If the forum keeps losing its vibe, big companies will leave.

[SirJohnVonSlotty]

The forum is turning into a political game.

It's... It's a Game of Threads :O

[shield132]

Lately, it’s been looking like this place is just for the high-ranking members, especially those in DT. Let’s be real, how do you explain someone sharing a random image and bagging 10 or 20 merits, while someone putting in the effort with solid posts gets nothing? It’s like Theymos isn’t paying attention to what’s happening. The forum is slowly losing its purpose. Is this what Satoshi had in mind? A space where newbies can’t grow unless they ‘farm’ merits? Meanwhile, the DT guys are just cycling merits among themselves and adding each other to their trust lists.

There isn't as bad a situation as you describe. If you put effort into your post, your effort will be appreciated. It takes time, not only merits but you need activity to rank up. You get one activity per day. If you want to become Senior Member, you need to be active on this forum for at least 240 days. To become a Hero Member, you need to be active for at least 480 days. During these days, if you put effort in your posts, you should be able to get 250-500 merits.

theymos implemented a Merit-based ranking system because there were lots of signature spammers registering on this forum. The merit system doesn't stop any newbie from growing, they are free to ask questions, get answers and help others. Signature campaigns are a privilege. It takes a few months to become a Senior Member and almost a year to become a Hero Member.

[SquirrelJulietGarden]

Lately, it’s been looking like this place is just for the high-ranking members, especially those in DT. Let’s be real, how do you explain someone sharing a random image and bagging 10 or 20 merits, while someone putting in the effort with solid posts gets nothing?

You don't need to be a DT member to earn merit. If you can make quality posts and do it consistently, you will receive merit.

If you only make one good post or some, and don't receive merit, it is normal because forum has many members and they make many posts, not only yours. This explains consistency of making good posts and net contribution are keys to help your account receiving merit.

Welcome message.

[Synchronice]

Lately, it’s been looking like this place is just for the high-ranking members, especially those in DT. Let’s be real, how do you explain someone sharing a random image and bagging 10 or 20 merits, while someone putting in the effort with solid posts gets nothing?

When you say bagging 10 or 20 merits, if you mean the Wall Observer thread, then I agree with you, that's bad and I still don't understand why does that happen but overall, why is your priority to get merits? If you put effort into your posts, put effort for the sake of benefiting others by giving them a good answers, don't put efforts for the sake of merits. Merit will come automatically, you have to get and give knowledge and have some fun with that.

It’s like Theymos isn’t paying attention to what’s happening. The forum is slowly losing its purpose. Is this what Satoshi had in mind? A space where newbies can’t grow unless they ‘farm’ merits? Meanwhile, the DT guys are just cycling merits among themselves and adding each other to their trust lists.

Satoshi is long gone, we have no idea what he actually had in mind with this forum or what he would think now. By the way, newbies can very well grow in this space, I started as a newbie.

And about local boards, I think that it will be good if local boards are left without merit but anyways, it's not that important. Why do you care so much about merits? You'll get it if you deserve it, don't worry. If you think that lots of merits gives someone an advantage, then you are hugely mistaken because there are some people with lots of merits who I have in my ignore list because they simply post some nonsense.