How merit and trust works here

[lucifer_8]

I have always been a silent reader of the forum and mostly wouldn’t bother to login as I use TOR. Merit and trust are intended to reduce spam and scam, even though they are used for the said purpose to some extent it’s not true in most cases. I see that most of you are using the forum as place to earn and to be honest there is nothing wrong in that. Today I would like to share my thoughts from my observation as for as how the merit and trust really work here with/without examples.

Ideal Way:
- Be constructive
- Be helpful
- Share your thoughts/queries etc
- Don’t Spam
It’s just simple as that. Learn from the forum and educate others what you have learned. Trust is too much drama.

Hacks Used:
- Being part of a gang. This is the most important thing when it comes to earning merits or trust. If you are not part of a gang then it’s really hard to earn merits or trust. This is one of the best ways to exploit merits and trust. Example: WO gang, Local Boards especially Russian, Philippines etc.
- Don’t irk the powerful. By powerful, I mean the OGs who mostly are DTs and merit sources. Most OGs are assholes but even if you can’t make a friendship with them, don’t irk them. If you irk them, you aren’t going to get merits from them and you’ll be blacklisted by others trying to please the OGs. Further, you might be red tagged for silly reasons. Example: Lauda’s feedback (currently not a threat but I think you get my point)
- Don’t fight against the majority Don’t be a dumbass to fight against the majority, if you are planning to earn from the forum. The majority group always wins, its basic common sense. Ex: Turks gang (already wasted) – there were too dumb to go against the powerful and the majority.
- Buy/Sell in the Forum Instead of buying and selling in a centralized exchange, use the forum to buy/sell, your profile will be painted green in no time and most likely you will also be added to DT. If you make it to DT, you have better chances of earning here.
- Reputation Board and WO are the best places to make powerful friends All you have to do is please them and stand with them. Your merits and trust will increase if you succeed in pleasing them.
- Stay away from Reputation Board if you are cheater/violator If you indulge in reputation boars, you will definitely irk someone in no time in an attempt to please the powerful. That’s really a bad idea if you already are cheating with your Alts or violating forum rules. Because, if you irk someone, he is definitely going to check your post history and will look to harm you. If you are criminal, you definitely don’t want some watching your actions.
Few more ideas –
- Translate good global posts to your local board and rank up in no time. Ex: Some of the top merit earners are translators; you can check the stats yourself.
- Even if you are shady and want to improve your service reputation, fish out DT members and add them to your campaign. Don’t let others to manage the campaign, do it yourself otherwise the campaign manager might end with added reputation. Ex: BestChange
- Don’t try to catch small fish (altcoin bounties), have patience. Altcoin bounty hunters are generally ignored by the Merit Sources and other users

That’s it. If you have any more hacks, do share. I'll be happy to update.
If you think I'm wrong, you are welcome to share you thoughts. But any offtopic post or information will be removed.
I'm not sure if this is for Beginners or Reputation but I didn't choose Meta because of the lack of Self-moderation.

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[sheenshane]

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- Even if you are shady and want to improve your service reputation, fish out DT members and add them to your campaign. Don’t let others to manage the campaign, do it yourself otherwise the campaign manager might end with added reputation. Ex: BestChange

This isn't a good example. That's the reason why we have a reputation and scam accusation sub-boards to discuss an allegation between the complainant and the being accused. Once you have been proven not guilty, cases solved against you. And BestChange proved their legitimacy here.

You will earn merit without a gang and not necessary for a good poster to hunt merit, they will earn without knowing them once merit source or ordinary member like their constructive post. Just like you OP, you have earned 24 merits because you are a good poster not just because you are joining a gang. Just stand of what you are and be true to your self, merit system probably not a wall barrier to rank for you. Your Ideal Way: that you have mentioned is very helpful though.

In addition, probably this thread might be helpful for the general information about Newbies joining here in the forum. Comprehensive guide to Bitcointalk. Newbie friendly + calculator and infographic

[blue Snow]

Depending on what purpose, if for knowledge, merit and trust aren't necessary. I agree with you in the first paragraph.

[rhomelmabini]

- Being part of a gang. This is the most important thing when it comes to earning merits or trust. If you are not part of a gang then it’s really hard to earn merits or trust. This is one of the best ways to exploit merits and trust. Example: WO gang, Local Boards especially Russian, Philippines etc.

I'm not a part of any gang or if someone already puts me on their circle, I can't tell and I wouldn't care the less. Woah! I'm uninformed there was a gang here from my country, can you shed some light about the Philippine gang?

- Don’t irk the powerful. By powerful, I mean the OGs who mostly are DTs and merit sources. Most OGs are assholes but even if you can’t make a friendship with them, don’t irk them. If you irk them, you aren’t going to get merits from them and you’ll be blacklisted by others trying to please the OGs. Further, you might be red tagged for silly reasons. Example: Lauda’s feedback (currently not a threat but I think you get my point)

There are even more powerful users to them here in the forum but they aren't that silly, e.g. Admins.

- Don’t fight against the majority Don’t be a dumbass to fight against the majority, if you are planning to earn from the forum. The majority group always wins, its basic common sense. Ex: Turks gang (already wasted) – there were too dumb to go against the powerful and the majority.

Dont fight them; 1, 2 . Mostly it does but if you are fighting for truth I believe there's someone that will back you up, not all into the influx of majority are purely into the majority someone hears those who speak out for the truth.

- Buy/Sell in the Forum Instead of buying and selling in a centralized exchange, use the forum to buy/sell, your profile will be painted green in no time and most likely you will also be added to DT. If you make it to DT, you have better chances of earning here.

Wrong impression on why some have been put onto DT. Though there are scenarios that it does I think you are wrong if you think about that.

- Reputation Board and WO are the best places to make powerful friends All you have to do is please them and stand with them. Your merits and trust will increase if you succeed in pleasing them.

If they aren't pleased you'll be fighting against the majority. I wish I know how to please someone here. Do you think that's the majority of high ranks members being successful in earning trust and merit? I doubt that.

- Stay away from Reputation Board if you are cheater/violator If you indulge in reputation boars, you will definitely irk someone in no time in an attempt to please the powerful. That’s really a bad idea if you already are cheating with your Alts or violating forum rules. Because, if you irk someone, he is definitely going to check your post history and will look to harm you. If you are criminal, you definitely don’t want some watching your actions.

I think they are just pleasing and stands for those who are on the Reputation board, you said that.


This one is the good guide thread on how to use the trust system: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5191802.0

[Yourhomeboy]

Support the services of merit owners When you buy from or sell to a member with Smerits they will likely reward your honesty with a merit.

[hd49728]

For both merits and reputation (I use reputation rather than trust), they take time to accumulate. They are not the same but they have some types of correlation or relation at least.

Your reputation depends on many things, your merits you earned from your good works, and your past trades with the others. Reputation relate to your contributions, and maybe to your past trades (if you actually have trades with others).

There is no shortcut way to accumulate them instantly and without harms back. I am sure anyone try to exchange merits or trusts will be caught soon and that is very harmful. When you realize your mistakes, your bad activities, it will be too late to change anything. Your reputation will be destroyed and nearly unable to get it back.

[Krislaw]

I won't agree with all of you points especially the first and fourth. Being part of a gang is doesn't sound well making it look like this forum has some cult members. I have earned merits on some topics that I created.

And for the fourth one, you don't have to buy and sell just to earn trust, you might not even get any feedback from the user. Create your own service and that's how you earn people's trust.