Should ANN and services threads be excluded from the merit system ?

Joel_Jantsen

legendary

Activity: 1988

Merit: 1317

Get your game girl

ANN Threads - Yes!

Quote from: The Sceptical Chymist on July 02, 2018, 10:51:50 PM

That's just awful. I don't quite get why people are meriting ANN threads. Are these thread-starters getting some sort of kickback from this? Is it to get the threads on the "most merited threads" list? Are people just kissing ass? I wouldn't think that would be the case, since I can't imagine all these people would throw away their merits on ass-kissing.

- Shit-posters are having a hard time to understand what merit is or how it functions. Legends say, in Indonesia you can buy a pizza in exchange for merits. The number of merit beggars in Philippines have caused a havoc in their economy.

Quote from: hilariousetc on July 03, 2018, 04:16:27 PM

I was thinking about this the other day. Users are just wasting their merit on them to be honest, and they're just needlessly giving them away as a "like" or "thanks" instead of to posts that are actually of substance. Wouldn't surprise me if some of the bounties are requesting that users merit their ANN bounty threads as well in exchange for higher bounties. I wouldn't be against removing the merit button from certain sections and the first post in Ann threads would be a good candidate.

Yes I've seen such cases where the bounty manager asks all the participants to merit the ANN thread as it makes the project look more 'legitimate'. ANN threads will be a good place to block merits.

Welsh

staff

Activity: 3304

Merit: 4115

Quote from: d5000 on July 03, 2018, 12:18:14 PM

And in some altcoin ANN threads there are still "real" discussions taking place, so somethings there are posts (for example, tutorials) that deserve a Merit.

I think this the what the majority of people miss. I've said this a few times, but there are some worthy posts within the announcement threads, and actual meaningful discussion. Unfortunately, it's these threads which get drowned out by the rest of the garbage posted there, because they aren't the ones promising free coins, and using bumping services.

bitart

hero member

Activity: 1442

Merit: 629

Vires in Numeris

Quote from: hilariousetc on July 03, 2018, 04:16:27 PM

I was thinking about this the other day. Users are just wasting their merit on them to be honest, and they're just needlessly giving them away as a "like" or "thanks" instead of to posts that are actually of substance. Wouldn't surprise me if some of the bounties are requesting that users merit their ANN bounty threads as well in exchange for higher bounties. I wouldn't be against removing the merit button from certain sections and the first post in Ann threads would be a good candidate.

If you remove the merit button from e.g. the ANN threads, they will open a similar topic in the Offtopic section and they will use that to distribute the merits, if they really care and want...
And in the offtopic, they just can't be blamed, if it's not too obvious that they buy/sell merits there...

hilariousetc

legendary

Activity: 2926

Merit: 3051

Join the world-leading crypto sportsbook NOW!

I was thinking about this the other day. Users are just wasting their merit on them to be honest, and they're just needlessly giving them away as a "like" or "thanks" instead of to posts that are actually of substance. Wouldn't surprise me if some of the bounties are requesting that users merit their ANN bounty threads as well in exchange for higher bounties. I wouldn't be against removing the merit button from certain sections and the first post in Ann threads would be a good candidate.

d5000

legendary

Activity: 3906

Merit: 6249

Decentralization Maximalist

I would have no problem with the merit functionality turned off in ANN threads. However, I don't know if this makes any sense.

People would then probably spam the "Altcoin Discussion" board with trivial threads about (obviously biased) "comparisons" between coins and similar stuff, and then merit these posts instead of the ANN's, which is even less desirable. "Altcoin Discussion" is already a trashcan, but I sometimes find something interesting there, as sometimes there are interesting developments in the altcoin space (in <2% of the coin projects). (My dream would be a strictly moderated "Cryptocurrency Technology" subforum for not-Bitcoin-related technical stuff, but for now, "Altcoin Discussion" is the place where these threads belong.)

I have merited a handful of ANNs because I considered the coins interesting experiments. And in some altcoin ANN threads there are still "real" discussions taking place, so somethings there are posts (for example, tutorials) that deserve a Merit.

