The merit system was implemented by the forum mod in other to force and increase post quality by this forum users which is the reason why some campaign managers also included it as one of the major requirements when selecting campaign participants. But merit misuse is so many these days especially in the
Wall Observer BTC/USD (Bitcoin price movement tracking & discussion) and some local thread where people would post absolutely nothing worth to be merited.
Note : I understand that I'm not the first person to complain about merit been abused. But
the question is, what are the forum mods doing about all this?
If you had lurked long enough in WO before complaining, you would have realised many things. One of those is that we are not interested in "meta drama", so please leave us out of it. If, OTOH, you are really interested in discussing many Bitcoin related (plus some loosely related) things you are welcome to join us and maybe, just maybe, you will also earn some of those merits that seem to be as much important for you.
You should also know, if you don't already and maybe that's the reason you don't post there, that campaign signatures are not displayed in WO so posts there don't count for pay. That would give you an idea that most regulars of WO are not here for the merit, the campaigns, the bounties or anything besides casually sharing/discussing about Bitcoin and other topics that might be of some (even if loose) relevance for other Bitcoiners.
If that sounds good to you, you are welcome to join whenever you want and try to earn as much merit as you are able. If it's not your thing... well... the forum is HUGE and diverse, find sections where you are comfortable and somehow fit in, keep contributing according to its specific rules, culture and your own style and the merit will come. Or not. Who cares?