As the spammers seem to of started to find meta...

[TMAN]

The situation with shit threads is only going to get worse. They are adapting and just posting worthless shit in here now, its a shame as meta will go downhill very quickly if we do not try to counteract it.
I am as guilty as anyone else and a large % of my merits get handed out here, But if we don't want meta to turn into a cesspit then I think we need to make a preemptive strike.

I would suggest that all the merit sources put a hold on giving merits in meta for a while, I know it will be hard as there is a ton of quality posts in here (mainly from Higher ranks). I personally think that a few of us should make the effort to be more active in the beginners sub if we tried it for a month or two and made the merit rain there for any non shitposters it should give us some breathing room in here.

anyone else have any thoughts or suggestions around this?

[1714134024]

1714134024

[1714134024]

1714134024

[mdayonliner]

I am as guilty as anyone else and a large % of my merits get handed out here,

I guess more or less we all are guilty for this.

The situation with shit threads is only going to get worse. They are adapting and just posting worthless shit in here now, its a shame as meta will go downhill very quickly if we do not try to counteract it.

Lately I am avoiding meta for some reasons and this is one of it. It went worse after the 1 merit requirement introduced for Jr. Member.

anyone else have any thoughts or suggestions around this?

May be it's time for us to find good posts on the Bitcoin Discussion board. Encourage the posters to post there (good posts of-course)

[The Cryptovator]

For me , it will better disable signature from meta(imo). So it will reduce spam post. But I don't think it will happen. Regarding handover merit, it's depends on merit source and high rank member's.  They should concentrent others board as you said. There is quality post but need spend time to find. Obviously few members are trying to change posting behaviour. We should also need to welcome new member's. After implement new merit system I am trying to spend merit few new quality poster instead of send merit to high ranks.

[Jet Cash]

I'd like to promote the beginners' board, political, serious discussion, and the Ivory Tower. I'd be happy to work with you to improve quality there by awarding merits. If you want to discuss it privately, then comment on Blab chat, I still visit that daily.

[o_e_l_e_o]

At risk of sounding like a stuck record, more strict moderation/dedicated board mod in Meta, rapidly moving/trashing any low-value, begging, whining, or repeated threads, and locking threads that have been answered.

[Alone055]

Restrict accounts below Member rank from posting in Meta. Someone with a Copper Membership can post as well since there can be people getting banned or hacked who would want to open a thread in Meta to get their problems resolved.
Accounts that are banned mostly don't deserve any consideration since they are rule breakers, and users that get hacked should be able to pay $10 or so for a Copper Membership if they really think their account is precious for them. So I don't think it would be a lot to ask for people in both of these situations.

[hilariousetc]

People shouldn't stop giving merits in here but they should stop meriting merit beggars who come in here to either whine at merit or fake 'agree' that it's a great system in the hope that they get one (which a lot of time they have been even though you know they're probably crying with rage behind the keyboard but are just smart enough to know that complaining won't be as effective).

For me , it will better disable signature from meta(imo). So it will reduce spam post. But I don't think it will happen. Regarding handover merit, it's depends on merit source and high rank member's.  They should concentrent others board as you said. There is quality post but need spend time to find. Obviously few members are trying to change posting behaviour. We should also need to welcome new member's. After implement new merit system I am trying to spend merit few new quality poster instead of send merit to high ranks.

Disabling signatures in this sub board isn't going to stop them fishing for merits here. Most of them are Newbies who can't even have a signature until they get a merit and that's why they post here looking for them, but there are worse boards for sig spam. Why aren't you making the case that we remove signatures from Bitcoin Discussion since that's the sub board with the most spam and has been ruined the most? Removing signatures from there would surely resolve that?

[MagicSmoker]

Meta is supposed to be accessible to all ranks to ask about or discuss issues with the forum itself, so I am more in o_e_l_e_o's camp that adding one or more dedicated mods for this section is the best solution. After all, meta is one of the busiest sections on the forum and there really ought to be a few mods in every section, spread out among widely separate time zones.