Just a comment: I really don't get how that "ANN bumping" can make sense. Does someone really open the "Announcements" subforum to find interesting projects to invest? I think it was in 2015 or so when I searched for "worthy" altcoins in this subforum the last time (excluding threads about coins I already know and have on my watchlist).

athanz88

sr. member

Activity: 476

Merit: 359

Quote from: LoyceV on July 03, 2018, 08:40:01 AM

To summarize: They gave away 176 Merit to this thread since introduction, and earned 5 new sMerit in the past 120 days.
My conclusion: this phenomenon will die out once they run out of sMerit.

Looking at this conclusion of yours, based on your reference, i too, believe that it will die out once they run out of sMerit. It is just kinda hurt to see some ANN thread got so many merits, while some members made a good thread.

And i hope the OP of that ANN threads use and give the merits wisely. Because it can create a new chain again if it is not.

seoincorporation

legendary

Activity: 3332

Merit: 3116

Quote from: Harlot on July 03, 2018, 02:09:01 AM

I guess a lot of things are always happening outside of the forum. If bump bots in the forum are being sold elsewhere then most likely merits are also being sold and their means of communication is outside the forum. This is an obvious abuse as the ones giving merits usually in the first place don't give merits at normal post, then suddenly they will give high merits on ANN threads that don't actually give any kind of conrtibution to the forum. They are just here promoting their business without caring how theybare abusing the forum.

Yes, in fact, digging about the forum in other platform's I've come to realize that the merits are being sold by an average amount of $5 in some telegram groups (mostly Russians) called: "Bitcointalk Accounts". Also, they are selling accounts from Newbies in $5 to Full Member, in $150... This is amazing how important to own a High-rank account is getting "outside", seems pretty awesome to me. Besides, most of the accounts "for sale" are, probably, hacked ones (the high-rank ones are probably being robbed in front of our own eyes), or maybe they are just scam. Whatever it is, when something has a value, it will end in the black market....

Quote from: LoyceV on July 03, 2018, 08:40:01 AM

To summarize: They gave away 176 Merit to this thread since introduction, and earned 5 new sMerit in the past 120 days.
My conclusion: this phenomenon will die out once they run out of sMerit.

I hope you're right. But, given the hacking-selling accounts and the merit "store" it seems like a long-time tumor.
Nevertheless, I would like to be mistaken about this.

LoyceV

legendary

Activity: 3290

Merit: 16489

Thick-Skinned Gang Leader and Golden Feather 2021

Quote from: The Sceptical Chymist on July 02, 2018, 10:51:50 PM

This definitely goes against the spirit of the merit system, and especially Theymos's suggestion that merit should be for "objectively high quality posts"

It does go against everything Merit stands for, but I don't think you can prevent that. One way or another, Merit will also be some sort of a popularity contest. Assuming equal quality, a more popular thread is read more often than a less popular thread, and thus more people can Merit it. When it comes to ANN threads, the large number of users outweigh many better threads with less users. Unfortunatley, "free money" threads are much more popular than interesting technical discussions.

Quote

I don't quite get why people are meriting ANN threads.

Any bag holder has a financial incentive to lure other people in.

Quote

Are these thread-starters getting some sort of kickback from this? Is it to get the threads on the "most merited threads" list? Are people just kissing ass?

I think the more interesting question is: will this be sustainable?
Theymos already said Merit trading will eventually be a very small and expensive part of the Merit economy. The spammers will run out of their airdropped sMerit, and won't earn new ones. So let's take Deeponion as an example, because I only know that name from being a signature campaign paying many spammers.
The top 10 Merit awards came from:
dreamhouse (30)
ermaxinc (27)
monocolor (25)
cryptodv (20)
doothewop (16)
seddik (15)
Morchid (12)
vinc3 (11)
mo (10)
fisheater (10)
Total: 176 Merit.
In the past 120 days, only cryptodv, Morchid and fisheater have received Merit on their own. Their total is 10 Merit (1, 2 and 7 each). That means that those 10 users combined, would have at most 5 new sMerit to use.

To summarize: They gave away 176 Merit to this thread since introduction, and earned 5 new sMerit in the past 120 days.
My conclusion: this phenomenon will die out once they run out of sMerit.

athanz88

sr. member

Activity: 476

Merit: 359

Quote from: TheHas on July 03, 2018, 05:50:37 AM

Am I the only one that is more surprised about the amount of merit going to threads talking about merit? Seems a bit circular.

