Why does merits source takes time to be approved?

[Moreno233]

On one hand, Theymos might be thinking that the merit circulation in the forum is still fine for the moment, the reason much considerations are not given to the numerous merit source applications. But on the other hand, the increase in number of merit source applications with justifiable reasons, some of which include reduction in merit circulation in some local boards, is a confirmation that there is actually need to add more merit sources to the list. Anyways, it is in the hands of Theymos to consider and I hope more merit sources are added to increase the merit circulation more than we are already seeing.

[Lucius]

First of all, some merit sources are there. They are just not publicly known.

Most of the MS are publicly known, and the reason is very simple - the number of merits that such members give is generally much higher than the sMerits they get outside the merits source (forum). Look at the bold members here.

How do you know, if someone is selected or not? Not all merit sources are public. And also: becoming a merit source could also mean, that person would have less merits to distribute, not more (for example: if I would be selected, I would probably lose some merits, because of that).
~snip~

The easiest way to find out that someone has been selected is for him to publicly admit it in the topic he opened for this purpose of applying for the merits source. It is not something that makes sense to hide from others, especially those who have publicly expressed their support.

If I understood you correctly, you seem to think that you can lose merits (what is visible in your profile) if you give too many merits to others? This is simply not true, the number of those merits can be reduced only by the intervention of the admin in case of abuse - the only thing that can be reduced is the number of your sMerits, which are visible only to you.

[garlonicon]

the only thing that can be reduced is the number of your sMerits, which are visible only to you

Exactly. Let's assume that someone is a source, and can send 10 merits per month. If that person will run out of merits, then it will receive 10 merits, at the end of the month. But: if that person would have 20 merits, it would be set into 10, so half of that would get permanently burned.

the number of merits that such members give is generally much higher than the sMerits they get outside the merits source (forum)

And that's why people think, that there are no new merit sources. Because if that would be the case, then some merits would get burned. But what if that's the case?

[Solosanz]

Also, let's see, if you can manage to do that correctly. Here are some merits, now I will observe, how you will spend them.

I agree. I put some more, to make the sum 100, and let's see, how OP will send them. Because I am honestly curious, where are those great posts, which are worth more attention.

That's not how it works.

If you want to know the way someone gives their merit, check their merit history, in this case here's the @OP's merit history. Even someone don't have sMerit, they can report to unmerited good post thread.

Now I'm curious, what if @OP merit the posts that didn't qualify to be high quality/great posts as your standard... I mean what you guys gonna do?

[garlonicon]

That's not how it works.

This is not the first time, that such things are done. For example: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5460251.msg62569425#msg62569425

I mean what you guys gonna do?

Nothing? I have more merits than I need, so I can give them away, from time to time.

[Perfectbaby]

Probably because it's only the admins that can do it. Maybe theymos should consider allowing some other mods or trusted users the ability to make merit sources.

I think if theymos approved you to make other merits source then it would be so nice, tho I don't know yet if you already have the ability to appoint one, looking from your status as global administrator you should have that capacity. At least 3-4 mods to be appointing sources would be so good. But from most of the replies here it shows that they are perfectly fine with theymos appointment than just voting or other person appointing mods. Apparently, I really appreciate your inputs here and I never knew my post could draw your attention.

Do you know that if there are enough merits in circulation there wouldn't had been a time some people would have applied for their local board merits source, and if the merit is going across then no need people applying for fillippone merits review and again hugeblack who was doing review has as well close his thread for months now if I am not mistakenly.

It's not a matter of lack of merit in circulation, but the "problem" is a lack of quality posts that deserve to be awarded with merit. Threads that have been opened are to help with easy recognition of such posts. I think LoyceV recently said that he has 3 or 4 thousand merit available, but not enough quality posts for that.

You are right though I can't detects how quality a post should be for you or any other user but for myself I can. Just that the way at which others inspects their post and other may not seemly looks alike hence, you see more people spending more merits than others while others still drags their feets on how quality a post should be. I guess this topic isn't quality enough for most you who commented here maybe my rank isn't qualify enough that is why it's seen as none quality post is that right?

[Lida93]

On one hand, Theymos might be thinking that the merit circulation in the forum is still fine for the moment, the reason much considerations are not given to the numerous merit source applications.

If that's the case in your assumption about theymos or admins probably thinking that the merit circulation in the forum is fine then the the many recent merit source applications from users of different local boards is  enough indication to make him realize that his aspersions are not entirely correct as he may be thinking which has maybe led to the delay from him in the ratification of new merit source to the list.  Or maybe a poll just as the Op suggest could be made for the community to vote if there is any need for additional merit source for now or not.

