Require a small amount of merit to become a Junior Member

[mdayonliner]

3. Newbies and probably Jr. Members too should no longer be able to bump threads. They can post, but the thread won't move to the top.

This is a completely new idea and seems like it WILL be a good one to experiment. Since these Newbies and Jr's can't make the bump happen eventually they will stop however this is not going to stop them creating the same topic from different accounts. They do very good job, just look at their timing...

Allowing x amount (1 like hilariousetc is thinking or 5 like seoincorporation is thinking or whatever) to become a Jr - could also work but again since the number will be very less (<10), the farmers can easily manage it.

[TheBeardedBaby]

3. Newbies and probably Jr. Members too should no longer be able to bump threads. They can post, but the thread won't move to the top.

This can be applied only on the problematic sections - the ones we already have the 12 hours rule.

[friends1980]

Well I have never really understood why the amount of Merit needed to level up, increases along the way. Maybe I am missing something but I'd say that in a way it's more logical to decrease the Merit requirements along the way up, as I'd assume that people who are here, stay here and - as a consequence of quality posting - level up, have proven their "qualities" to the forum.

At the same time, bots, spammers and scammers will give up if they need to have for example 75 Merits to move from Junior to Member (while Activity and Time also remain taken in account).

If you set the bar high from the beginning, you will have guaranteed high-quality members on this forum, starting already as low as from Junior or Member ranking.

[mdayonliner]

At the same time, bots, spammers and scammers will give up if they need to have for example 75 Merits to move from Junior to Member (while Activity and Time also remain taken in account).

Most of the times I noticed these bot/spammer accounts are not caring about ranking up. They are posting to bump a topic or creating same topic to advertise whatever they are trying to promote here. So I do not think adding x amount of merit for whatever rank you don't want them to rank up is going to work. I hope you did not miss to read this reply.

[Welsh]

Well I have never really understood why the amount of Merit needed to level up, increases along the way. Maybe I am missing something but I'd say that in a way it's more logical to decrease the Merit requirements along the way up, as I'd assume that people who are here, stay here and - as a consequence of quality posting - level up, have proven their "qualities" to the forum.

At the same time, bots, spammers and scammers will give up if they need to have for example 75 Merits to move from Junior to Member (while Activity and Time also remain taken in account).

If you set the bar high from the beginning, you will have guaranteed high-quality members on this forum, starting already as low as from Junior or Member ranking.

I'm not sure what you mean? But, higher requirements absolutely make sense. Higher ranked accounts have certain benefits such as higher PM limits, cooldowns on actions are reduced, and their signature is larger. It makes sense to have some sort of progression. Lowering the requirements would just mean they would need to get x amount, and then freely spam from there onward.

[pugman]

Not a bad idea, especially when the hot-selling new autoreplybot has arrived.

Well I have never really understood why the amount of Merit needed to level up, increases along the way. Maybe I am missing something but I'd say that in a way it's more logical to decrease the Merit requirements along the way up, as I'd assume that people who are here, stay here and - as a consequence of quality posting - level up, have proven their "qualities" to the forum.

At the same time, bots, spammers and scammers will give up if they need to have for example 75 Merits to move from Junior to Member (while Activity and Time also remain taken in account).

If you set the bar high from the beginning, you will have guaranteed high-quality members on this forum, starting already as low as from Junior or Member ranking.

Dude. Let the merit requirements be as is. There are still loopholes to ranking up, like account sales,merit sales, merit abuse et al. The merit requirement is the basics of an hierarchy. Higher the rank,higher the amount of merit required.

[stompix]

At the same time, bots, spammers and scammers will give up if they need to have for example 75 Merits to move from Junior to Member (while Activity and Time also remain taken in account).

Most of the times I noticed these bot/spammer accounts are not caring about ranking up. They are posting to bump a topic or creating same topic to advertise whatever they are trying to promote here. So I do not think adding x amount of merit for whatever rank you don't want them to rank up is going to work. I hope you did not miss to read this reply.

There is a solution to everything, but there is no solution that everyone will agree with.

Topic bumping could be stopped if bumps for members under x activity or y merit or both won't be considered as LoyceV and others have proposed a hundred times
Topic spamming could be done with a system that once a topic hits 5 (or whatever in x time from the post date) reports it gets invisible for the normal users until a moderator takes action and either sends it to the garbage bin or reinstates it.