I'd rather see merit going to threads about coins. That's kind of the point of the forum.

Well, merit is for a worthy and meritorious post, it does not have to bound to a particular theme, whether it is about merit or about coins. The problem is,the OP of ANN or other services thread got a lot of merits from a post that does not contain anything valuable rather than describing their project or services which is not meritorious at all. Above posts already mentioned too that there are merits given for rather a low quality post which is not the best use of merit.

The point of the forum is to be a best place to talk about bitcoin and cryptocurrency, not about advertising some services with false use of one of forum's system.

TheHas

full member

Activity: 616

Merit: 167

Am I the only one that is more surprised about the amount of merit going to threads talking about merit? Seems a bit circular.

I'd rather see merit going to threads about coins. That's kind of the point of the forum.

DdmrDdmr

legendary

Activity: 2338

Merit: 10802

There are lies, damned lies and statistics. MTwain

The Ann Altcoins is the most merited section of all considering all the Merit System History (23.519 sMerits, followed by Russian Local Board with 21.473 sMerits and then Meta with 16.001).
If we narrow that down to the month of June 2018, Russian Local Board Leads with 1.959 sMerits, followed by Ann Altcoins with 1.775 sMerits and then Meta with 1.505 sMerits.
Specifically, the Ann Altcoins sMerit goes to 495 posts on 296 different threads.

The top merited Ann Altcoin threads with 20 sMerits or above during June 2018 are:

Code:

