Fear about merits.

[Stedsm]

Most people here are scared about merits as to how they can earn it, but to my knowledge, its importance is being spread very wrongly here. Everyone here focuses too much on the expected results (merits) instead of doing what it needs to get them. Seriously, you're being misled by others that it's damn hard to earn them, instead it's just like you do what you do best - like showing some art, giving some quality services, adding something interesting to the discussion or starting an interesting discussion yourself. Below is a post that I found in a Signature campaign thread which gained 2 merits total from 2 different users as they found that post interesting:

I'm going to be unable to pick someone today unfortunately. It's more difficult than I expected to narrow it down to one person, so I'm going to need an extra day to do so.

Click on the quote and see the received merits, this shows that sometimes you get merited for fun as well.

Don't post irrelevant things.
When you post, at least try to add something new that's relevant to the topic and don't plunge into topics you don't have relevant knowledge about, because then you'll not really add anything to the discussion but you'll be responsible to make a fool of yourself.

Now, about the actual fear that I personally have:
This, I was going to ask here, then tried myself. I actually wanted to know that if I give merits 2 times to a user on a single (same) post, will it show it on their post or not? Yet, I made a mistake. I wanted to merit the user with 2 merits at first, and then 1 at second, but I accidentally refreshed the page, and to my surprise, the user got credited with 4 merits total by me on their post. You can find the post here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3576976.msg36441454#msg36441454

This shows that not only are merits our liability to give, but also a responsibility to be handled with too much care. Finally, about the observation: I concluded that the number of merits I gave him can be seen as totalled when we see it above their post, but we can see the exact number of merits given for each time when we click merits and browse and check it under the merits received in the last 120 days part.

Read this thread as well: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5030752.msg45824612#msg45824612
Use your merits responsibly, don't give too much and just be you if your only intention to be here is not signature campaign as trying to make the exception (those who are here just for BTC) understand this is useless.

[Ispep]

Now, about the actual fear that I personally have:
This, I was going to ask here, then tried myself. I actually wanted to know that if I give merits 2 times to a user on a single (same) post, will it show it on their post or not? Yet, I made a mistake. I wanted to merit the user with 2 merits at first, and then 1 at second, but I accidentally refreshed the page, and to my surprise, the user got credited with 4 merits total by me on their post. You can find the post here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3576976.msg36441454#msg36441454

I think it's an error/mistake/bog, due to the fact that the page was reloaded/refreshed,i have seen quite some complaints about it(double meriting),and it's all been down to the same reason(page reload/refresh),hopefully the issue will be addressed soon.

I think this thread made earlier by @OGNASTY would be a helpful one(as regards your fears)
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5053799.0

[coin8coin8]

Most people here are scared about merits as to how they can earn it, but to my knowledge, its importance is being spread very wrongly here. Everyone here focuses too much on the expected results (merits) instead of doing what it needs to get them. Seriously, you're being misled by others that it's damn hard to earn them, instead it's just like you do what you do best - like showing some art, giving some quality services, adding something interesting to the discussion or starting an interesting discussion yourself.

Yes, the right thing to do is to use your knowledge to help others, or to share what you know. This is what we really need.
But sometimes I am thinking too. Too many people here are impetuous. They won't even read your posts and other people's replys carefully, just look at the title and start replying, and the reply is usually off topic or a repetitive view.
I don't know how to communicate with them, because in my opinion, what we need is real communication, not just replied.
Especially in the local section, this phenomenon is very prominent. I have tried to communicate with some members of the local section in depth, but this seems to be very difficult.
I have carefully edited articles but no one has discussed it with me in depth, this is a frustrated thing.
Perhaps in their eyes, in depth discussions with me are not only a waste of time and no benefits, so it is meaningless.
Benefits are not just about money. It is also a benefit to discuss and acquire knowledge with others. and it is more important than money. Unfortunately, few people understand this.

