Was the forum better before without Merit or is it better now with Merit?

[Rikafip]

I have no idea how it was before merit implentation as I joined later, but if we have so many high ranking shitposters now, I can only imagine how bad it was when you could rank tp Legendary by simply writing one liner shitposts for a couple of years.

Merit system ain't perfect, but it definitely made it harder for account farmers.

[SamReomo]

Members, reputable members. Was it better before back then when this forum was without merits or is it better or even much better now with merits? Please explain your answer so users like me can get an idea how it was and what you prefer.

The forum was okay without merits but the spammers and accounts farmers took advantage of the forum's no merit system back then and farmed they used to farm many accounts so they can sell those low-effort ranked accounts for money.

The merit system almost eradicated those merit farmers and has improved the quality of posts to much higher levels. I would say that the merit system is the best system for the forum and it's implementation has improved the number of quality posters as well as helped those to rank up who contribute to the forum.

[BabyBandit]

Thank everyone for the replies.

As I understand it from the poll and replies that it's better now! The merit system avoids spammer to running around here free, and that's good and what we want? 
Someone said it's not perfect, but I think we call can agree that's nothing is perfect in life, but if it's better then it was it's already winning.  

Much, much better now than before the merit system was created--and I think I've said that like a million times across the span of 5 years already.  While I think there's still a big shitposting problem, at least people aren't doing it with a stable of alt accounts that they're ranking up either to enroll in bounties/campaigns or to sell to account buyers.  The merit system swept the legs right out from under account farmers, and that was no small thing.

There used to be threads where it was obvious that alt accounts were responding to each other as though they were actually different people; you don't see that much anymore.

When was it possible to start enroll in campaigns on the forum? Was also that a positive change? For the reason now an account can actually make move in a respected way (Post high quality posts) so it should also make the forum a bit cleaner from spam?

it makes sense the merit system helped to halt to some degree the spamming and the account farming. Now obviously takes much more effort to account farm for the purpose of selling them outside of the forum, to the extent many of the farmers probably stopped trying at this point.

No system is perfect, that is for sure, but having a system like this one is better than not having one. At least, that is my humble opinion.

I agree you on this one bro! As long we trying ur best with what we got, it will be much better then if we work against it.

I was here 2years before the merit system was started and I am still here after 5years of the merit system.

The good thing/or so we thought, was that alt-accounts would reduce in number and account farming would be discouraged, although the second point has fairly been effective, they eventually are managing to rank up and introduce their own into multiple campaign and defraud them like previously. In other words, there are loopholes and its not perfect, but sometimes merit ends up being a distraction rather than engaging in the community.

So my opinion is that not much has changed, we had bootlickers previously and we still have, its just how democracy works. Suck it up and continue on your one man army life.

I can understand that many people using signature campaign as a main source of income, since I understand that some users are from poor countries so I am so glad it's possible to earn money here in a legal way that also can improve your intellect. with this thinking the scam should be less and honestly should be the way everyone wants to go. It must be much more fun to have a honest account you farmed up during long time instead of cheating your way up.
Thank you BitcoinTalk!

Members, reputable members. Was it better before back then when this forum was without merits or is it better or even much better now with merits?

Before the merit system, as consequence of cryptocurrency market and ICO booming in 2017 and 2018, the forum was flooded with shit posters. Merit system kicked off in January 2018 helped to indirectly eliminate shit posters because they have no available space to spam and get money for their 'works'.

Then another wave of spam returned when those farms exchanged merits to rank up to like Junior member (without 1 merit required back in the day with initial merit system), then theymos launched an Enhanced merit system (with 1 merit required to be Junior member, previous junior members without 1 earned merit will be deranked to newbies). Spam reduced effectively and significantly again.

Then the massive booster of monthly sourced merits caused another issue, when I can see many shit posters rising again. They wrote wall of texts and use those text walls as their fake marks of quality to exchange merit, rank up and spam to work.

Thank you for this information.

[m2017]

Members, reputable members. Was it better before back then when this forum was without merits or is it better or even much better now with merits? Please explain your answer so users like me can get an idea how it was and what you prefer.

I saw both periods on this forum: both before and after merits. And this is what I will say about this. I have already voiced this point of view several times, but I repeat that I believe that the introduction of merits benefited the bitcointalk, which made it possible to improve the quality of posts, pushing users not just to spam all sorts of garbage, but at least to generate more or less useful and interesting texts. I won’t talk about everyone, but I’m sure that for me, at least, the introduction of the merit system had a beneficial effect and forced me to be more thoughtful about what I write on this forum.

