of posts begging for Merits; and
• The default Merits became exhausted and scarce as days passed after the implementation of the system.

OPPORTUNITIES

• The Merit system will produce a new generation of members (experiencing the Merit system from being a Newbie and as they rank up) of Bitcointalk posting only high-quality posts.  I will term this one as “high-quality posts members”;
• One way of assessing the credibility of a bounty campaign is knowing its bounty manager.  Due to the Merit System, it prevent scammers in making multiple accounts to make bounty campaign scams; and
• In relation to the previous bullet, many bounty managers will choose to become Copper Members to prove their credibility and to access features available only to high-ranked members.  This gives Bitcointalk sufficient funds to manage the forum.

THREATS

• High-ranked members exchanging merits exclusively to one another or to their alternate accounts;
• Trading of merits to merits or, worst case scenarios, to tokens or real money;
• Personal biases of Merit Sources in giving away Merits (e.g. nationality of posters, a friend of the posters, etc);
• Lower-ranked members will be discouraged in ranking up and become satisfied with their current rank; and
• Members will choose to go and posts on Boards that will give them high chance of getting a Merit and be discouraged to post on other Boards that have lower chances of getting a Merit.

Instead of being a critique, let us collaborate to further improve the Merit System.  I hope that this SWOT Analysis helps the community to further assess the Merit System.

Overall, the purpose of SWOT analysis is to
maximize strengths,
overcome weaknesses,
discover and grab opportunities, and
manage and eliminate threats. 

[1715225218]

1715225218

[Jet Cash]

I like the current system, and I think a lot of thought has gone into its creation. Of course there are a few tweaks that can be made, and no doubt they will appear in the future.

I didn't read all of your wall of text, but I sampled it by looking at the weakness paragraph. I think that shows a lack of undertsanding of the merit system, and its current use.  Have a look at the stats that members such as LoyceV have created, and you will understand what I mean.

[seoincorporation]

<...>

I don't get the point of this thread, to be honest. It is just repeating and repeating all that has been said again and again in the forum, and it is just unnecessary to repeat it again. The perspective you used, this "SWOT" mechanism also says nothing, there is zero contribution.
If you want to understand how the merit system network is actually working and take a far more profound vision of the system, I recommend for you to read these posts:
- https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4428616.0
- https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3395255.0

Both are a really beautiful image of the merit system and they mean a true contribution to the forum.

Thermocoin

Sounds interesting 

[Pearls Before Swine]

Not all higher ranked members have a lot of merits to give away, unless they're merit sources.  You'd think that an average legendary member would have given away all of the smerits he got airdropped back in Janurary, right?  I don't even know how many smerits heros and legendaries got back then, but it wasn't a huge amount.  This thing about them not giving out merits is a myth.

And it's a myth propagated by jr. members who obsess about rank and not having enough merits.  Me, I'm gonna sit back, have a big mac and enjoy the drama here.  Smooches.

[ghermghuda]

Well, the merit system in some way has also improved quality posting. I think the forum moderators will make changes if appropriate to correct the weaknesses associated with this new system.

[Kakmakr]

I get the point for your thread and commend you for the effort to pin the different aspects of this system to the SWOT analysis model/tool. It took some effort and time to pair the different aspects of the merit system into the different categories of this tool.

I hope someone can glance at this analysis and improve on the WEAKNESSES and THREATS of this system. Thank you for the time and effort, I will give you +1 sMerit for your positive contribution. Most people only criticize this system, but you highlighted both the positive and the negative aspects of it. 

[seoincorporation]

I get the point for your thread and commend you for the effort to pin the different aspects of this system to the SWOT analysis model/tool. It took some effort and time to pair the different aspects of the merit system into the different categories of this tool.

I hope someone can glance at this analysis and improve on the WEAKNESSES and THREATS of this system. Thank you for the time and effort, I will give you +1 sMerit for your positive contribution. Most people only criticize this system, but you highlighted both the positive and the negative aspects of it.  

I get the point, but I do dislike too much this attitude from the user:

I have the same sentiments with you.
The intention of merit is to prevent spammers and encourage us to make quality posts.  However, what is happening now is instead of making posts to share your knowledge and learn from one another, the forum community is now posting for the sake of earning merits (especially the low rank members like me).

This is the link of my first thread : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4468266.msg40069856#msg40069856

Moved the above thread twice (from altcoin discussion to service discussion (altcoins) to beginners and help).  I moved it because I noticed that the merit distribution on the altcoin discussion threads are fewer compare to other threads.

He/she is moving and moving the created threads in a search for merits and encouraging others to do the same... at the end of the day all the user is seeking is to earn merits. I don't know why I just don't feel it appropriate. Also, encouraging the people to move their threads from one to another board just for gaining merits, is kind of annoying. That's why I didn't merit the user, the threads are not awesome and even this one has been moved in the user's will of gaining more and more merits by doing so.

[Kakmakr]

I get the point for your thread and commend you for the effort to pin the different aspects of this system to the SWOT analysis model/tool. It took some effort and time to pair the different aspects of the merit system into the different categories of this tool.

I hope someone can glance at this analysis and improve on the WEAKNESSES and THREATS of this system. Thank you for the time and effort, I will give you +1 sMerit for your positive contribution. Most people only criticize this system, but you highlighted both the positive and the negative aspects of it.  