That said, as long as you at least glance at the first page of an unfamiliar user's post history to check for "good projekt" shitposts and bounty reports before doling out a merit there shouldn't be much of a problem with ranking up undesirables.

Also, several of us have nailed quite a few newbies that strayed into meta for plagiarism; they came here to whine about getting demoted or just outright beg for merits and left with an eviction notice.

Finally, I wouldn't disable the display of signatures because it often provides useful context to a post. For example, some sig campaigns will hire anyone - privcy and eloncity come to mind - so if I see one of those sigs I am more inclined to check the user's post history for plagiarism, shitposting, etc.

[The Cryptovator]

Why aren't you making the case that we remove signatures from Bitcoin Discussion since that's the sub board with the most spam and has been ruined the most? Removing signatures from there would surely resolve that?

I have made post about that for disable signature below member rank all over forum. To be honest , removing signature will not resolve spam but it will reduce. Whatever you make rules there will be few rules breaker. Never mind how strong your rules. But remove signature no one will make unnecessary post.

Snip

Everyone have right to appeal his account. So newbie should be allow, should not force people to buy copper membership. However here could create sub-board. Like "Account related help " . Then we can restrict below member rank. But I am not encourage that, everyone have right to share his thought about forum.

[nngella]

Restrict accounts below Member rank from posting in Meta.

I think the better solution is to study the merit distribution for each board?  If the merit distribution is almost equal in each board (we know the drill, Meta board is one of the highest merit distribution hence it really attracts people who want to rank up) then there is no need to be biased in one board over the other.  I said it before, I think there is a need to study the effect of merit system to the "migration of spammers" (going from one board to the more famous board where they can earn merit).

[o_e_l_e_o]

I'm not in favor of restricting or removing posting rights for lower ranked members in Meta, or in any other board for that matter. I don't think it's fair to punish the handful of interested and non-shitposting newbies because of the actions of others. I am, however, in favor of removing signatures from everything below Member rank, requiring 10 merits (or perhaps more) to display a signature. This does not restrict anyone from getting involved in the forum, and means only the good newbies will ever rank up enough to join a campaign, thereby greatly reducing campaign spamming.

TMAN is right, however - the word is spreading that Meta is the place to go to earn merits. Just look at this thread from a few hours ago in Altcoin Discussion: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5046582.0

For earning some merit, my experience shows that the best place is meta section.

But mostly meta section is the right place to earn merits

We need to be selective about handing out merits to beggars, whilst also reporting these threads for deletion.

[Jet Cash]

I am, however, in favor of removing signatures from everything below Member rank, requiring 10 merits (or perhaps more) to display a signature.

I support this, and I've been suggesting it for several months.

[TMAN]

I am, however, in favor of removing signatures from everything below Member rank, requiring 10 merits (or perhaps more) to display a signature.

I support this, and I've been suggesting it for several months.

totally agree with this point - I nearly sent a merit to a bounty spammer earlier because he made a funny post.

[S_Therapist]

I am, however, in favor of removing signatures from everything below Member rank, requiring 10 merits (or perhaps more) to display a signature.

Requiring 10 merits for wearing signature may reduce the shitpost/spamming from meta only if the spammers/shitposters are here for maintaining the required posts. Cause there will be a significant downfall in signature bounty hunters.

If theymos implement this system, shitpost will be increased, because-
The problem arised (spamming meta) because of hunting merits actually. It has been increased decently after the new requirements applied. So, requiring 10 merits will make people more hungry for hunting merit which will result more spamming.

Right now, I have nothing to suggest. The only thing we can do- Recognise merit beggars and stop engaging with those. Don't merit a person in meta who is showing concern or writing post for having merit. Although it will be tough for most of the sMerit sender.
I will update once I get any idea.