[BlackBoss_]

There are merit sources and they're distributing merit to forum users. There are forum members who are not sauces but are distributing merits to forum users too.

Do I need more merit sauces?
I don't think so and I believe that I can rank up slowly, it's not big problem.

[SmartGold01]

There are merit sources and they're distributing merit to forum users. There are forum members who are not sauces but are distributing merits to forum users too.

Do I need more merit sauces?
I don't think so and I believe that I can rank up slowly, it's not big problem.

I think if you read op correctly is directly saying why there are much pending application to be appropriate and of course if you watch there is much more pending. Isn't directly saying about ranking but for a formal statement or something likely trying to let people know the reason why they aren't making more people source and with this it's more appreciatable. And I sense from the op the major interest what triggered s/he was a result of reading up icopress application I guess.

[LoyceV]

it's too saddened to see that lot of people applied for merits source and yet no attention is being given to them

This is indeed not cool. Theymos asked people to apply, and when I did, it took 3.5 months of bumping before I was made a Merit source. Nowadays applications are ignored for years, even though they follow the required format. A "yes" or "no" would be good.

I think LoyceV recently said that he has 3 or 4 thousand merit available, but not enough quality posts for that.

Accumulation of sMerits can be avoided if the number of merits for good posts is increased - so if someone has so much and doesn't manage to spend it, why not find 5 or 10 exceptional posts every day and reward them with 50 merits each?

If you think it's easy to find that many exceptional posts per day, please do so and post them in Report unmerited good posts to Merit Source. I've Merited 3169 users in 15535 transactions (data from 2 days ago), and I don't want to spend even more time "looking for good posts". If I see them, I Merit them.

That is what theymos suggested too and let me quote his exact words.

It's best if sources try to exhaust their source allocations, even if it means giving posts higher amounts than is typical. If you have 150 source merit and you only see 3 merit-worthy posts in a month, then I'd rather you over-give each of them 50 merit than let the merit expire. That way there are more people capable of sending merit, and the "merit economy" is less top-down.

I've never agreed with this post, because 50 Merit for a random Newbie with one good post seems too high to me. Even theymos himself doesn't do this. See theymos' sent Merit in the last 120 days:

Merit sent by theymos (Trust list) in 120 days until September 13, 2024 (source)
 1566. Fri 26 Jul 2024 07:43:17 PM CEST: 5 (13663) to TryNinja (Trust list) (history) for Re: Error code accessing the forum
 1565. Tue 11 Jun 2024 12:59:46 AM CEST: 25 (13658) to PowerGlove (Trust list) (history) for Quoting from locked threads (SMF patch)

[Natalim]

There are merit sources and they're distributing merit to forum users. There are forum members who are not sauces but are distributing merits to forum users too.

But most of the merits really come from merit sources, right? If you're not a merit source but you're generous in distributing merits, you're definitely doing the right thing because you're helping the forum overall.

Do I need more merit sauces?
I don't think so and I believe that I can rank up slowly, it's not big problem.

If it's just for you, that's fine, but if you look at the overall picture of the forum, it's clear that there’s a significant need for merits. We want this forum to grow and become stronger, which means attracting new members who are willing to contribute or become major contributors in the future. Merits are a key way to encourage more posts because, let’s face it, having more merits improves your chances of earning here on the forum.

[Apocollapse]

If it's just for you, that's fine, but if you look at the overall picture of the forum, it's clear that there’s a significant need for merits. We want this forum to grow and become stronger, which means attracting new members who are willing to contribute or become major contributors in the future. Merits are a key way to encourage more posts because, let’s face it, having more merits improves your chances of earning here on the forum.

And then the forum will suffer from merit inflation.

Now your merit received in the last 120 days is 1, I'm 23, other user let's say 100. Having more merit sources could increase the chance to receive more merit, let's say your merit 120 days become 2, but what if I received 46? and other user who was received 100 merits, now they received 200 merits?

So, having more merit sources doesn't actually improves your chances to earn more.

[Natalim]

If it's just for you, that's fine, but if you look at the overall picture of the forum, it's clear that there’s a significant need for merits. We want this forum to grow and become stronger, which means attracting new members who are willing to contribute or become major contributors in the future. Merits are a key way to encourage more posts because, let’s face it, having more merits improves your chances of earning here on the forum.

And then the forum will suffer from merit inflation.

