Excessively meriting a mediocre post - rules?

[AdolfinWolf]

See link; https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5123258.msg50363129#msg50363129

I'm not sure what to think about this; is this abuse, or do the rules of free market and free choice apply here? The post doesn't look exceptionally good to me, especially since "better" (imo) answers had already been given.. (although perhaps Taki sees this differently..?)

Is this sort of behavior generally frowned upon, or is this perfectly fine?

Just wondering.

[1714877441]

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[1714877441]

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[1714877441]

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[The Cryptovator]

It's looking suspicious to me. That post doesn't deserve 40 merit in my opinion. To be honest post isn't consider as a good post for me. This is really generic answer. This is abuse but admin don't like to tag someone for this kind of abuse if they really not involved with buy/sell. So we can't make sure if they trade or sell merit. Perhaps admin could reverse this merit but I don't think it will happen.

[bones261]

It may have been abuse or it may have been a typo. The 40 merits given did not help the receiver rank up though. I have a couple of occasions were I gave 20 merits by mistake instead of 2.

Edit: I stand corrected. But what a stupid way to expend your merit on an alt.  It did little to help the alt from what I can see.

[hacker1001101001]

They are basically alternate accounts of same person.

Connected ETH address: 0xea5944EDdF486BC43Ab9Be4Be34De7486B15E69e

Bitcointalk Username: Taki
Current post count with this post incl.: 2301
BTC Address: 3Kzfo64KxA4CTQXzrdLmBAd4xg9PSwVs2w
ERC20 Compatible Wallet Address: 0xea5944EDdF486BC43Ab9Be4Be34De7486B15E69e
Wear Signature : done
Wear Avatar : done

Hello! On the first page I see that you have 4 open slots for my rank, so I would gladly take one of it  
Username: greeklogos
Profile Link: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=800530
Rank: Full Member
Current post count: 366
BTC address: 124sV8Hhe3GvvV2RvLFucAcHHjtg8jPCxk
ERC20-compatible ETH address: 0xea5944EDdF486BC43Ab9Be4Be34De7486B15E69e

This is clearly termed as merit abusement.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

It may have been abuse or it may have been a typo.

I doubt it was a typo.  Taki barely sends any merit, so my guess is that either he was just getting rid of it on a post that he really agreed with or the recipient bought it from him.  There's no way to tell, though.  It's not against the rules to send huge amounts of merit for a seemingly mediocre post, and there's nothing anyone can do about it unless someone makes a habit out of suspicious meriting.  Even then it's not likely there's going to be much of a response from DT members and there certainly won't be any sanctions from staff.

Some members just don't care about the merit system and think nothing of sending 40 merits to a member for a post that most of us might find bleh.  Not everyone realizes (or cares) how valuable merits are to bounty hunters.  I'm not saying that's the case with Taki, but it could be.  Just let this one go, OP.  Nothing can be done about it.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

Taki barely sends any merit, so my guess is that either he was just getting rid of it on a post that he really agreed with or the recipient bought it from him.  

He was meriting his alt as poven above with connected Ethereum address. I'll consider his act as an act of foolishness, greediness and desperation. Foolishness for sending such huge amount of smerits to a post most people will classified as worthless. Greediness for trying to cheat the forum and Desperation for trying to rank up his alt to earn more from forum.

I don't see anything wrong with sending huge amount of smerits to posts (although I haven't send any yet) but that post he merited doesn't deserve any merit in the first place, lets say it wasn't his alt and he agreed with the post the best he would had done is sending 1 merit (at least that's what most people do). That's not the purpose of merit anyways but as humans we can't eliminate doing so sometimes.

[AdolfinWolf]

-snip-

Hmm. I definitely felt something was off there, glad to see you found some evidence to back it up.

How exactly did you find these correlations? You just went through their search history or is there some tool to scan them which looks for adresses et al?

Some members just don't care about the merit system and think nothing of sending 40 merits to a member for a post that most of us might find bleh.  Not everyone realizes (or cares) how valuable merits are to bounty hunters.  I'm not saying that's the case with Taki, but it could be.  Just let this one go, OP.  Nothing can be done about it.

Well, that's what i was thinking as well at first, thought it would be interesting to see some other people's opinions on this, and whether or not it was accepted behavior.
But, as it turns out, he probably merited his alt account (?)

[YOSHIE]

@greeklogos, @Taki, not only have 2 accounts.
Also he has 3 accounts that he manages.
One more account connected @Tanic.

