Topic: Percentages of DT1, DT2 & normal users in top100 merited profiles, merit senders (Read 453 times)

People don't need to be highly-trusted to receive significant merits, like me. Who trust me, not yet, but I have received 553 merits so far.
You pointed out a good point, that people must do their contributions first, then community will do recognize their contributions. Trustworthiness is the thing that follow contributions.
Trust mostly get from trade with others, but I believe no one in DT member lists will leave positive trust on newbie accounts whom trade smoothly with them.
Good contributions (posts/threads only or scam-accusation-focuces works) will help users to be recognized, then later they will get more trust. I meant trustworthiness in general, and they don't actually need to have positive trusts in order to be a trusted guy, like LoyceV wrote somewhere else (I don't remember where it is).

I guess it comes without saying that the most trusted and the most active ones here in the forum are the ones who are sending and receiving the merits the most. How active you are on how you contribute your knowledge in the forum is the key to receiving a lot of merits, you won't really be part of that list by not contributing anything to BCT. We are also forgetting that some of the trusted members in the DT list are also merit sources which is also a factor to consider since they have the most merits to send and they also have a good chance of receiving them due to reciprocal merits.

DT has nothing to do with trust (feedback) as a forum measure.
We coming back to the same thing over and over again.
The trust feedback does not put you in the DT.
Adding a person to your trust list is not based on your trading experience with that person, but people are still mixing trust feedback with trust.
We have to change the name of one those so people can stop mixing them.

I bet that only 10% of all the activite users know the difference between the feedback and trust.

There are only 91 of them, it's much faster if you just check their Trust manually (use your middle mouse on the word "Trust" to open them in different tabs).

See DefaultTrust changes or DT1-election: Rank up pipeline.

It is more interesting if LoyceV can scrap data (in their trust page) from those zero-merit-earned DT2 members - especially whom get only 1, or <= 2 / <=3 positive trusts - to see how they got positive trusts. I believe most of them got from trade. Despite the fact that trust used to show trustworthiness in trade between users, I doubt that those ones are likely bought positive trusts. I considered them as potential biased DT2 members, whom might use their power wrongly or inappropriately which in turn result in trust drama.
It is a myth for me to see that guy in DT1 member list. Turned to inactive just one day before the day theymos made his trust list for this month.
I saw that user added in theymos' latest trust list, but not sure why it happened.
Which kind of inclusive criteria used here in order to have a group, from which randomly choose eligible ones?
I agreed with LoyceV's perspective

In that case the real problem is not having them on DT, the problem is they're no longer active on this forum. Unfortunately, many good/old users left.

There are many known Bitcoiners on that list, just the first three from the top of the list:

nanotube, of #bitcoin-otc and gribble fame, also escrowed a 10k BTC bet between Pirateat40 and Vandroiy back in 2012
mikegogulski, anarchist activist, operated the first Bitcoin mixer after acquiring it in 2011
Vladimir, created The Bitcoin Magazine with MNW and Miahi Alisie, sold mining contracts

I can understand that established member with years of history in DT has even a few red paints but these profiles above I even don't recognize.

Never seen them on the forum this is very strange. Not only red-painted but almost all of them. I don't recognize even 1% of these usernames.

As I said the core of our trust system are members I even can't recognize.

I tend to worry about members who haven't earned a single merit or a very few merit as LoyceV mentioned more than those who have negative feedback, it's pretty usual for DT members (even highly trusted DT members) to misuse the trust system and use it for personal interest, I am not going to name any, but if you look closely , you will find out that even some of the most trusted escrow agents who have been on DT for so long have some negative feedback on their profile.

In other words, a negative trust on it's own does not mean anything, you have to really dig into it to find out if it does makes sense, and in many cases it really does not mean anything.

They are mostly or maybe even exclusively DT2 members, who found themselves included by current DT1 members years ago because they used to be very active and their judgement could be relied upon. Personal dealings could also have influenced some DT1 members' decisions. I cleaned up my Trust list some time ago, there's no point in having people who never even used the Trust system on the lists.

This is really worrying. Not only almost 200 DT members don't have single merit but additionally, I see red trusted members between them. How is this even possible?

@Mickeywith is completely right saying:


Looks like is much easier than I though. I understand that merits are not for trust measurement but no merits at all by 200 DT members is something I haven't expected.

In the old system where Theymos chose DT members, they were always the most trusted once on the forum (without any doubt), especially at the moment of election.

Actual trust system is totally different and even red-painted members are in DT so this "should never be used as an indication of trustworthiness."


This is not only unexpected but also scary because they are the core of the trust system, which we fully depend on.

We have minimum 1 merit rule, which was implemented after the merit system started. I think this rule should be equal and valid for everybody not only newbies.