Merit MeritThread page_title url
50 67 ( [ANN] ) (PUNZ) - Making Crypto Great Again - Zerocoin Being Implemented https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1699708.msg40884406#msg40884406
1 67 ( [ANN] ) (PUNZ) - Making Crypto Great Again - Zerocoin Being Implemented https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1699708.msg40889002#msg40889002
16 67 ( [ANN] ) (PUNZ) - Making Crypto Great Again - Zerocoin Being Implemented https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1699708.msg40892511#msg40892511
10 60 [ICO] ShowMeBiz - GLOBAL VIRTUAL EXPO [Earn passive income & Become a co-owner]® https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4148382.msg38209188#msg38209188
5 60 [ICO] ShowMeBiz - GLOBAL VIRTUAL EXPO [Earn passive income & Become a co-owner]® https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4148382.msg38705695#msg38705695
15 60 [ICO] ShowMeBiz - GLOBAL VIRTUAL EXPO [Earn passive income & Become a co-owner]® https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4148382.msg39395325#msg39395325
30 60 [ICO] ShowMeBiz - GLOBAL VIRTUAL EXPO [Earn passive income & Become a co-owner]® https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4148382.msg39861027#msg39861027
50 50 [ANN][ICO]SKYFchain is the first B2R blockchain based operating platform https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2799527.msg39175145#msg39175145
20 50 [ANN][ICO] 💚💚💚World 1st AI Enabled Platform - MEFY - AIRDROP 💚💚 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4266620.msg39348248#msg39348248
30 50 [ANN][ICO] 💚💚💚World 1st AI Enabled Platform - MEFY - AIRDROP 💚💚 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4266620.msg40734924#msg40734924
2 32 [I0C] I0coin - The Best Choice In Digital Currency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=624935.msg40531822#msg40531822
10 32 [I0C] I0coin - The Best Choice In Digital Currency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=624935.msg40604109#msg40604109
2 32 [I0C] I0coin - The Best Choice In Digital Currency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=624935.msg40612823#msg40612823
5 32 [I0C] I0coin - The Best Choice In Digital Currency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=624935.msg40893683#msg40893683
2 32 [I0C] I0coin - The Best Choice In Digital Currency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=624935.msg40967664#msg40967664
7 32 [I0C] I0coin - The Best Choice In Digital Currency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=624935.msg41091826#msg41091826
4 32 [I0C] I0coin - The Best Choice In Digital Currency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=624935.msg41100030#msg41100030
1 31 BYTEBALL: Totally new consensus algorithm + private untraceable payments https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1608859.msg16156239#msg16156239
1 31 BYTEBALL: Totally new consensus algorithm + private untraceable payments https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1608859.msg38377018#msg38377018
1 31 BYTEBALL: Totally new consensus algorithm + private untraceable payments https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1608859.msg39012427#msg39012427
1 31 BYTEBALL: Totally new consensus algorithm + private untraceable payments https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1608859.msg39604201#msg39604201
2 31 BYTEBALL: Totally new consensus algorithm + private untraceable payments https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1608859.msg40141738#msg40141738
2 31 BYTEBALL: Totally new consensus algorithm + private untraceable payments https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1608859.msg40182151#msg40182151
17 31 BYTEBALL: Totally new consensus algorithm + private untraceable payments https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1608859.msg40547826#msg40547826
5 31 BYTEBALL: Totally new consensus algorithm + private untraceable payments https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1608859.msg40698998#msg40698998
1 31 BYTEBALL: Totally new consensus algorithm + private untraceable payments https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1608859.msg40789670#msg40789670
31 31 [ANN][CROC] Official CrocodileCash Update Board [Strength in Basking] https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2326144.msg23645056#msg23645056
30 30 [ANN][ICO] KYC.legal - Blockchain identity verification https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2370568.msg34236062#msg34236062
5 29 [ANN][EMC2] Einsteinium | FUNDING THE FUTURE WITH THE FUTURE OF CURRENCY https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=494708.msg39178241#msg39178241
24 29 [ANN][EMC2] Einsteinium | FUNDING THE FUTURE WITH THE FUTURE OF CURRENCY https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=494708.msg39742336#msg39742336
23 28 [ANN] INSN Coin 🔷 POW/POS/Master Nodes/InstantTXs 🔷 18.4m Coins 🔷 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1709461.msg36872545#msg36872545
5 28 [ANN] INSN Coin 🔷 POW/POS/Master Nodes/InstantTXs 🔷 18.4m Coins 🔷 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1709461.msg39893446#msg39893446
20 25 [ANN] Viacoin (VIA) - Safe | Segwit | Lightning Network | Auxpow | Fast https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1840789.msg40177971#msg40177971
5 25 [ANN] Viacoin (VIA) - Safe | Segwit | Lightning Network | Auxpow | Fast https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1840789.msg40630772#msg40630772
17 24 ✅ [ANN] LIGHTPAYCOIN LPC ⭐ MASTERNODES ✅ POS ⭐ MNO AND CRYPTOBRIDGE LISTED ✅ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4349090.msg38889872#msg38889872
1 24 ✅ [ANN] LIGHTPAYCOIN LPC ⭐ MASTERNODES ✅ POS ⭐ MNO AND CRYPTOBRIDGE LISTED ✅ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4349090.msg39721142#msg39721142
3 24 ✅ [ANN] LIGHTPAYCOIN LPC ⭐ MASTERNODES ✅ POS ⭐ MNO AND CRYPTOBRIDGE LISTED ✅ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4349090.msg40650686#msg40650686