[S_Therapist]

~snip~

Having merit is kinda easy if someone has no intention to have it, IMO. The only problem why newbies don't get enough merit is because they give too much importance in merit. That's it. There are lots of example of users having merits while they have no intention to have it, they are here for having knowledge only.

Yet, I made a mistake. I wanted to merit the user with 2 merits at first, and then 1 at second, but I accidentally refreshed the page, and to my surprise, the user got credited with 4 merits total by me on their post.

I am confused. Some say you should face a warning while some say they never faced any warning while refreshing.

but we can see the exact number of merits given for each time when we click merits and browse and check it under the merits received in the last 120 days part.

For your info, you can check total merit history of a user, not only for 120 days.
All the data are available here- www.bpip.org
Also, LoyceV has one which I can't remember right now.

[DdmrDdmr]

<…>

When I saw that meme, it made me laugh for a while, just like the one published by @TheKool1s a bit before on the same thread. Being an interested party, I refrained from meriting the posts at hand. Humour is sometimes well received if it crops up at the right time, although seeing too many meme images would be counterproductive eventually.
As you indicate, there are many registers that get merited, not just in-depth knowledge on a specific matter. What I do find is that, as a norm, merited posts require effort above everything else, and that is something that many people winning about merits do not make.

Concerning meriting the same user on the same post again, as you saw it can be done and the merits simply add together on the post header. This can be done deliberately (for example, when someone has a thread which he updates every week, and you decide to merit it every once in a while for the constant work), or by accident when updating the browser or if there is a timeout on the page (normally you should see a warning though that requires confirmation).

As to the 120 days merit history limit. There are multiple ways to view the complete merit history, amongst which are:
BPIP project (Vod)
Full merit transaction history for any user - now with GRAPHS! (LoyceV)
Swiss army knife Tool to query Merit data online - Full History (Piggy)
Tool to run online SQL queries over Full Merit Data (Piggy)
Merit Dashboard (DdmrDdmr)

[The Cryptovator]

It's true that most of people's are seeking for merit. Especially low rank like us. But I believe merit system helping us to build a decent forum. People's  are trying to contribute their best,  due to rank up. But we don't know when or where we will get it. As you mentioned, may be it will come from fun or constructive post. It's totally depends on readers. But I believe our intention should be contribute something, than obviously we could build decent forum. Sometimes a single art explain many things. That's why your pointed post got merit.

[Isiaka208]

Right now merits is as difficult as mining bitcoin or gold here, Everyone is scrambling for it and it seems the difficulty level is building up as the days unfold. However, I want to implore high rank members to issue it out where it is deserving as some people go as far as selling it.

[Retty]

If people actually changed their mindset from being obsessed with Merit from the first day they join, to actually looking around and learning how this place actually works, then a lot of newbies wouldn't struggle here and complain about Merit all the time.

Crazy thing is...there are literally hundreds of posts that can help you and people pretty much spelling it out on here of what the 'should and shouldn't' do's, yet people just prefer to complain and/or spam the forum.

As the saying goes- You can lead a horse to water....can't make them drink it. 

[Dudeperfect]

This forum is all about seeking and sharing the knowledge regarding Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. The feature was introduced in order to promote the quality content and appreciate the quality contributor in some way. I believe that one should have to do nothing special than the prime motive of this forum, just acquire the maximum knowledge from the experts and help others in a best possible way, merit is just a byproduct of this process.

[nakamura12]

Now, about the actual fear that I personally have:
This, I was going to ask here, then tried myself. I actually wanted to know that if I give merits 2 times to a user on a single (same) post, will it show it on their post or not? Yet, I made a mistake. I wanted to merit the user with 2 merits at first, and then 1 at second, but I accidentally refreshed the page, and to my surprise, the user got credited with 4 merits total by me on their post.

Yes that will happen, when you're done sending merits and then refresh that will result what you're did but there is a way to prevent sending merit twice and that is to click another button and avoid click refresh button. I don't remember where I see the same problem you experienced but the user also refresh the page after sending merits. You may be right that earning merit is hard but for the users (forum members) that are here to learn can earn it easily.

