I want to learn on how to distinguish merit looking and a helpful post

[erikoy]

Many of the low rank members in this forum are making threads and gaining merits just recently and others were able to rank up. However, a certain issue has arise to which other members claim that this section has been like a ground for merit looking posts. I could be guilty in this issue about the merit looking posts because I had few posts and I could not verify whether my posts is helpful or just like a merit looking posts. Now, I am confused what post exactly is helping or just a merit farm post.

I would like to brought this up because it greatly affect us the the low rank members in this forum for our post could be suspected as merit looking posts. This created confusions in me and probably to other low rank users on how, when, what will we going to posts. And because of this I made some perception in regards to other members that are being so rude of suspecting merit looking posts for probably they wanted to

+ Bully low rank users.
+ dominate in the forum
+ does not want low rank users to rank up

It could also possibly mean that they wanted to

+ create forum a better like reprimanding low rank users in a merit looking posts
+ guide low rank users to make better posts than look like a merit looking posts
+ regulate merit looking posts in beginners and help section and other sections as well.

Whatever it would be they think of the merit looking posts we cannot deny the fact that mostly of it were done by trying to contribute to the forum. So, where could the problem should be?

1. Is it because of members wanting to rank up and trying hard to contribute by making post that for them could be helpful and could get merits?

2. Is it because because low rank members does not feel how to get merits by just doing replies.

3. Is it because our point are not as good as high rank users.

4. Is it because merits are now focused on giving to the low rank users.

5. Is it because low rank members are just annoying in this forum and should not be here to join discussion with other members.

Let's discuss about this for us to change our ways on how to deal with our posts. I know in myself that I am not a quality poster but this is the only way or chance that I can do to try hard to contribute and be helpful in the forum as much as possible.

My conclusion

Rewarding of merit is being decentralized and has been tasked to the merit source. The merit source are trusted users by the admin and are good members of the forum that are capable of knowing when to reward the allocated merit provided to the members that contribute help to the forum. So, I think we could not question the merit source on their ways of rewarding merit for if we do then it is also more like questioning the admin of this forum whom trusted the merit source on how to reward the merits.

I suggest to all members especially the high rank members to criticize posts whenever they see a merit looking thread. I can be more greatful to be assess on what I did here in the forum through your criticism. I know I could do wrong but will be happy to learn from it. However, I know that most of the high rank members here are good guy and just wanted to make the forum a more ideal and better place.

Still I wanted to discuss to know your opinion so that I could learn on how to distinguish merit looking and helpful posts that will help me to become a better member of the forum.

Edit -

You could be overthinking this a little and yuu ou haven't really said any types of topics that have been used for merit hunting either? Could you not give a common example?

Example of merit grabbing post.

For your ready reference on data file recovery
For your ready reference on mobile phone/device bitcoin wallet
For your ready reference on phishing
For your ready reference on Cryptocurrency Exchange
Some tips for posting habit and to grow in bitcointalk forum

Best regards,

[jackg]

Merits aren't meant to be scarce... There should be enough circulating for members to be able to give them to above average posts of all users based on the user tank's demographic.

You could be overthinking this a little and yuu ou haven't really said any types of topics that have been used for merit hunting either? Could you not give a common example?

[Jawhead999]

For me the common of merit looking post is usually a similar thread that has been discussed a dozens time. And it's even worse if the thread doesn't reflect on him.

e.g. Topic discuss about how to earn merit and created by newbie user who doesn't earn any single merit yet.

[DdmrDdmr]

I personally couldn’t care less of the intent behind a post, and although I could sometimes second-guess whether the intent was to grab some merits (some pretty obvious), providing the content is decent enough, so what? If we have to question the intent of each post, with disregards to the content itself, we’re screwed. Merits are to reward decent enough posts, and determine who can rank-up in the aftermaths. The system is already subject to a pretty centralized effect (probably not by intent, but by outcome). No need to go second-guessing intent now and delimit the scope of awarding based on that.

We could just as easily bring the spotlight on signatures. I’m personally convinced may threads and posts are created to comply with campaign quotas, but if it’s done in a respectful manner, so what? Take away the signatures, and we’ll have way less activity on the forum (some fine, but a large reduction would be an overkill, unless we want an elitist closed-circle forum). Take away the merits, and we’re back to square one.

If we want to denaturalize posts from their inferred intent, we should probably take a look at the more technical boards, which, to me, are clearly less suspicious of wanting merit or to worry about their signature. Nevertheless, not that many have the knowledge, skills nor interest to be there.

Beginners and Help, coming back to the board we’re on about now, is about just that. Granted that there are tons of guides I would never use, tips I would not follow, or information that is redundant in the overall forum’s posting history. It’s not that simple to create content, and it’s extremely difficult to be versed and unique to a certain degree. The forum needs to accommodate people who make an effort and progress in the event. There no need to be more papist than the pope (a general reflection).

[Coyster]

Imo, there's nothing like a 'merit looking' post, it's either a post or thread is helpful/decent enough/Hq/teaches something original etc, or is not, if it does any of that, then it can earn merits, if it doesn't, then it may not. That being said, it's still pretty subjective, what teaches me something original or i consider as hq may not be the same for another user.