Every member should get minimum one merit (in the last 3 months) to be able to rank up, be elected to DT, any other function (merit source, etc.) or even simple campaign.

Or only 1-10 Merit:
   14. 4171: Raize (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (8 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   18. 6347: Maged (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (6 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   20. 7351: EPiSKiNG (Trust: +7 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   22. 10502: SgtSpike (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   26. 13052: BookofNick (Trust: +5 / =0 / -0) (5 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   33. 16614: TwinWinNerD (Trust: +5 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   34. 17261: tysat (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   46. 25223: CrazyGuy (Trust: +8 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   48. 27273: naypalm (Trust: +7 / =0 / -0) (4 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   49. 27870: JoelKatz (Trust:  neutral) (4 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   50. 29972: BitcoinPappi (Trust: +8 / =0 / -0) (5 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   54. 31539: Michail1 (Trust: +10 / =0 / -0) (9 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   56. 33107: ssateneth (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (4 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   61. 35848: AniceInovation (Trust: +4 / =0 / -0) (3 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   71. 43172: mrkent (Trust:  neutral) (5 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   74. 48765: mdude77 (Trust: +4 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   76. 51908: Blazr (Trust: +1 / =1 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   80. 54752: PsychoticBoy (Trust: +12 / =0 / -0) (7 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   85. 58711: Entropy-uc (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   87. 60141: Akka (Trust: +3 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   91. 65034: dozerz (Trust: +31 / =1 / -0) (9 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  103. 83038: miffman (Trust: +23 / =0 / -0) (5 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  112. 94485: rammy2k2 (Trust: +3 / =1 / -0) (2 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  116. 95740: guitarplinker (Trust: +9 / =0 / -0) (6 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  129. 104297: kimosan (Trust: +6 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  138. 116602: vanycon (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (2 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  142. 120714: gdassori (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (2 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  144. 123569: icreator (Trust:  neutral) (2 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  161. 139027: alp (Trust:  neutral) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  168. 146601: ndnh (Trust: +11 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  170. 148280: lucolo (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (3 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  177. 158058: Poloherb (Trust: +14 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  181. 161795: eoakland (Trust: +4 / =0 / -1) (4 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  191. 183861: techman (Trust:  neutral) (6 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  196. 208286: ManeBjorn (Trust: +9 / =0 / -0) (4 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  197. 210680: mitzie (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (3 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  198. 217626: finlad (Trust: +4 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  200. 221727: lionheart78 (Trust:  neutral) (5 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  202. 224612: bithalo (Trust: +32 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  207. 247604: lumeire (Trust:  neutral) (2 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  226. 325028: Joca97 (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (5 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  228. 333831: designerusa (Trust:  neutral) (9 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  234. 336513: timbereagle (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  237. 347946: Finksy (Trust: +7 / =0 / -0) (3 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  242. 351430: Hellot (Trust: +3 / =0 / -1) (7 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  245. 354479: generalt (Trust: +3 / =0 / -0) (7 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  256. 382626: ZACHM (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (3 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  259. 387443: kilo17 (Trust: +6 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  272. 407892: micromen (Trust: +8 / =0 / -0) (9 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  284. 506922: m4nki (Trust: +4 / =0 / -0) (4 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  291. 533761: zekoroger (Trust: +17 / =0 / -0) (6 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  307. 673693: bolinao (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (2 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  318. 839009: Chiefmonkey (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (4 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  319. 861475: lebnor (Trust: +3 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  320. 862062: DarkStar_alt (Trust:  neutral) (9 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  325. 887418: Mallyx (Trust:  neutral) (9 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  327. 895302: icon73 (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  338. 934336: Gatorelf (Trust: +4 / =0 / -0) (2 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  373. 1124155: snarfbag (Trust: +4 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  374. 1131825: Voxterra (Trust:  neutral) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  377. 1134314: ma7555 (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  390. 1230577: fyoung55 (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (2 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  394. 1262434: coinminerdotcom (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (6 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  402. 1346342: Edits (Trust: +4 / =0 / -0) (9 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  421. 1897580: curt999 (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (1 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
  429. 2298898: Professionalism2007 (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (2 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)

It's been suggested before, but I'll do it again: a minimum of 10 earned Merit would be a good requirement to be on DT. It's the minimum amount needed to be allowed to vote for DT1, so it seems reasonable to me to require the same for actually being on DT.

This data doesn't surprise me: earning Merit and being included on Trust lists both require the same thing: recognition and appreciation.