[Hivalley]

Don't post irrelevant things.
When you post, at least try to add something new that's relevant to the topic and don't plunge into topics you don't have relevant knowledge about, because then you'll not really add anything to the discussion but you'll be responsible to make a fool of yourself.

This is one very important aspect we have to tackle on this forum and it has to with posting on topics one has paltry knowledge on, but even worse still most users plunge into topics without reading the OP topic, they just go through one or two replies and coin out something from them, it's just so disheartening and heartbreaking and it kills the forum and reduces the quality of discussions in here

If only we'll read,learn and earn then this forum will be a better place for us all

[sinchang]

There are so many people who currently do not want to do good for others, the reason is because of loss. Well, this kind of thing we have to eliminate in our minds, so that we continue to do good to others and the environment. Why can't we stop to do good, because the reason for good is good. One example, we see grandmothers who will cross on the road, so let's help the grandmother to cross the road, so as not to get hit. Another example, there are many poor people today who need our help. This kind of thing may be trivial, but we sometimes never think about helping them.
 
Never be afraid to do good, because the reward of kindness is good too, so it's time we start life doing good so that we become useful human beings.

Hopefully this simple review can remind us to always do good and keep doing good. Never be afraid to do good, because there are still many out there who are doing good.

[nakamura12]

This is one very important aspect we have to tackle on this forum and it has to with posting on topics one has paltry knowledge on, but even worse still most users plunge into topics without reading the OP topic, they just go through one or two replies and coin out something from them, it's just so disheartening and heartbreaking and it kills the forum and reduces the quality of discussions in here

If only we'll read,learn and earn then this forum will be a better place for us all

Posting irrelevant things will only delay the main discussion and readers will have to spend a bit of their time to get past on such useless thing or information that doesn't concern with the main topic that's why the forum staff takes care of a topics that are needed to be deleted or removed from the thread to make the discussion simple, clean and easy to understand.

[Stedsm]

Right now merits is as difficult as mining bitcoin or gold here, Everyone is scrambling for it and it seems the difficulty level is building up as the days unfold. However, I want to implore high rank members to issue it out where it is deserving as some people go as far as selling it.

It's actually the responsibility of people who go ahead and buy merits, that once they get caught, getting red tagged will be the last option they'll be left out with. You should have the sense not to buy those merits on sale because those merits are worth nothing as you've not worked for them and paying and getting a degree of anything is worth nothing because you don't have the knowledge that it needs for you to be able to pursue the real life job.

[Harlot]

Right now merits is as difficult as mining bitcoin or gold here, Everyone is scrambling for it and it seems the difficulty level is building up as the days unfold. However, I want to implore high rank members to issue it out where it is deserving as some people go as far as selling it.

Not really, from what I know it is a case to case basis depending on the member and if he is really posting something that is really worthy to receive merits. Now for members like you posting one liners and generic answers you won't obviously notice anything (yes I visited your post history). The ones who really are complaining about the system does't really know how to do post or even just improve it a little bit. theymos even added around 30+ new merit sources to help the demoted jr. members that are now newbies, so I really don't know why you are complaining.

[Infinixhot1996]

Right now merits is as difficult as mining bitcoin or gold here, Everyone is scrambling for it and it seems the difficulty level is building up as the days unfold. However, I want to implore high rank members to issue it out where it is deserving as some people go as far as selling it.

Really,high tech,mining rig,impeccable electricity,highly brainy dev/miners to solve cryptographic puzzles etc, that's what it takes to mine bitcoin being compared to just reading,learning and making a helpful contribution for either a merit source or a user to hand out one,and with constant quality posting,more and more comes..