There's no need to distinguish anything, if a post is good in your own standard, then you can give merits to it, and if it doesn't cross your standard, then don't merit it and forget about the intent in the mind of the poster, and mind you, there is no way to categorically ascertain the reason why a user made a thread, you can only assume and can be wrong, so no need doing that in the first place.

[Yogee]

For me the common of merit looking post is usually a similar thread that has been discussed a dozens time. And it's even worse if the thread doesn't reflect on him.

e.g. Topic discuss about how to earn merit and created by newbie user who doesn't earn any single merit yet.

At one point, I tried to avoid B&H because of posts like these.

.....

I could be guilty in this issue about the merit looking posts because I had few posts and I could not verify whether my posts is helpful or just like a merit looking posts.

Just ask yourself why you create topics. Were you also thinking of receiving merits? If so, don't be too hard on yourself. There are probably less than 10% here, high rank or not, who posts without giving a damn about merits.

I think you've made those topics because you also wanted to rank up. Your ready reference for bitcoin mobile wallets, for example,  has been discussed in a topic that is already pinned in this section.
- https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1631151.0#post_mobilea
- https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1631151.0#post_mobilei

You may have added a few more in your own thread but you could have chosen to add those wallets not mentioned in that pinned topic instead of making another one.

.....

This is my honest view about your case and I could be right or wrong. Congrats on ranking up.

[Daniel91]

I think too much has been written lately about the merits on this forum.
We are all different and have different thoughts and make different decisions.
I would not say that there is a universal rule why some posts get merit and some don't.
It really doesn’t make much sense to discuss it or try to write posts with the goal of getting merits.
It just doesn’t work that way.
Be natural and express yourself, your opinions and don't think about the merits too much.
It is up to others to consider and decide whether your post contributes to the community and deserves merits or not.
There is no rules here.

[SquirrelJulietGarden]

Still I wanted to discuss to know your opinion so that I could learn on how to distinguish merit looking and helpful posts that will help me to become a better member of the forum.

Why have ability to distinguish merit looking posts and helpful posts can help you to be a better member of the forum?

You are better member if you are more active on the forum and make more contributions with higher quality.

Good posts are posts have:
- Good contents
- On topic answers and help OP to answer questions.
- Not a plagiarism
- Not a copy & paste and don't have personal thoughtful opinion.

[BIT-BENDER]

Will I mind or invoke faults on a post -merit chasing- if the post was reflective of admittable quality, exciting to read? No.
What can motivate -Newbies, low rank-
+ merit
+ answers/criticism from high rank
+ post - theirs or others-

@erikoy my merit grabbing post are
+ posts that are so respectful and submissive -too cautious-
+ sending pm to others before making the post
+ bring links -other sites- without your own insight/summary.

[cryptoaddictchie]

In my opinion, if the topic denotes or discuss an old one probably he/she expecting to have some merit drops. Normally we can see a lot of users posting guidelines right and tutorials which I think is worthy of receiving merits.

I dont think you should have your own standards when it comes to meriting good post. Some here have different opinion and how they want to spend their smerits either its a good post, humorous, or anything. So if a post you see impress you then go for it. No need to be bothere whether some will follow to send merit or not.

[Pmalek]

All you can do is listen to what your gut feeling is telling you. Ask yourself, is this user genuinely posting to resolve someone's problem, offer guidance, or does he post what the community considers merit-worthy? I wouldn't spend too much time thinking about it. if you liked the post, simply merit it. It is your own opinion that counts.

Imagine if there was a merit guideline about which posts are merit-worthy and which aren't. That would be even worse. You would have a small part of the forum who don't need to follow the guideline, because quality posts are a natural thing for them and that is just the way they post. And you would have a huge part of members trying to copy their style to become worthy of merits. It just doesn't work.

If you like it, merit it if you can. It's a totally subjective choice and you don't need to answer to anyone.   

[nakamura12]

All you can do is listen to what your gut feeling is telling you. Ask yourself, is this user genuinely posting to resolve someone's problem, offer guidance, or does he post what the community considers merit-worthy? I wouldn't spend too much time thinking about it. if you liked the post, simply merit it. It is your own opinion that counts.

Imagine if there was a merit guideline about which posts are merit-worthy and which aren't. That would be even worse. You would have a small part of the forum who don't need to follow the guideline, because quality posts are a natural thing for them and that is just the way they post. And you would have a huge part of members trying to copy their style to become worthy of merits. It just doesn't work.

If you like it, merit it if you can. It's a totally subjective choice and you don't need to answer to anyone.   

Thanks to your words I have done something good like what you said, If you like the post then simply merit it. I have done that and I hope that op will also take notice on what you wanted to say or to explain. I have always been like that before where I need to be someone else so I can earn merit but you are right it doesn't work that way so I have to say things that is from my mind or what I thi k about it and just be myself.

[QueenVera]

Just some additional words and observation. The merit system isn't decentralized entirely though that doesn't means its centralized way of operation is bad as the users put in charge of distributing the smerits are doing a great Job. If we had more quality posts written on the forum then you'll see the sources full force in action. What I used to distinguish between a quality post might be different from what others use, but the general thought is that the post been merited added value to the readers and it's low quality.