It's incorrect. But in general, DT-members who earned loads of Merit aren't what I worry about.  I worry much more about DT-members who haven't earned a single Merit:
     5. 1268: nanotube (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
     6. 2285: mikegogulski (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    11. 3380: Vladimir (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    12. 3480: Astro (Trust: +4 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    15. 5507: flix (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    21. 9477: Raoul Duke (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    25. 12459: CydeWeys (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    27. 14001: MiningBuddy (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    30. 15510: Mousepotato (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    31. 15682: Carnth (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    32. 16248: SolarSilver (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    36. 18717: Trader Steve (Trust: +6 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    37. 19897: zvs (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    40. 20465: Dropkickdragout (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    42. 22698: gwillen (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    43. 23248: zefir (Trust: +4 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    45. 25162: iguru42 (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    52. 30964: Spotswood (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    59. 34894: risho (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    65. 37502: rdponticelli (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    67. 40007: ineededausername (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    70. 43064: kneim (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    72. 44673: ninjarobot (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    73. 47306: Pistachio (Trust: +25 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    78. 54059: Cablez (Trust: +5 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    79. 54113: BCB (Trust: +6 / =0 / -1) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    83. 56886: fhh (Trust: +3 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    84. 58365: davecoin (Trust: +4 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    86. 59184: Newar (Trust: +3 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    95. 66510: Benson Samuel (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
    99. 75296: yolo2222 (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   100. 76857: shiftybugger (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   102. 82564: shawshankinmate37927 (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   104. 83877: FullLife (Trust: +4 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   105. 85316: Wardrick (Trust: +7 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   106. 85644: mrbrt (Trust: +11 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   107. 86948: Minor Miner (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   114. 95042: BigBitz (Trust: +6 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   115. 95512: buysolar (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   119. 100430: mavrick951 (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   125. 103451: Xialla (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   126. 103680: chanberg (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   127. 103907: tyrion70 (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   128. 104052: Kushedout (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   130. 104532: gudmunsn (Trust: +3 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   131. 105603: dwdoc (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   133. 107601: pmorici (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   134. 107745: Micky25 (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   140. 119756: Bakal (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   143. 122354: Carra23 (Trust: +15 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   150. 131351: djjacket (Trust: +10 / =1 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   154. 134959: shade13 (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   155. 136592: devthedev (Trust: +22 / =1 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   156. 136722: yakuza699 (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   158. 137510: jimmothy (Trust: +2 / =1 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   162. 140437: DyslexicZombei Banned! (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   166. 144075: drewph (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   174. 151491: tagbond (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   192. 186776: Cheeseater (Trust: +6 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   194. 202643: BitProdigy (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   199. 220818: Riley600 (Trust: +3 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   210. 261931: guncoin_support (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   214. 271846: totoy (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   223. 323638: ThePhwner (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   224. 323947: nagysifa (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   229. 333901: Coopster8888 (Trust: +3 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   233. 336109: nihilnegativum (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   239. 348710: bit_stacker (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   247. 362692: zuks (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   251. 371885: MCHouston (Trust: +3 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   263. 391252: ZypheronBits (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   274. 422859: varanvaran (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   275. 430758: TheAnalogKid (Trust: +13 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   277. 451540: bitcoinprofit (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   280. 493849: bitclever (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   281. 494630: waya (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   290. 524681: Eodguy149 (Trust: +17 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   294. 547382: AltcoinSteps (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   297. 551813: bittrojan (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   315. 795961: cryptoheadd (Trust: +19 / =0 / -1) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   317. 820393: Hardstyles (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   328. 897123: Nevsky (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   337. 931489: Frank Lefty Rosenthal (Trust: +1 / =1 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   352. 1007555: Novun (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   356. 1037629: BitBot.V2 (Trust:  neutral) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   359. 1040400: btcapollo (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   362. 1059684: RealHummer (Trust: +7 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   367. 1103054: pasrical (Trust: +2 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   370. 1116811: saga-crypto (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   375. 1131881: daraghna (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)
   381. 1144559: Iwtym (Trust: +1 / =0 / -0) (0 Merit earned) (Trust list) (BPIP)

I meant long standing DT members, includes DT1 and DT2 members (I corrected my post).
Original post:
Everyone has to climb up from normal user to DT2 member, then DT1 member, and maintain it over time. If one DT1 member turn to be untrusted, he/she will be excluded by others, as @ThePharmacist mentioned.
Escrow service always has its function, so using it always the best choice.
By the way, it raises one important point for Newbies:
Usually, when newbie want to trade with high-rank members, or DT members with 1, 2 positive trusts (or even higher positive trusts), they should be careful. Because they might easily fall into the trap that: "you are newbie, so please go first."
Months ago, I remembered LoyceV made a list of abused DT2 members, when Default Trust Change activated, someone in the list of DT members tried to sell trust, or include friends into list of DT members.
On the other hand, people can 'buy' trust, in my opinion, from their trades. I know that trust basically use for trade, to show trustworthiness, besides some other situation. One person can do a smooth trade with $500 or $1000, and get one positive trust in return, but it does not make sense that after getting one positive trust, that guy will do smooth trade with others, without Escrow service.
I neither trade with others nor get positive trust(s), it does not mean that I am untrusted guy.  
Post quality/ merit history is just one of inclusive factors.