Really your comparison makes the merit system look really impossible...
Merits should actually be compared to a walk in the park on a Sunday evening

[Morpexmorpex]

Right now merits is as difficult as mining bitcoin or gold here, Everyone is scrambling for it and it seems the difficulty level is building up as the days unfold. However, I want to implore high rank members to issue it out where it is deserving as some people go as far as selling it.

in this situation, I believe that nothing can be done...Meriti sold at the highest levels and we are the lower steps on vryatli someone that is just translate.even if we will write clever posts about cryptocurrency on this forum) navryatle(

[bitmover]

I believe that earning merit is like dedication yourself to the forum.

When I discovered this forum I already had some knowledge about cryptocurrencies and blockchain.
When I saw that owing an account here could prove to be very useful, and joining campaigns such as fortune jack and chipmixer was also very profitable, I decided to make an account here.

I learned a lot here. As xtraelv said, we are surrounded by legends.

People cry about merits , but thoss users seem never ask  themselves"how can I contribute to this forum?"

Users such as piggy and ddmrddmr contribute to the forum making merit analysis data (mostly). Other users contribute with their cryptography knowledge. I don't have any of those possibilities.

I discovered a way to be useful here, by just writing things that make sense. I discovered that I like to write .
Some other day a made a topic in ivory tower about a history book I read. That post received many merits.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4959810.0
Users can wrote anything here, and if its means anything, it will be merited.

Just think, what can you do well here? You can make political /economics analysis about your country situation.  You can write about books you read. You can write about anything. You can post a video in YouTube and post the link here, if you don't like to write.

Anything counts, and there are many merit sources eager to merit users.

[DdmrDdmr]

Lately I’m seeing the impatience factor kicking in often. People write a decent post and immediately get frustrated if it is not merited. There are many factors that count towards getting merited (content, style, tone, depth, where it is posted, the time, thread length, etc.), but one should not feel frustrated after giving it a go, making a decent post, and not seeing a merit for it. This will often happen, and is rather natural. Nevertheless, if one makes a habit of creating decent posts regularly, chances are that he will eventually start getting merit.

I always like to state that it took me nearly two months to get my first merit, and that was on my local board. I probably wrote some decent stuff before that first merit, but, as I said, it’s a question of being consistent and persistent.

In my opinion (mind you it’s my personal opinion, and may not be a general norm), once you get your first merit, things get easier, especially if you get merited by some of the most recognized members of the forum. It’s not that being merited by a recognized member stands as a perpetual vouch for you, but it does ease a bit the job for other members that are considering awarding you.

[jeromix]

It's true that most of people's are seeking for merit. Especially low rank like us. But I believe merit system helping us to build a decent forum. People's  are trying to contribute their best,  due to rank up. But we don't know when or where we will get it. As you mentioned, may be it will come from fun or constructive post. It's totally depends on readers. But I believe our intention should be contribute something, than obviously we could build decent forum. Sometimes a single art explain many things. That's why your pointed post got merit.

I do like your ideology on your signature. You are not actually promoting ICO project and it seems that you are helping the forum as well. It made me realize after noticing you to which most of the users wearing signature to earn profit by earning bounty rewards unlike you wearing your signature to help spreading awareness in the forum. There are still users like you that promulgate goodness by spreading awareness.

Anyway, to what OP really speaks of is true. Most of it are lower ranks. Imagine that our number is huge and the problem is that how could we get the merit to rank up.

Everyone here focuses too much on the expected results (merits) instead of doing what it needs to get them. Seriously, you're being misled by others that it's damn hard to earn them, instead it's just like you do what you do best - like showing some art, giving some quality services, adding something interesting to the discussion or starting an interesting discussion yourself.

OP think this way because he had already earned merits. The OP posting skill is good and that is why earning merit is not that difficult whereas to the likes of us that are struggling posting good post might be a real problem. The good advise here is to learn more in the forum. Yes, we learn and gain knowledge. We do our best but our best may consider as low quality to others. Knowledge is foundation to this but sadly we could not blame ourselves for having low IQ.