I've actually found that systems like this that will assess your historic posts and merit where appropriate have made me really think critically about what I want to post on and especially if I genuinely have anything to say. There are so many people on here that will just spurt out so much nonsense without a second thought or simply agreeing to a post without adding anything (maybe a like button would work for this, as meriting every post you agree with seems a bit much).
Bitcoin talk has become a plaster's radio of nothing posts that cover the interesting and informative base. The whole point of the merit system (unless im batshit insane) is to limit the amount of trash, one liners, and spam posts on here. People are embracing that idea in any way that they think will work. I don't have the merits throw around like some of the OPs of the listed threads but if i did i would start something similar. Let me see your last 10-20 posts and see if you are broadcasting news or spunk. If it prevents even 1% of people from jizzing all over the forum then isn't that another arrow in the merit systems quiver?
Some members think such posts help sig spammers get their accounts to the next rank. Though I can't say I totally disagree with them, I do agree with you, because if it's done the right way with a careful check of post history it will really help discover some under-merited posts without giving those merits to undeserved members.
I don't give any merit to people posting in those threads, and I don't respond to people asking me to review their posts. In fact sometimes I put them on ignore.
I've got my own standards for deciding on merit awards, and hopefully they aren't too far from the essential spirit of the forum. I feel that if you have to ask for merit, then I should consider the reason for your membership of this forum.
Nice philosophy you get there, but it's a bit extreme
Please, first put yourself in the place of a new comer that has been trying so hard just to get those 10 merits but failed to get any, the kinds of those threads may help new members start their way into these forums and eventually something good may come out of them
In the end the most of these threads are giving merits in ones and twos which is not a big deal. The big amounts "up to 20" are for exceptional work.