You can easily identify points created with just the intention of hurting for merit and those created to help another forum member out either as a response to the questions been ask or a guide, these are the post worth meriting.

[Assface16678]

I think all of those are depends on you mate because we have different insights, likes, and dislike into a topic if you think that member deserves to have merit you should give them, we are just common members unlike the merit sources so you need to respond to the merit you are giving.

Most of the time I'm giving merit to someone who efforts their thread and contents you can easily see if that person gives all of his/their ideas and share it with another member.

There is no specific rule in giving merit you have right to choose who you want to get your sacred merit lol.

[pakhitheboss]

I think there are enough post in this forum on different boards where any low rank user can submit their post and earn merits. Distinguishing whether a post qualifies for merit or not completely depends on the OP.

You need to decide by yourself whether that post qualifies for a merit or not as every individual here has different criteria for awarding merits.

[Maroons]

I think there are enough post in this forum on different boards where any low rank user can submit their post and earn merits. Distinguishing whether a post qualifies for merit or not completely depends on the OP.

You need to decide by yourself whether that post qualifies for a merit or not as every individual here has different criteria for awarding merits.

Honestly every post is worth to be merited as long as the given reply or post gives the people who will read it knowledge about a certain topic and yes we have different criteria for awarding merits to people in the forum but the main thing you need to target is the one I said in the first sentence because that's what the forum is all about but of course giving merits is hard for you can't just freely give it because your merit might decrease because of giving without thinking or understanding the topic and the reply first so I think we all need to research and give good answers to a topic and also add some reference where they can read more about a certain topic because that's add up to the goodness of our post.

[Rikafip]

I could be guilty in this issue about the merit looking posts because I had few posts and I could not verify whether my posts is helpful or just like a merit looking posts. Now, I am confused what post exactly is helping or just a merit farm post

As long as you invested some time, your posts are helpful and make sense, I wouldn't worry much about it, and from what I could see, posts you shared meet that criteria. Dissecting every decent post from a low rank member and intentions behind it wouldn't bring anything good to this forum that already lacks good new members.

Then again, there are some pretty bad and obvious merit fishing posts that adds nothing and is pretty much beating of a dead horse, in which I wouldn't even bother to write, let alone give any merit. Here are few recent examples,
Newbies and how to rank up easily  
Begging for merits is not a good idea

[DdmrDdmr]

I’m not sure that many have grabbed the motive of the OP’s opening post. If I’m right, it’s a response, with a touch of sarcasm, to a comment made by another forum member, that pointed to B&H being full of Merit grabbing attempt threads. The self-Merit grabbing examples in the OP go in line with this …

If a beginner can’t try to earn some merits here, you tell me where the devil he’s going to be able to. The main thing to consider is whether the content is decent enough, and the intent is pretty much a secondary factor (and Merit grabbing is just one of the possible reasons, amongst an array of them), providing it's not something like scamming or spreading malware.

[erikoy]

Thank you for your input and i had just learn something here after making this thread. This is just my self realization after reading some posts or replies.

First, a merit grabbing post could be helpful or not. It will depend on the content but it is actually a merit grabbing post to rank up. This is usually done by the low rank users. I can't disagree too like other members in the forum here that hate to see merit looking posts because we know how much knowledge they had already here in the forum and having posts that will not compensate on their level could be degraded and label as merit looking post.

Second, there are just bully members and are just wanting to bully other members especially low rank members. These are the usual scenario why I said some are bully like a non native english speaker that has having hard time formulating sentence and make its content worst (only few users are like this and they get bullied, however some are just shit poster so they deserve to get bullied). Another examle is a newbie also wanting to earn merit but still could not a single merit are also subject for getting bullied. There are also members usually wanting your post to be degraded so that they can go on top by degrading your post or even showing their own threads in their reply like saying "hey my thread is better than yours! check it out!".

Third, being friendly to merit source or other users that are holding lots of merits to give. Other user then became friendly in them constant mentioning and Idolizing and praising to get close can eventually get higher number of merits. Constant praising and mentioning the merit source is probably a way that they can get more merits from them.

Fourth, Copy and pasting long articles outside without ease and putting the source below is a trap to earn merits that could be gain fast and easy.

Fifth, raising awareness like scam activities, giveaways, and other fake sites in the section where visible to merit source instead of reporting or posting it to the right section and right thread is considered as merit grabbing post but it did actually helpful.

Anyway, other mention above that rewarding merits is based upon members perception and no way we can decide it for him to reward.

The self realization I learn is that merit grabbing post could be helpful or not. A helpful merit looking post could deserve to get merits and no one can stop a member to create a merit grabbing post that will contribute help in the forum. So, no need to verify if my post are merit grabbing post or not as long as it contribute then that will do. And I always be thankful to members that help me grow in the forum even from the start I was shit posting or was a bounty hunter with no direction on guidance to grow in the forum. It was a comeback for me.

Always thankful who had supported my threads and always there to reward merits that help me grow.  My two idols who I always look up in this forum like 1) @DdmrDdmr and 2) others.