3 24 ✅ [ANN] LIGHTPAYCOIN LPC ⭐ MASTERNODES ✅ POS ⭐ MNO AND CRYPTOBRIDGE LISTED ✅ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4349090.msg40997947#msg40997947
20 23 🚀 [ANN] ColossusXT (COLX) Private | Instant | Sustainable | Mandatory Update v5 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2141880.msg21423587#msg21423587
3 23 🚀 [ANN] ColossusXT (COLX) Private | Instant | Sustainable | Mandatory Update v5 https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2141880.msg40336552#msg40336552
2 23 ⚡ [ANN] DeepOnion ONION ⚡⚡ SAFEGUARD YOUR FILES with DeepOnion DeepVault ⚡⚡ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2683530.msg39413253#msg39413253
5 23 ⚡ [ANN] DeepOnion ONION ⚡⚡ SAFEGUARD YOUR FILES with DeepOnion DeepVault ⚡⚡ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2683530.msg39458791#msg39458791
10 23 ⚡ [ANN] DeepOnion ONION ⚡⚡ SAFEGUARD YOUR FILES with DeepOnion DeepVault ⚡⚡ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2683530.msg40071076#msg40071076
4 23 ⚡ [ANN] DeepOnion ONION ⚡⚡ SAFEGUARD YOUR FILES with DeepOnion DeepVault ⚡⚡ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2683530.msg40229878#msg40229878
1 23 ⚡ [ANN] DeepOnion ONION ⚡⚡ SAFEGUARD YOUR FILES with DeepOnion DeepVault ⚡⚡ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2683530.msg40231055#msg40231055
1 23 ⚡ [ANN] DeepOnion ONION ⚡⚡ SAFEGUARD YOUR FILES with DeepOnion DeepVault ⚡⚡ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2683530.msg40356338#msg40356338
5 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg39238948#msg39238948
1 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg39517283#msg39517283
2 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg39592511#msg39592511
1 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg39707725#msg39707725
1 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg40283464#msg40283464
2 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg40381079#msg40381079
2 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg40506977#msg40506977
1 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg40507451#msg40507451
2 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg40625737#msg40625737
1 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg40975592#msg40975592
4 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg41051154#msg41051154
1 23 [XMR] Monero - A secure, private, untraceable cryptocurrency https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=583449.msg41119651#msg41119651
20 21 👽 [ANN][BIS]Bismuth - New Language, Free DAPPs, Cryptopia, HEAT https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1896497.msg39025811#msg39025811
1 21 👽 [ANN][BIS]Bismuth - New Language, Free DAPPs, Cryptopia, HEAT https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1896497.msg39593473#msg39593473
16 21 [ANN]⚡⚡🔐[PRiVCY]🔐⚡⚡[3rd Airdrop - Starts 23th June]✅[PoW/POS]✅ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4503790.msg40546622#msg40546622
2 21 [ANN]⚡⚡🔐[PRiVCY]🔐⚡⚡[3rd Airdrop - Starts 23th June]✅[PoW/POS]✅ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4503790.msg40596974#msg40596974
1 21 [ANN]⚡⚡🔐[PRiVCY]🔐⚡⚡[3rd Airdrop - Starts 23th June]✅[PoW/POS]✅ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4503790.msg40610275#msg40610275
1 21 [ANN]⚡⚡🔐[PRiVCY]🔐⚡⚡[3rd Airdrop - Starts 23th June]✅[PoW/POS]✅ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4503790.msg40891964#msg40891964
1 21 [ANN]⚡⚡🔐[PRiVCY]🔐⚡⚡[3rd Airdrop - Starts 23th June]✅[PoW/POS]✅ https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4503790.msg40934364#msg40934364
20 20 [XLTCG] Version 2.0 switch to DPOS/POW Hybrid since 12.04.2016 | X13 | Multipool https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1195867.msg17937821#msg17937821
20 20 BUBBLE || HOLY $H+T! ! ! MickGhee can DApp -- p2p exchange 20% complete.~demo https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1348538.msg39678091#msg39678091
10 20 [ANN]Spectrecoin[XSPEC] TOR+OBFS4, Ring Sig, Stealth! https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2103301.msg39314848#msg39314848
10 20 [ANN]Spectrecoin[XSPEC] TOR+OBFS4, Ring Sig, Stealth! https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2103301.msg39960117#msg39960117
3 20 [ANN][BWK] BULWARK | NO ICO | Masternodes | Accelerated PoW | Seesaw PoS/MN https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2499481.msg39169705#msg39169705
1 20 [ANN][BWK] BULWARK | NO ICO | Masternodes | Accelerated PoW | Seesaw PoS/MN https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2499481.msg39388194#msg39388194
3 20 [ANN][BWK] BULWARK | NO ICO | Masternodes | Accelerated PoW | Seesaw PoS/MN https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2499481.msg39448086#msg39448086
2 20 [ANN][BWK] BULWARK | NO ICO | Masternodes | Accelerated PoW | Seesaw PoS/MN https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2499481.msg39616106#msg39616106
2 20 [ANN][BWK] BULWARK | NO ICO | Masternodes | Accelerated PoW | Seesaw PoS/MN https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2499481.msg39756799#msg39756799
4 20 [ANN][BWK] BULWARK | NO ICO | Masternodes | Accelerated PoW | Seesaw PoS/MN https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2499481.msg39916643#msg39916643
3 20 [ANN][BWK] BULWARK | NO ICO | Masternodes | Accelerated PoW | Seesaw PoS/MN https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2499481.msg40002008#msg40002008
2 20 [ANN][BWK] BULWARK | NO ICO | Masternodes | Accelerated PoW | Seesaw PoS/MN https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2499481.msg40405103#msg40405103
20 20 [ANN] CargoX.io - Ocean Freight Logistics on Blockchain - Pilot in Q2 2018! https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2619373.msg40018389#msg40018389
10 20 [PRE-ANN][MANO] Masternode Foundation [Pre-Sale][Bounties] https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4328146.msg40606343#msg40606343
10 20 [PRE-ANN][MANO] Masternode Foundation [Pre-Sale][Bounties] https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=4328146.msg40611994#msg40611994