Now your merit received in the last 120 days is 1, I'm 23, other user let's say 100. Having more merit sources could increase the chance to receive more merit, let's say your merit 120 days become 2, but what if I received 46? and other user who was received 100 merits, now they received 200 merits?

So, having more merit sources doesn't actually improves your chances to earn more.

Sorry, but I think you missed the point. Merits should be shared among different users. Even if we doubled the merits given out, there would still be plenty for everyone who contributes. Plus, when new merit sources are added, they’re carefully reviewed, so only deserving people get approved by Theymos.

So, don’t stress about it. Good merit sources will help make the forum better by not just rewarding regulars but also focusing on newbies who deserve it.

You might have noticed that many newbies who rank up to Legendary or Hero often become less active afterward. This happens because they have enough merits and can join signature campaigns. If deserving newbies get more merits, it will bring fresh energy and new contributions to the forum.

[examplens]

Nowadays applications are ignored for years, even though they follow the required format. A "yes" or "no" would be good.

Either the status will be or there will be no need for a merit source in the next xx period. If 'yes' to specify which boards will have priority, it would be very easy to end the matter.

and I don't want to spend even more time "looking for good posts".

That is why I would not apply for merit source status. An additional ungrateful duty.

[fillippone]

and I don't want to spend even more time "looking for good posts".

That is why I would not apply for merit source status. An additional ungrateful duty.

If you see it as a duty, then you are perfectly fine not being a merit source.
The important thing is contributing to the forum. And I bet there are other ways other than being a merit source.
Writing good posts is far more difficult than meriting good posts.

[Adbitco]

and I don't want to spend even more time "looking for good posts".

That is why I would not apply for merit source status. An additional ungrateful duty.

If you see it as a duty, then you are perfectly fine not being a merit source.
The important thing is contributing to the forum. And I bet there are other ways other than being a merit source.
Writing good posts is far more difficult than meriting good posts.

Does it mean that those who are applying as one doesn't see it as duty?
I think there is no duty applying as merits source, the only thing I captured there is about source spending more time reading and writing because definitely they must come across topic to have  discussion just as we are having our conversation here, and any post that worth meriting would definitely received the merits. Therefore, I see no duty over there except the source doesn't read post before they comment and of course no merits source or a reputed member of that dignity that won't read post before commenting or giving out merits.

[Lucius]

I think LoyceV recently said that he has 3 or 4 thousand merit available, but not enough quality posts for that.

Accumulation of sMerits can be avoided if the number of merits for good posts is increased - so if someone has so much and doesn't manage to spend it, why not find 5 or 10 exceptional posts every day and reward them with 50 merits each?

If you think it's easy to find that many exceptional posts per day, please do so and post them in Report unmerited good posts to Merit Source. I've Merited 3169 users in 15535 transactions (data from 2 days ago), and I don't want to spend even more time "looking for good posts". If I see them, I Merit them.

I'm not one of those who think that such topics should exist at all, because if you don't read the whole topic (or a good part of the topic), the post you awarded can be just a repetition of what others have already written before in that topic. I'm more in favor of a more natural approach, in other words, I don't consider surfing the forum to be any kind of waste of time - when I see a good post, I reward it with merit in the way that my sMerits allows.

My statistics in this regard are much more modest, but considering that I am not MS, I have rewarded a little less than 800 different users so far.

[cryptoaddictchie]

Some say theres enough merit sources for now. But our Local section (Philippines) needed one indeed. Maybe if possible theymos could update us whether those applications from various members are still given consideration for approval so everyone can know if were expecting more MS to be joining the list.

[Bitcoin Smith]

I've never agreed with this post, because 50 Merit for a random Newbie with one good post seems too high to me. Even theymos himself doesn't do this.

IMO 50 merit is too much but he was trying to say that merit sources better exhausting their merits on whatever the posts they find as meritable than instead of just wasting them and merit system isn't fair or complete system but it's the best we have got to tackle the spam and merit sources might be more knowledgeable than a random newbie but if they consider a post that may deserve merit then merting is the right way of using it instead of looking at the user's reputation/rank.

[Oshio-man]

I vote for increment of merits source in this community, because if you look around the community, you will discover that few merit sources are doing their work diligently in this community which is not suppose to be in this community because the number of users is increasing daily in this community which the number of merit sources should be increasing along side with the number of new users in the community. Maybe the delay is best known to only admin alone and what he  conclude on this community is final, but if he can redress this scarcity of merits source in this community to approve some qualify merit sources, I think it will increase many users to stay in quality post in this community.