[Woodie]

I think both era's had/have their strengths and weakness, but I think the first era without the merit requirements was a great one has it gave us the freedom which many of us enjoyed!
But unfortunately this freedom was abused with spam on the forum, which lead to the era of the merit system..which meant any spammers of the forum would not rank up..and unfortunately I think the system of merit is broken aswell as most users have brought in their A game but because of language barriers not belonging  to the forums local boards or not fitting in into certain cliques some users don't rank up as the merit system doesn't favour all!!

Otherwise all in all, I liked the era without merit way better than this one, no hard feelings guys and girls

[Beparanf]

Members, reputable members. Was it better before back then when this forum was without merits or is it better or even much better now with merits? Please explain your answer so users like me can get an idea how it was and what you prefer.

Much better with merits since there’s tons of spammer out there that literally posting nonsense on any thread just to farm an account because activity can be gained by just posting per 2 weeks.

Now, it’s very hard to farm account that decreases account sales which consider as a win for the merit system. Although there are some cases with merit begging but at least everyone is already trying to make a better post compared before.

[Plaguedeath]

unfortunately I think the system of merit is broken aswell as most users have brought in their A game but because of language barriers not belonging  to the forums local boards or not fitting in into certain cliques some users don't rank up as the merit system doesn't favour all!!

Man, it's not because of language barriers, but those local posters are also giving their merit to their group in global board. So it's not really because of language barriers, but they're from beginning has a plan to abuse the merit. More importantly giving merit is very subjective, making a report by using merit connection as a proof alone is really weak, you would get criticized by other users.

I think a way to reduce this problem is only merit sources can send sMerit.

[Ndabagi01]

Members, reputable members. Was it better before back then when this forum was without merits or is it better or even much better now with merits? Please explain your answer so users like me can get an idea how it was and what you prefer.

I wasn't around when the merit system was first introduced, but based on how older members are commenting and sharing their experiences between now and then, I'm convinced that the merit system was one of the best things to be introduced to the forum. The merit system has also enabled one to contribute valuable and informative forum discussions. The merit is more like a  gold of inestimable value in that you must demonstrate your desire for it before it can be given to you by someone who saw your potential and have some to share. Merit cannot be bought, but it can be earned through your contributions to the forum.

[Adbitco]

You can't compare then and now the forum is more free from spam post if not for this merits system I wonder how the forum would have look by now, where newbies keeps spamming and they gets promoted to the next rank without doing what it takes to merits the next rank.
Though lazy posters especially newbies that are finding it difficult to meet the next rank would say is bad but technically this merits has shown how constructives and creative we seems to be, and anyone who ranked up so easily then you need to watch out to such person he is putting more efforts in discovery or tends to be more creatives.

[SatoPrincess]

Theymos isn’t one that enjoys making changes to the forum, and when he does, there is a good reason why that is. The merit system was a much needed solution to the problem of shitposters and account farmers. Before the merit system, I could have been a legendary member by simply posting trash all over the forum. Unlike today when the rank closely matches the experience of the person behind the account, in 2016 I don’t think much was expected from a legendary rank member.

I wasn’t here before the introduction of the merit system, but I know if the forum didn’t have merit system in place, the moderators would spend all their time deleting shitposts.

[BabyBandit]

Theymos isn’t one that enjoys making changes to the forum, and when he does, there is a good reason why that is. The merit system was a much needed solution to the problem of shitposters and account farmers. Before the merit system, I could have been a legendary member by simply posting trash all over the forum. Unlike today when the rank closely matches the experience of the person behind the account, in 2016 I don’t think much was expected from a legendary rank member.

I wasn’t here before the introduction of the merit system, but I know if the forum didn’t have merit system in place, the moderators would spend all their time deleting shitposts.

Yes I think you absolutely right here, without being here for to long or knowing how Theymos works. I got feeling he does what best for the forum and not what best for himself. Sometimes maybe users wont understand it direct, but in the end it will be obvious why he did take a certain decision.

[uchegod-21]

Much, much better now than before the merit system was created--and I think I've said that like a million times across the span of 5 years already.  While I think there's still a big shitposting problem, at least people aren't doing it with a stable of alt accounts that they're ranking up either to enroll in bounties/campaigns or to sell to account buyers.  The merit system swept the legs right out from under account farmers, and that was no small thing.

There used to be threads where it was obvious that alt accounts were responding to each other as though they were actually different people; you don't see that much anymore.