[morvillz7z]

I am, however, in favor of removing signatures from everything below Member rank, requiring 10 merits (or perhaps more) to display a signature.

but

the word is spreading that Meta is the place to go to earn merits.

Remember the week in which new requirements were introduced by theymos, how many merit topics were created. How many users complaining that they can't wear their signatures can not therefore work, followed by dozens of unnecessary and repetitive topics and guides, all of which in a desperate attempt to get a single merit.

Now imagine that there is a new requirement of 10 merits to wear a signature, and multiply all this garbage x10 for an extended period of time. How does that sound? 

Question is...are we ready for what will inevitably become the biggest shitstorm in the history of bitcointalk...

[o_e_l_e_o]

Now imagine that there is a new requirement of 10 merits to wear a signature, and multiply all this garbage x10 for an extended period of time. How does that sound? 

The 1 merit limit has reduced shitposting by 20-30% according to LoyceV's calculations here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5032314.msg46674375#msg46674375

Without any data we can't say for sure, but I think it's a fair assumption to say that a 10 merit limit would reduce spam by >50%. A week or two of spammers crying would be worth it for that. Then we might be able to hold a sensible discussion on BD again. Also, as per my other suggestion, a dedicated mod for the Meta board would go a long way to keeping things under control for those couple of weeks.

[S_Therapist]

The 1 merit limit has reduced shitposting by 20-30% according to LoyceV's calculations here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5032314.msg46674375#msg46674375

It's a calculation on the total amount of activity, isn't it? Well, it has been decreased because a huge amount of Jr member demoted into newbies and they couldn't wear signature. Because of that, there is no meaning of continue posting as they will get no bounty.
However, after the new implementation, the activity in meta, was increased decently. So, the same will happen. 10 merits requirement will reduce spamming in Altcoin discussion (No one care that, IMO) while it will increase spamming in meta significantly.

[xtraelv]

The obvious merit farming has reduced after the first week of constant indirect merit begging posts on Meta since the 1 merit for Jr Member was introduced. It will slowly reduce more.

The spammers that are finding Meta generally are the ones that got banned for plagiarism.

Part of that is due to more people looking to give merit but checking posts for plagiarism.

It is easier to bust them when they come to us.

[Don Pedro Dinero]

I would suggest that all the merit sources put a hold on giving merits in meta for a while, I know it will be hard as there is a ton of quality posts in here (mainly from Higher ranks).

I don’t think it is a good idea and it goes against the very purpose of the merit system: to merit posts based on their quality, not on where they are published.

I also think it won’t work. Because if it is for a while, the idiots will keep coming and won’t even realize people are not giving merits on meta temporarily. Spammers with their multi accounts are always going to try to game the system. If we stopped giving merits on meta and, for example, the Development and Technical Discussion board became the number 1 place to get merits we would have lots of shitposters posting there, and I think we don’t want to see that either.

I wouldn’t do anything, apart from:

I am, however, in favor of removing signatures from everything below Member rank, requiring 10 merits (or perhaps more) to display a signature.

I support this, and I've been suggesting it for several months.

totally agree with this point...

So do I. It should be done without fearing the consequences. This will send the message that if you want to get paid to write on this forum you have to actually make an effort. People will try to cheat? Yes, as usual. Will they complain on meta? Yes. Will they shitpost on meta? Yes. But it is pretty clear to me that it is a good long-term measure. Some people will finally realize that it is easier to get 10 merit if you put some effort to be a good forum member than the effort you need to make to try to cheat the system.

[suchmoon]

I would suggest that all the merit sources put a hold on giving merits in meta for a while, I know it will be hard as there is a ton of quality posts in here (mainly from Higher ranks).

I can't do that, sorry. There are too many good posts here, lots of users doing a great job busting all sorts of mischief and also answering stupid questions.

On the bright side - as xtraelv already mentioned - this is more of a honeypot these days. Yes, shitposters step in here occasionally, but they get treated accordingly because people here know quite well how to look at one's post history.