1. greeklogos
2. Taki
3. Tanic

Bitcointalk Name: Taki
Bitcoin Address: 18HmcqjexaQsVWrPXDw1hTXn25wttTGhzH

( archive )

Link post by Tanic: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1570898.msg16329788#msg16329788

Name: Tanic
Bitcoin address:  18HmcqjexaQsVWrPXDw1hTXn25wttTGhzH

( archive )

Update:
Waves address: 3P4B783SzierQ7grvhr9URh8VEScHxHE6gi

( archive )

Link post by greeklogos: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2195245.msg22122536#msg22122536

WAVES Address: 3P4B783SzierQ7grvhr9URh8VEScHxHE6gi

( archive )

[cryptohunter]

See link; https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5123258.msg50363129#msg50363129

I'm not sure what to think about this; is this abuse, or do the rules of free market and free choice apply here? The post doesn't look exceptionally good to me, especially since "better" (imo) answers had already been given.. (although perhaps Taki sees this differently..?)

Is this sort of behavior generally frowned upon, or is this perfectly fine?

Just wondering.

There are no "real" rules for giving merit ( I see subsequently it was found to likely be his alt so that is likely abuse). I mean it is not supposed to be given out on political grounds, but of course that is observably not the case. Free choice certainly applies.

There are several instances where large amounts of merit are given out from merit sources for a low value one liner.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5123752.msg50280347#msg50280347

I have seen people just more or less ask for some merit and a merit source has just given it to them for fun.  

So, no to answer your question I don't think it is possible to get merit removed for abuse or get anything much done about  it unless it can be proven to be their alt .  Then again i have seen merit removed from excellent posts.  I guess it is not usually worth worrying about it if you see excessive merit passed around for posts that look to have very  low value.

[Taki]

@greeklogos, @Taki, not only have 2 accounts.
Also he has 3 accounts that he manages.
One more account connected @Tanic.

1. greeklogos
2. Taki
3. Tanic

Bitcointalk Name: Taki
Bitcoin Address: 18HmcqjexaQsVWrPXDw1hTXn25wttTGhzH

( archive )

Link post by Tanic: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1570898.msg16329788#msg16329788

Name: Tanic
Bitcoin address:  18HmcqjexaQsVWrPXDw1hTXn25wttTGhzH

( archive )

Update:
Waves address: 3P4B783SzierQ7grvhr9URh8VEScHxHE6gi

( archive )

Link post by greeklogos: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2195245.msg22122536#msg22122536

[qoute]
WAVES Address: 3P4B783SzierQ7grvhr9URh8VEScHxHE6gi

Tanic is not active for many months, so it cannot be counted. Actually I suggested long ago that the forum should to delete such long time inactive accounts. Besides Satoshi's normally.

[hacker1001101001]

By the way I think greeklogos = Taki is evading ban too.


Connected accounts: SvenBomvolen (Banned), greeklogos

Connected address: 1BqQHgPGK83HSNQDPpbD4sBP6CMkSaYzhG

Hello! I would like to join your campaign.
Username: SvenBomvolen
Rank: Hero Member
Starting post count: 1197
Profile link: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=662493
BTC address: 1BqQHgPGK83HSNQDPpbD4sBP6CMkSaYzhG
Thank you!

BTT name: greeklogos
BTT url: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=800530
current posts: 566
Bitcoin address: 1BqQHgPGK83HSNQDPpbD4sBP6CMkSaYzhG
Avatar and personal message: I will update it after your prove that I'm accepted.
Thank you!

[Taki]

OK, what bad I've done? I never participated with all of those accounts in the same campaign. As you can see half of them old and not used for more than a year. I never cheated anyone sinse I'm on the forum.
In the case of merit, that was a step to help to my friend who is tired to be nowhere with participations in campaigns with low rank and he wanted to move to another Rank with my help. I was reading that giving of merit is up to person who gives, so what is bad with that? Sarcasm posts are getting merits, shit posts are getting merits, who knows what is going on on local boards with that.
I'm not a spammer or cheater. There is no case for ban or for such high negative trust.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

OK, what bad I've done?

Well, you helped a serial shitposter to rank up by giving an outrageous amount of merits to him.  I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you obviously aren't a case of someone not realizing the significance of the merit system.

You do realize why the merit system was implemented, right?  It was to prevent shitposters from ranking up by making it really hard for them to earn merits.  By giving this dork a whopping 40 merits for a post that didn't even deserve a single one, you're enabling someone to continue to shitpost for money--and it's not appreciated.  Glad you at least admitted your motivation for doing this.

[Lafu]

In the case of merit, that was a step to help to my friend who is tired to be nowhere with participations in campaigns with low rank and he wanted to move to another Rank with my help.

In this case of the Merit sending its an abuse on the merit system and also with your statement here it shows that you are connected with this Account !

[Taki]

OK, what bad I've done?

Well, you helped a serial shitposter to rank up by giving an outrageous amount of merits to him.  I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you obviously aren't a case of someone not realizing the significance of the merit system.

You do realize why the merit system was implemented, right?  It was to prevent shitposters from ranking up by making it really hard for them to earn merits.  By giving this dork a whopping 40 merits for a post that didn't even deserve a single one, you're enabling someone to continue to shitpost for money--and it's not appreciated.  Glad you at least admitted your motivation for doing this.