Even if I did not witness the old days, through your statement, I am able to understand how it was then. Even with the merit system, it is still not perfect as there are still loop holes. Now, let's imagine where the only thing required to rank up is actively count. The spam obviously would be much. A random person can decide to create 3 accounts and endeavour to make atleast a post (shitty post), in  each of the accounts a day, in less than 3 months, the 3 accounts will become full member accounts. Thanks to the merit system.

[cryptoaddictchie]

Members, reputable members. Was it better before back then when this forum was without merits or is it better or even much better now with merits? Please explain your answer so users like me can get an idea how it was and what you prefer.

Well I did present when the merit wasnt existed yet but due to that I stopped ranking to member when they implement it of course I am not agreed at first cause it halt my upgrade on full member due to lack of merits. But I realized it on the end that what happened is much bettet to filter spams and make some users improved their posting and not just create a post or response just to have one.

[Shenanigan]

Before the introduction of merits, the forum was better

[rat03gopoh]

Of course, this isn't my problem alone when it comes to being more difficult to obsess over rankings, but it is slowly becoming a regular thing and even more fun. I feel more honored by achieving every rankings after the merit system. On the other hand, my circle left the forum one by one at the beginning of the system implementation because they were unable to adapt. And damn, I have to say more when I bring up any topic in this forum to discuss it with them irl.

[Rikafip]

Before the introduction of merits, the forum was better

Since you only registered less than a year ago, how would you know how it was before. 

Members like you are the proof that merit system works because without it you would already be a Member rank, on the road to become Full Member and eventually Legendary while not investing any effort at all.

[Shenanigan]

Before the introduction of merits, the forum was better

Since you only registered less than a year ago, how would you know how it was before.  

Where do such oddballs come from?  

Every reader of the forum is required to immediately register on it or what?

[_BlackStar]

Before the introduction of merits, the forum was better

I don't know what the bitcointalk forum was like before the merit system was introduced - certainly because I came after it. But from various references I've read - bitcointalk had a great improvement after the merit system was introduced and theymos themselves have also emphasized that the merit system is to improve the quality of each user to post something quality and emphasize spam posts and such.

Based on the facts - it's true, bitcointalk has been better after the merit system was introduced. SSpam and low-quality posts have decreased - forum contributors have become easier to identified.

[Myleschetty]

You can't compare then and now the forum is more free from spam post if not for this merits system I wonder how the forum would have look by now, where newbies keeps spamming and they gets promoted to the next rank without doing what it takes to merits the next rank.
Though lazy posters especially newbies that are finding it difficult to meet the next rank would say is bad but technically this merits has shown how constructives and creative we seems to be, and anyone who ranked up so easily then you need to watch out to such person he is putting more efforts in discovery or tends to be more creatives.

I don't know how the forum was before so I would have been able to tell if the merit does limit spam. However, it does not provide a total solution because I have seen quality posts with no merit while posts with no contribution or solution were giving merit and I have also seen some local board posts being merited just by posting information about a new open campaign on this forum which is sign that the merit system was in favor of people that didn't participate in the local board.
If the campaign manager can start to exclude merit accumulated in the local board yes I would say the merit system limits spam.

[Adbitco]

You can't compare then and now the forum is more free from spam post if not for this merits system I wonder how the forum would have look by now, where newbies keeps spamming and they gets promoted to the next rank without doing what it takes to merits the next rank.
Though lazy posters especially newbies that are finding it difficult to meet the next rank would say is bad but technically this merits has shown how constructives and creative we seems to be, and anyone who ranked up so easily then you need to watch out to such person he is putting more efforts in discovery or tends to be more creatives.

I don't know how the forum was before so I would have been able to tell if the merit does limit spam. However, it does not provide a total solution because I have seen quality posts with no merit while posts with no contribution or solution were giving merit and I have also seen some local board posts being merited just by posting information about a new open campaign on this forum which is sign that the merit system was in favor of people that didn't participate in the local board.
If the campaign manager can start to exclude merit accumulated in the local board yes I would say the merit system limits spam.

For merits there are thread that talks about reporting quality post for them to be merited, you wouldn't know how it works before you weren't active or registered then so I don't expect you to give an accurate answer about the changes. There are post that is quality first you will asked if those post are being made are the regular board where people or merits sources often visit? I think for long now merits hasn't been the issues here because they are trying as much as possible to distribute merits to everyone that merits it to their post.

Edit..
Your account was registered 2018 so I believe the merits system has been implement before you signed up.