This thread is inspired by questions asked on my own thread
Number of Merits generated (mathematically) ,
sMerit participants – a worrying descending trend (!/?) by
DdmrDdmr and a request for becoming "Merit Source" application that pops up in Meta every week.
I will start with Merit Source "sMerits" and the potential to generate Merits mathematically, leaving all "Air dropped" merits behind.
When we have 80 merit source they have 17800 smerits
=> potential to generate
35588 merits.
When we have 84 merit source they have 19500 smerits
=> potential to generate
38998 merits. (Not sure about when they are increased
in June or before, but they are definitely increased in July.)
When we have 120 merit source they have 23045 smerits
=> potential to generate
46088 merits.
(For understanding the calculation , visit
Number of Merits generated (mathematically) )
Now , I will like to use the below graph/image by
DdmrDdmr to continue my analysis.
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FPNLrJtZ.png&t=665&c=iu95KCQpT4AGEg)
Awarded Merit graph
I will start analyzing data from month of April, believing in 2 months all "Air dropped" smerits were used. (I know my assumption is wrong but definitely majority of "Air dropped" sMerits were used.)
02-04-2018 to 29-04-2018 =6542+5946+4449+4820=21757 ( Potential unlocked 21757/35888*100 = 60.62 % +7%=67.62 (added 7% because data
is of 28 days period, instead of 30 )
For May month
30-04-2018 to 27-05-2018 = 5043+4685+4431+3903=18062 (Potential unlocked 18062/35888*100 = 50.32% +7% =57.32)
For June Month (partially includes May)
28-05-2018 to 24-06-2018 = 4248+4473+3953+4574=17248 (Potential unlocked 17248/35888*100 = 48.06% +7% =55.06)
For July Month.(include one week from June)
25-06-2018 to 22-07-2018 = 4684+4367+4109+4277=17437(Potential unlocked 17437/38998*100 = 44.71% +7% =51.71)
For August Month.(include one week from July)
23-07-2018 to 19-08-2018 =3809+3489+4199+3767=15264 (Potential unlocked 17437/38998*100 = 39.14% +7% =
46.14)
For September Month.(include one week from August)
20-08-2018 to 16-09-2018 =3763+3136+3536+3586=14021 (Potential unlocked 14021/38998*100 = 35.95% +7% =
42.95)
The percentage marked in red color simply means, that Merit generated overall are less than the quota of the Source merits. (Or not all sources used their source merits completely)
Before we all, start accusing Merit Sources for not using the source merit completely, I like you to look the below statements from them:
It's no good looking on the beginner's or discussion boards. They are all about bounty and air drops and social networking stuff. I'd like to award members that are interested in Bitcoin and reputable crypto currencies, but I've almost given up trying to find them.
I have the same problem. I need to get rid of sMerit.
I'm far down on this list, but I definitely support newbies IF they make good posts. I've been hunting outside of Meta lately, looking for good ones by lower-ranked members (not just Newbies) and they are hard to find--and then there's the issue of having to check for plagiarism before giving someone merit. I got burned once on this and almost got burned a couple of times, and it's annoying to say the least.
Incompetent and lazy people always blame others for their poverty and lack of success. This forum has more members trying to help people than any other forum I can think of. Note the use of the word "trying", it's water, horses and drinking again, I've stopped trying to help thirsty asses, and spend time with the members who make their own way to the water holes.
The Merit system is working just fine! What you call "people who need them", I call spammers. They are the reason we have the Merit system, and it's designed so they won't rank up.
To me, it doesn't matter whether or not someone "needs" Merit, I give Merit if the post is worth it.
theymos suggested that I'd give merits to some newbies in the forum who make good posts, but then I don't wanna waste too much time looking at threads for hours just to find one.
The newbies that are here to learn won't care about merits, the newbies who want to rank up quick for the bounty moniez will..
I've tried to help newbies but only end up meriting senior members.
I feel that I ought to help junior or new members, but they are either on ignore, or they are hiding from me.
![Smiley](https://bitcointalk.org/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
With 50 done so far about 20000 posts looked more then 16750 were bounty facebook twitter etc.
and at least 2750 were low quality junk
Say less then 500 have a little something worth while.
Those who will still say that there is lack of Merit is actually overlooking that there is lack of quality in this forum.People still applying for Merit Source position (due to their claim that there local board lacks merit source, then below is the reply from Theymos)
Only a few local sections don't have sources now.
So, my conclusion is simple, we do not need more Merit sources but some motivators that can guide the forum from shit to good. I know , it is somewhat impossible task , if bounties and Sig campaign exist.
One suggestion from my side for those who are still applying for Merit source.
Instead of quoting 10 meritable post, just quote 10 user whom you changed from shit poster to average poster.
To all , still complaining for Merits, You have to raise the standards, There is very less possibility that Merit Sources will lower the standards,They might be happy to let their sMerits unused, instead of meriting low quality. You might be lucky to trick them(or other users) for 1,2 or 10 Merits but not for 100+ Merits.