Getting merits is simple. Just be unique, post good, informative posts and try not to put having the merits in front when making your contribution because that can put a damper on one's mood if the desired result is not gotten.
Many users won't agree that getting merit is simple. I wouldn't say that either because it is like diminishing the efforts of those who receive them. I would rather say that it is not as hard as it seems in the beginning.
I have never done this before, so you will be my first user I will help with the merits left to the next rank. Congratulations!
Unfortunately, the advice will again become a thing of history, and tomorrow you will see guides from beginners with information that is not entirely correct, or maybe copied, and new topics like: Hello, here I am! Tell me—that is, transfer everything to this topic.
I am not drawing an illusion that my advice will change something entirely. I just hope that someone who needs to feel more comfortable here will have a chance to do so, knowing that he is not alone in his worries und anticipations.
I do not think that anyone is sarcastic about the attempts of others to learn or even gain merits. We all learn daily things that we did not know, but some make fun of alt accounts that create specific topics to obtain merit, such as Help me it is my first topic, or My story with buying Bitcoin.
A lot of users are being sarcastic, especially in local boards, where you can feel it even more, because your language skills are higher to notice that. I am not saying that they have no right or reason to do so, but for newbies it could be too much pressure.
Merit system was designed to reduce spam, whenever you feel that your writing style will lead to spam or say something that you do not understand, you should stop posting in that board. Learn and share what you have learned and you will not have a problem with moving up. Some campaign managers don't focus on merits, it's like a cut-off where you have to get the minimum but more of them doesn't mean you're better if your posts aren't good.
It was implemented to reduce spam, however it has its own flaws, first of all, it is highly subjective. That i why merits are often given to those users and posts which already have lots of merits. Of for something funny. But there is no objective rules, common for everybody which regulate merit distributions.
Considering campaign managers, I would say the rather make a focus on merits, because every good campaign offers higher payrate for those users, who have 1000+ or even 2000+ merits. It has recently become something like a "new rank", which is higher than Legendary.
Why is Earning merit important for newbie members in Bitcointalk forum?
Because of the reasons I mentioned in the OP. They want to be perceived as equals. And of course majority of want to be accepted in a signature campaign with a better pay rates.