I get the point, but I do dislike too much this attitude from the user:

I have the same sentiments with you.
The intention of merit is to prevent spammers and encourage us to make quality posts.  However, what is happening now is instead of making posts to share your knowledge and learn from one another, the forum community is now posting for the sake of earning merits (especially the low rank members like me).

This is the link of my first thread : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4468266.msg40069856#msg40069856

Moved the above thread twice (from altcoin discussion to service discussion (altcoins) to beginners and help).  I moved it because I noticed that the merit distribution on the altcoin discussion threads are fewer compare to other threads.

He/she is moving and moving the created threads in a search for merits and encouraging others to do the same... at the end of the day all the user is seeking is to earn merits. I don't know why I just don't feel it appropriate. Also, encouraging the people to move their threads from one to another board just for gaining merits, is kind of annoying. That's why I didn't merit the user, the threads are not awesome and even this one has been moved in the user's will of gaining more and more merits by doing so.

I have no problem with your decision not to appreciate OP's contribution. I evaluated his contribution, based on the content of his post. <When I saw it, it was under the Beginners section and helpful to newbies> Moving threads to the most appropriate section of the forum is allowed, but if it is done to acquire sMerit, then it is frowned on. <Unfortunately I did not pick up on that, and sMerit allocation is irreversible by the person that awarded it>

Thank you for highlighting this, I will add him to my ignore list and he will not receive sMerit from me again. 

[nngella]

I have no problem with your decision not to appreciate OP's contribution. I evaluated his contribution, based on the content of his post. <When I saw it, it was under the Beginners section and helpful to newbies> Moving threads to the most appropriate section of the forum is allowed, but if it is done to acquire sMerit, then it is frowned on. <Unfortunately I did not pick up on that, and sMerit allocation is irreversible by the person that awarded it>

Thank you for highlighting this, I will add him to my ignore list and he will not receive sMerit from me again. 

This is really sad.  I think this is a great misunderstanding.  There is a thread related to this one if you can still see this post of mine (assuming you put me on your ignore list already) : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4542444.msg40913517#msg40913517

and the one who started this always say that this is not personal.

[seoincorporation]

I have no problem with your decision not to appreciate OP's contribution. I evaluated his contribution, based on the content of his post. <When I saw it, it was under the Beginners section and helpful to newbies> Moving threads to the most appropriate section of the forum is allowed, but if it is done to acquire sMerit, then it is frowned on. <Unfortunately I did not pick up on that, and sMerit allocation is irreversible by the person that awarded it>

Thank you for highlighting this, I will add him to my ignore list and he will not receive sMerit from me again.  

This is really sad.  I think this is a great misunderstanding.  There is a thread related to this one if you can still see this post of mine (assuming you put me on your ignore list already) : https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4542444.msg40913517#msg40913517

and the one who started this always say that this is not personal.

Oh my.
One question: you DID move your threads trying to get more merits or not?
The answer is YES.

This is not about you, this is about someone breaking the rules. I have nothing against you, in fact, I would be glad if you change your attitude, but the FACT is that you did move your threads with that intention. Just don't do it again and confront the consequences.
Stop complaining, it was a mistake, ok, but it's done. Let it pass, as I myself did by locking the thread.

EDIT. He did it again. He just copy/pasted one of his post from the meta board to the beginners, using  a quote by copy/pasting to create a new thread(against the rules):
The Meta post:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2861268.msg40993439#msg40993439

As I learn and read posts in the forum, these are my recommendatios:

The definition of Quality Post is subjective

One member may find your post as "quality post" then will give you a merit while other members may just engage you with a discussion without giving any merit.  Hence, I would like to suggest that just make it a habit to post something substantial and always (yes, always) be mindful of the rules of the forum.  Prevent yourself to be part of the ignored list of the merit sources.

Start Small

Just start small.  You can start on the things that you know or your experiences that you want to share.  I know that being a newbie, it feels like we cannot contribute anything in the forum because we have just little knowledge compare to the veterans.  However, I think some members would like to hear your stories of success, failures, learning, and not learning, and the like.  You can also post topic that interests you, in that way you can provide good insights by using your passion on the subject as the motivation/fuel to make a good post.

Start with "Beginners & Help" Category

You can start posting in the Beginners & Help category for you to ask questions and to be familiar with the forum.  It is advisable also that the target audience of your first posts are newbies (in relation with the previous point "Start Small").

The Beginners post: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4552458.msg40995712#msg40995712


So, nngela, do you still think this is personal? You are breaking the rules again. Just read the rules and stop complaining if you break them and someone says whatever to you. In fact, I'm trying to be nice with you, since you deserve red trust for that and, instead of giving some to you, I'm just trying to explain the rules and why are you breaking them.

[fudster]

Regardless of his attitude I gave merit to this post because I see where the forum is going with the system.

There's just on thing that i might add to this because I saw some threads where reputable members were given negative trust because of merit abuse. I can see users really are giving merits to each other purposely to rank up. Now this could be the reason why high rank members are now avoiding to give merits because of the possibilities that they'd be accused to sending merits to their alts.

[NadiaHel]

Read the rules in here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=703657.0