I already opened a topic in meta 2 months ago https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3775593 and theymos made a comment in it https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3775593.msg37201114#msg37201114

There are two problems with that idea
a) that is was posted in May and it's July and nothing came out of it
b) it only splits the users till Jr Member which as discussed in this thread is an easy thing to achieve.

[mdayonliner]

Topic spamming could be done with a system that once a topic hits 5 (or whatever in x time from the post date) reports it gets invisible for the normal users until a moderator takes action and either sends it to the garbage bin or reinstates it.

You are talking about more workloads for the mods. We need a solution which also does not require more works for the mods.

If you look around then it's pretty clear that (possibly) we do not have enough mods to control these spammers. It's the number battle in-between the spammers and the mods. And because of not having enough resources and numbers for the mods,  unfortunately they are losing.

[stompix]

Topic spamming could be done with a system that once a topic hits 5 (or whatever in x time from the post date) reports it gets invisible for the normal users until a moderator takes action and either sends it to the garbage bin or reinstates it.

You are talking about more workloads for the mods. We need a solution which also does not require more works for the mods.

How is this more workload?
The moment a report is made a mod will have to read that report and either give it a green light or trash it, there is no extra work involved here.

My solution will just cut the time the topic is visible to other users if no mod is active as I've seen some of my reports being handled only after 24 hours during which a shit topic/post was gaining views.
And by hiding a stupid topic you also get rid of possible spam posts in it which would trigger more reporting.

Most of my reports are about stupid topics in Bitcoin Discussion where I try to cut the avalanche of ICOs and Telegram
channels spam as well "Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb" ..... the last garbage posted and reported.

[Osamede]

Having bots spamming almost every thread is undesirable and it will be nice to get rid of them.I think moderators are already a nice job getting rid of them.On the other hand,get merits these days seem very difficult and placing restriction will discourage a lot of persons,including me.

[seoincorporation]

After taking a look at the services offered on several internet websites, I do agree with the merit requirement for juniors will be a great step ahead against the spamming problem.
Take a look at this one, for example:


This guy is offering "bumping" services on your ann thread. In fact, it seems to be profitable for him, for he has managed to get some clients. If you pay attention to the description, the guy claims to have more than 200 JR Member accounts.
Now, if all those juniors accounts had needed 5 merits (or at least one) to become junior, then he will manage 200 Newbies accounts and be able to do the same.
So, maybe implementing a merit to become Newbie and 5 Merits to become Jr is the solution.
In addition, if newbies and Juniors CAN'T bump a thread, this guy "enterprise" will be pointless.
I don't think that guys like this one are rare. In fact, one of the most troubling information is how he manages to have 200 accounts<?

The link to his "services" (he has many different offers):
- ICO marketing for $100: https://www.seoclerk.com/content-writing/602427/Cryptocurrency-ICO-marketing-on-Bitcointalk-and-other-crypto-forums
- Bump your thread for $100: https://www.seoclerk.com/Traffic/611685/Bump-Up-Your-Bitcointalk-Thread

So, do you think that by asking for merits to this kind of accounts will be a good solution?
To me, it is. It will be difficult for this guys to sell the services, I hope.

[stompix]

I don't think that guys like this one are rare. In fact, one of the most troubling information is how he manages to have 200 accounts<?

To be honest, I think this is one of the small guys.

But the irony:
https://www.seoclerk.com/Traffic/611685/Bump-Up-Your-Bitcointalk-Thread

Bitcointalk is an online forum that allows global users to discuss everything and anything related to Bitcoin and Altcoins.The forum acts as a way to keep track of the latest news related to cryptocurrencies and even hosts a marketplace to conduct trades, transactions, and promotions.

More than 50M+ visitors per month
Broad categorized audience including Trading, Mining, Economics etc.
Most popular in crypto space
Most real and genuine users engagement

Yeah right 

In addition, if newbies and Juniors CAN'T bump a thread, this guy "enterprise" will be pointless.

This is probably the most requested feature lately and the only one that will really cut through the spam on the forum without any drawbacks.

But I would really love to hear theymos saying what he thinks about all the stuff that is proposed.
We know that newbie jail will not come back, that's a certain, so maybe if he would just tell us this will never get implemented or that he will give it a try it would stop this endless discussion on what should be done.