I highly doubt the accuracy of this statement, I would say there are only 10 to 15 widely trusted members on the forum, simply put , if you were to trade with another member, being on DT list does not mean the other person won't request the use of escrow , and those 10-15 members are the known escrow agents.

Getting on DT list is relatively easy nowadays, therefore it should never be used as an indication of trustworthiness, I for example simply include members on my trust list because of their good judgment , it does not mean I would trade without the use of escrow with all of them(I would with some of them), and I think the same applies to most other members.

In fact, your analysis prove my point, being a quality member will usually put you on DT list , and since quality and trust are not always related, I would not consider all DT members to be trustworthy.

Thank you. After making decent efforts, and after nearly 18 months since merit system birthday, I have known that merit system does not ruin my life. In fact, it changed me unimaginably.
Just sometimes, but it is not always true. High reputable users sometimes get merits for their jokes, but it does not occur too often. The determinant factor which decides posts receive merits or not is post quality.

I think most users became DT before the merit system was implemented, as the pharmacist said.

I agree with pharmacist here. Having tons of merit is an indicator that you use the forum a lot, post a lot, and put some effort in your posts. Users that are highly merited usually have a good reputation also. It is not necessary to have tons of merits to become DT, but I believe that having tons of merits is a consequence of using the forum a lot and having a nice reputation.

I became DT 2 very recently (like 1-2 month ago), and I was already on the list of top merited users since the implementation of the merit system.

Congrats to you on getting on the list, OP.  You obviously put some effort into your posts and deserve the merits you received, which is what anybody who wants to rank up ought to be doing.

I was on DT2 when the merit system was implemented, then I was kicked off for a while after being excluded by Tomatocage and OgNasty if I'm not mistaken.  I'm not sure how long I've been on this particular list, but the DT thing definitely came first--and it wasn't for good posting, either.  I couldn't tell you exactly why I was put on DT, but it was probably for helping to expose account sellers and trying to clean up the forum that way.  That and the fact that I never scammed anybody. 

It probably looks like having tons of merits and being on DT are linked, but there's not exactly a clear-cut correlation.  You have to have been on the forum for a while, made yourself a presence in a positive way, and had a positive reputation in order to even be considered for DT inclusion--at least that's the way it used to work.  Now it's strictly a matter of politics, i.e., getting enough "votes".  But I would also say that you kind of still have to do all those things, because you won't stay on DT long if there's something sketchy about you.  It's very easy for other DT members to vote you off the island if they think you don't belong.

For starters users don't become DT members because they're among the top merited. Most of the top merited were already DT members before they made the list as just looking at the names above you'll realized that. We have 522 DT members, 92 DT1 & 430 DT2 (source] The top 100 merited user only holds 87 DT members that's not even upto 20% of the current DT members.

Therefore to answer your question, (although I don't have stats to back this up but just using visual observation) I'll say, 90% (or even more) of the 82% user in top100 were already DT members before they made it to the top 100.

Notes:
- Update will be made in new posts, not in OP; but for now I don't have plans to update, but I might do it quarterly.

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ABSTRACT

(1) Percentages of DT1 members are the same, at 50% in top 100 merited profiles and top 100 merit senders.
(2) Percentages of DT2 members are 37% and 34%, in top 100 merited profiles and top 100 merit senders, respectively.
(3) Percentages of normal users are 13% and 14%, in top 100 merited profiles and top 100 merit senders, respectively.

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Top 100 of most merited profiles

Hours ago, I moved to top 100 of most merited profiles in BPIP ranking page, at the 99th position. Then, I play with data available on that page to count percentages of DT1, DT2, and normal users in the top 100 of most merited profiles.

I got this dataset from BPIP most merited profiles

What I got from that dataset is:

• DT1 members: 50 (50%)
• DT2 members: 37 (37%)
• Normal members: 13 (13%)

Only 13% users in top 100-merited profiles are normal users (non-DT members), as of writing, August 26, 2019, 01:23:55 PM (forum time)

Question:
- For the rest (87%), how many users became DT members after jumping into that top?

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Top 100 of most merit senders

I got this dataset from BPIP most merit sent

What I got from that dataset is:

• DT1 members: 50 (50%)
• DT2 members: 36 (36%)
• Normal members: 14 (14%)

Only 14% users in top 100 merit senders are normal users (non-DT members), as of writing, August 26, 2019, 01:23:55 PM (forum time)

I earned my 600th merits on 9th September 2019.