Now if the features announced have replicas, and moved on to a discussion on features usage or technical ground, some posts in the thread could have some interest and be awarded merit with no issue. It’s when unorthodox abuse takes place hidden amongst these often mega-threads that one wonders if that is the reason why Ann Altcoin is the most awarded section/subsection of all (second place in June).

For example, from the list above we’ve got:
16 sMerits for:

Quote from: CryptoWiz420 on June 25, 2018, 11:48:21 AM

Quote from: MilkandPie4U on June 25, 2018, 10:55:56 AM

YES
LET"S MAKE PUNZ"S GREAT AGAIN

WOw you guys still have wallet cool. Lets get this going!

The 60 sMerits on ‘[ICO] ShowMeBiz - GLOBAL VIRTUAL EXPO [Earn passive income & Become a co-owner]®’ have already been tagged by actmyname for merit abuse last week.
The 50 sMerits on ‘[ANN][ICO]SKYFchain is the first B2R blockchain based operating platform’ were also tagged by actmyname for merit abuse last week.

The ‘[ANN][ICO] 💚💚💚World 1st AI Enabled Platform - MEFY - AIRDROP 💚💚’ thread awards 20 sMerits for “Any idea when this moves to the next period. We are in prime movers and heading for brain gain.” (I think the thread is locked, since I cannot quote the post).
Another 30 have been awarded for “Personally, I see that the team is doing a great job, giving us new opportunities in the health system”.

And that is just grabbing the first few from the above list. All in all, it seems as if merit abuse seems to hide in the forest of large Ann threads, and it may be adding to quite a bit more than we think. Perhaps it is proportionally larger than in other threads, thus boosting its position on rankings.

vphasitha01

full member

Activity: 196

Merit: 173

Quote from: Jet Cash on July 03, 2018, 01:45:45 AM

I've stated several times that I believe that merits should not be awarded for posts in the ANN sections, In fact I believe that all TwitBook and bounty posting should not be awarded with any merit, and should not be counted for activity.

I have already suggested that admins should not counted the posts in ANN threads as activity.

Quote from: vphasitha01 on June 30, 2018, 09:07:36 AM

Quote from: Nanagyasi on June 30, 2018, 06:08:52 AM

I think this is a very serious issue that is bothering almost everyone on this forum.

This is very serious issue only for Bounty Hunters and Spam Masters not for members who actually knows the value of Bitcointalk

Quote

the earlier the forum becomes easy place to learn.

"the earlier the forum becomes easy place to ~~learn~~ spam, gets rank up and earning money without contribute to the forum"

I don't agree with the OP regarding the post count thing, if we remove the merit requirements for ranking up will ultimately clogged the forum by shitposters with their bots and bounty reports. So they pumps the posts and rank up quickly to earn money. Earning money through bitcointalk is not the problem,but when it becomes the sole purpose without contribution or sharing anything to the forum is the problem.

I would like to share my thoughts regarding the post count thing. If someone think number of posts proportional to the learning potential, believe me it's not. If anyone really wants to learn, the best think I can say is Read Before Ask. I have an another suggestion, if we could make an amendment to the activity thing by introducing new rule that posts which are posting on the ANN threads doesn't count as activity or few number(mods can decide) of posts taken as one activity, there will be decrease of new alt creation which creates only for Bounties and ultimately less spam in the forum. So what you guys are thinking?

xtraelv

legendary

Activity: 1288

Merit: 1926

฿ear ride on the rainbow slide

Quote from: athanz88 on July 02, 2018, 11:56:20 PM

I agree with you that ANN, or other project or services thread should not be the top merited thread int this forum, they may get merits but not up to this level i believe. It is kinda sad, but the solution to this problem is kinda problematic because we are talking about controlling and directing people how to use merit (at least more) properly than giving it to thread mentioned above.

