I love all these suggestions
after the change was already made. You guys don't realize that the idea for requiring a single merit requirement in order to become a Jr. Member has been batted around for some time now. It wasn't discussed in secret. It was right here in Meta for everyone to see.
The resentment among those affected really shows--and the problem isn't higher-ranked members, it's generally new accounts. In addition, a Full Member, Sr. Member, etc., will still have trouble ranking up if they can't make good posts. The merit system affects them just like anyone else. As far as Legendary members go, I rarely see them consistently making crap posts and, I would add, many of them have earned merits on top of what they got airdropped back in Janurary.
You guys were nowhere to be found until this change happened. Theymos is very reluctant to keep changing things, and I highly doubt he's going to seriously consider these ideas for tweaking the system being made by the newbies here.
I do not know how you get 19 merit. the idea is crazy
He got some from xandry, who's a mod in the Russian section if I'm not mistaken. That's actually a good thing for people to be earning merits on the local boards. I'd like to see more of that and less of people trying to earn them by posting crap in Meta--or any other section that requires you to write in English when someone obviously struggles with the language.