Maybe a highly trusted member or moderator from the forum could collect all the ideas that are spread over the meta section in a topic and with a bit of luck theymos will reply:

a) jr member level to require 3 merit  ----                         I'll implement it
b) newbies and jr members can't bump topic -                   Never
c) disable signatures for jr members  -                              When hell freezes over
d) a 55-gallon drum of WD-40 when reaching 1000 merit    ...theymos logged out

[InvoKing]

a) jr member level to require 3 merit  ----                         I'll implement it
b) newbies and jr members can't bump topic -                   Never
c) disable signatures for jr members  -                              When hell freezes over
d) a 55-gallon drum of WD-40 when reaching 1000 merit    ...theymos logged out

a) Ok fair enough
b) Ok for newbies in some sections like bounties and altcoin announcements
c) No need to disable it, it is one's back garden, a private property!

[Lakai01]

The issue also is that many bounties are accepting newbies, even brand new users, in their campaigns.

That's why you need to introduce posting restrictions, or to ban bounties.

I think the only way to get rid of the massive spam is banning bounties. On the one hand we will lose attractiveness for those spamming bots but on the other hand a lot of good (in terms of helpfulness, posting quality, ...) posters will be lost, too.

[hilariousetc]

I don't think that guys like this one are rare. In fact, one of the most troubling information is how he manages to have 200 accounts<?

Bots. It's automatic posting so it takes little-to-no effort once they're set up. Most of the bumping services I've seen their posts are just complete generic garbage reworded slightly over their dozens-to-hundreds of accounts so they just load the bots up with whatever crap they can be bothered making and just set it to whatever intervals they want. The previous bots were just posting the same one liners over dozens of accounts and then removing them before they were re-posted.

The issue also is that many bounties are accepting newbies, even brand new users, in their campaigns.

That's why you need to introduce posting restrictions, or to ban bounties.

I think the only way to get rid of the massive spam is banning bounties. On the one hand we will lose attractiveness for those spamming bots but on the other hand a lot of good (in terms of helpfulness, posting quality, ...) posters will be lost, too.

Bounties are the least of ours concerns. At least the junk is confined to it's own board an nobody else outside if there has to see it. it's the stuff that spills out of the alt coin section like crapcoin campaigns that are the issue.

[Lauda]

The forum is a cancerous cesspool of jr. members now; all praise the grand benefits of the merit system!

[seoincorporation]

Bounties are the least of ours concerns. At least the junk is confined to it's own board an nobody else outside if there has to see it. it's the stuff that spills out of the alt coin section like crapcoin campaigns that are the issue.

Ummm... I don't totally agree with that. Since bounties are the very first motivation of many shitposters joining the forum, they soon get tired of receiving nothing but some cents and come in here and cry about their ranks, or try to cheat the system to earn more. Also, Recently we have seen cases like this one: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4642710.0
This is a really clear merit abuse and, by doing so, all the accounts implied already have joined a signature.

Now, if you have some flies problem in your house, just don't leave the food on the table.

[TheUltraElite]

Bounties are the least of ours concerns. At least the junk is confined to it's own board an nobody else outside if there has to see it. it's the stuff that spills out of the alt coin section like crapcoin campaigns that are the issue.

The so called "junk" comes from the junk mentality of shitposting paje**s (nevermind I had to say it.)

It does spill out - the best example is what happened to the meta section a few months back. Newbies were making threads every day about merit and spamming here trying to ass-lick merit sources. Since they are bottlenecked by merit their only chance to get merit is to start spamming here about it.

However I would like to know what you consider as crapcoin and what as "goodcoin" (LOL) - Because to me they are all shitcoins being begged by beggar shitposters.

[Shelby_Moore_III]

In addition to the suggested idea of requiring some Merit before ascending to non-Newbie status, I would also like to propose that this forum offer a Verified Identity badge for those who are willing to not be anonymous fucking trolls.

And then offer us a subforum for ourselves where only Verified Identity members can post and send merit!

I am so fucking tired of you anonymous trolls and that includes you @Foxpup.

If you’re not man enough to put your real life reputation at risk when you post your BS, then I am not interested to talk with[be trolled incessantly by] you.

[provalentine]

In addition to the suggested idea of requiring some Merit before ascending to non-Newbie status, I would also like to propose that this forum offer a Verified Identity badge for those who are willing to not be anonymous fucking trolls.

And then offer us a subforum for ourselves where only Verified Identity members can post!

I am so fucking tired of you anonymous trolls and that includes you @Foxpup.

If you’re not man enough to put your real life reputation at risk when you post your BS, then I am not interested to talk with[be trolled incessantly by] you.

Dear friend, did you not forget why and for what purpose was the bitcoin created?