When I see this coming from someone who starts, it makes me think that you are a "newbie" with good intentions but lazy.
I explain my point of view with your OP, when us +merit "has" its merit, it is assumed that one reads and reads, until find where is not There is a doubt you +merit it.
It may be that just in that post where you set the merit it is not something relevant to the community or the feeling of the classic "but what the fuck! Because this guy receives a merit for such a simple comment" there the point, sometimes that post means the sum of many things, good answers, good contributions, messages of encouragement, tutorials, participation, etc.
The above is the work point on which you should focus, the perception of give a merit not only due to the fact that from your perspective it is a good post, sometimes you have to understand certain boards, how do they work what kind of users receive it who are the merit donors* of that board, what I try to think or tell you is that the merit for most users should be something natural, not induced, in fact only a small group of users can allow themselves to perform certain types of activities to send merits.
In conclusion, it is worth more that you think about how to earn two merits with good post to generate +merit, because in that process you learn how to deliver them, whether you deliver them correctly or not, the important thing is that the delivery is honest or at least based on your own perspective.
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*There is also the situation that in certain sections there are always users who have many merits and are constantly supporting the different users on the different boards.
When you see a post that deserves a merit, expect "x" time if an experienced user "send merits" in this post , them it tells you first that you were not wrong in your assessment, then you decide if you contribute your opinion meriting the post yourself, otherwise you simply find other post. It's that simple, but be honest in your common sense (decision).
G.B.