I just have nothing to hide and wish to clean up myself with all of this story. I do not care of merits at all, cause of I'm on forum for long time and I am satisfied with my position. I simply wanted to help and look where it bringed me.
I almost fell in depression from all of that. I just cannot to loose this profile. It's everything to me in the connection with crypto currencies.
I have like 10 merits left and I promise to not repeat such things ever again, in both case as helping to someone I know or being paid for such services. Could my reputation to be recovered, please?

In this case of the Merit sending its an abuse on the merit system and also with your statement here it shows that you are connected with this Account !

Yeah, I admitted that already. I know the owner of greeklogos profile.

[morvillz7z]

You and your friend greeklogos seems to have been joining the same signature campaigns within minutes/seconds apart   :

MOONX Sig & Avatar campaign(Closed)

BITTO.TECH - [PAUSED] FOR 2 WEEKS - SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN

★☆★ 777Coin Signature Campaign ★☆★ (Member-Hero Accepted)


I found one more account connected to greeklogos and already banned one SvenBomvolen:

Username: SvenBomvolen

BTC Address: 1BqQHgPGK83HSNQDPpbD4sBP6CMkSaYzhG

Btctalk name: TianaStam
Rank: Member
Current post count: 127
BTC address: 1BqQHgPGK83HSNQDPpbD4sBP6CMkSaYzhG

edit; does anyone else have trouble with bpip? can't search for profiles...

[LTU_btc]

I almost fell in depression from all of that. I just cannot to loose this profile. It's everything to me in the connection with crypto currencies.
I have like 10 merits left and I promise to not repeat such things ever again, in both case as helping to someone I know or being paid for such services. Could my reputation to be recovered, please?

You had to think before doing that. Now it's too late to apologize. Every action has a consequence, you have to accept that.
Anyway, even with red trust you still can continue using this forum, you just lost chance to be accepted into signature campaigns.

[YOSHIE]

I doubt one more thing about the @Tanic account. Even though the account has been inactive for a long time but still functioning, it hasn't been archived.
And what about this one, is this also one person.

1. Tanic
2. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=661185 [tatjanayermakova] [archived]
3. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=23518 [done]
4. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=406281 [jay8291]
5. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=260566
[Remy_5]
6. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2375110
[axelder]
7. https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=875150
[OOPSSS]

Connected evidence:

i want to join
Name         : jay8291
Rank          : Junior Member
Post count  : 44
Wear appropriate sig : yes
Btc addy                 : 13YfFDzx92Yw4C3GDLsFRR5AbusrrYACvn
Join skype group with btctalk name(sorry its owners rule) https://join.skype.com/AG40BK4sXidX  --  DONE

There is some Slight Change in Usersame of skype.

My Skype user is = jay82911.

http://archive.is/OTymh

I wish to take the last position for full member rank.
Name: Tanic
Rank: Full Member
Post count: 257 plus this one
Wear appropriate sig: Yes
Btc addy: 18HmcqjexaQsVWrPXDw1hTXn25wttTGhzH
Join skype group with btctalk name(sorry its owners rule) https://join.skype.com/AG40BK4sXidX name: tatjanayermakova

http://archive.is/vOU5r

Week 17 (02 November 2018 - 08 November 2018)
Twitter Name: @Dima_zverev85
Link to twitter: https://twitter.com/Dima_zverev85

Week 17 (02 November 2018 - 08 November 2018)
Facebook Name: Dima Zverev
Link to Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zveryuga77

http://archive.is/0YhCC

Facebook url: https://www.facebook.com/zveryuga77?ref=bookmarks
Twitter url: https://twitter.com/Dima_zverev85
Spreadsheet number: 206

http://archive.is/HTElM

Link post by axelder: http://archive.is/0elGh

[qoute]
Twitter Profile Link : https://twitter.com/Puncher99
Facebook Profile Link : http://web.facebook.com/rombaldis
[/qoute]

http://archive.is/0elGh

Week Number: 20 (23 November 2018 - 30 November 2018)
Twitter Name: @Puncher99
Link to twitter: https://twitter.com/Puncher99

http://archive.is/jBH1t

WEEK (14.05 - 20.05)
###TWITTER WEEK 1###
Twitter user URL: https://twitter.com/Puncher99

http://archive.is/1zJLk

[Joel_Jantsen]

All the connected accounts should be tagged. Someone should verify the account @Taki and see where he got his merits from. Maybe he got them from his other alternate accounts?

Perhaps admin could reverse this merit but I don't think it will happen.

Terrible suggestion. Admins can't go around reversing merit abuses for 1000 accounts daily.

[bones261]

Yeah, I admitted that already. I know the owner of greeklogos profile.

How intimately do you know greeklogos? It seems that you have a rather close relationship since both accounts are using the same keys to accept payments in many situations.