I wasn't suggesting directing people to not merit ANN threads or services but just turning off the functionality so ANN threads are not capable of receiving merit. Symilar to how signatures are turned off in the serious discussion forum. Merit for posts within the ANN thread should be fine as long as the post deserves it.

Alternatively just removing ANN threads from being displayed on the top merited list or a displayed on a separate list for merited advertisements.

I also don't have as much of a problem with ANN threads receiving merits than with how it is displayed on the list and the volume of merit given to what is essentially a free advertisement - my main issue is with it being displayed on top merited topics the list. It is a form of free advertising that will get abused. ANN threads and Services initial posts are essentially an advertisement. When people find an advertisement more worthy of merit than an extremely inspiring post by one of the apostles of bitcoin - I have an issue with that. It is disrespectful.

TheBeardedBaby

legendary

Activity: 2240

Merit: 3150

₿uy / $ell ..oeleo ;(

Now first thing to do is to keep an eye on those accounts receiving all those merits what they gonna do with it.

I wish to believe that they will distribute the merit to the most valuable bounty/signature participants, as it should be, but this is just too good to be true.

Harlot

hero member

Activity: 1806

Merit: 672

Quote from: The Sceptical Chymist on July 02, 2018, 10:51:50 PM

Holy shit! I didn't realize this was happening. I haven't ever looked at that particular merit list, and now that I have, I'd have to say that this probably shouldn't be allowed. This definitely goes against the spirit of the merit system, and especially Theymos's suggestion that merit should be for "objectively high quality posts" (I'm quoting from memory, forgive me if I got the words wrong, but that's basically what he said).

That's just awful. I don't quite get why people are meriting ANN threads. Are these thread-starters getting some sort of kickback from this? Is it to get the threads on the "most merited threads" list? Are people just kissing ass? I wouldn't think that would be the case, since I can't imagine all these people would throw away their merits on ass-kissing.

I guess a lot of things are always happening outside of the forum. If bump bots in the forum are being sold elsewhere then most likely merits are also being sold and their means of communication is outside the forum. This is an obvious abuse as the ones giving merits usually in the first place don't give merits at normal post, then suddenly they will give high merits on ANN threads that don't actually give any kind of conrtibution to the forum. They are just here promoting their business without caring how theybare abusing the forum.

Jet Cash

legendary

Activity: 2814

Merit: 2472

https://JetCash.com

I've stated several times that I believe that merits should not be awarded for posts in the ANN sections, In fact I believe that all TwitBook and bounty posting should not be awarded with any merit, and should not be counted for activity.

hugeblack

legendary

Activity: 2646

Merit: 3911

Short answer No. Source -------> https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.35998226

Quote from: theymos on April 30, 2018, 09:44:47 PM

It's not inherently bad for someone to merit announcement threads since you might legitimately view them as particularly interesting and noteworthy. But some of those do look like a conflict of interest...

I consider getting merits on my services threads a kind of thanks from the given and an assessment of the service for everyone who wants to try it.
Perhaps the real question is whether the merit source can send merits to ANN threads?
Which has been answered here ----> https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.35889040

Welsh

staff

Activity: 3304

Merit: 4115

Generally, I don't really endorse sending merits to announcement threads, however users can do what ever they like with the sMerit they have earned. Eventually, most of them will run out of sMerit, and this will be happening on a minuscule level. I doubt any merit source will give their merits to the average Joe announcement thread.

Quote from: athanz88 on July 02, 2018, 11:56:20 PM

Shit posting in the ANN threads is not made by the OP right? Then it does not have anything to do with the ANN of the projects, unless the project stated that they will pay money if someone do the post on the ANN thread. With or without merit system, people will always spam in ANN thread, that is the problem.

Not entirely true some announcement threads bump their threads with alternate accounts when they aren't using a bumping service. A while back I found some particularly high ranked members engaging in a conversation with themselves in order to bump the thread. OP was also involved. It's not always so obvious to determine if OP is involved, but they certainly do use different methods to bump their threads.

athanz88

sr. member

Activity: 476

Merit: 359

Shit posting in the ANN threads is not made by the OP right? Then it does not have anything to do with the ANN of the projects, unless the project stated that they will pay money if someone do the post on the ANN thread. With or without merit system, people will always spam in ANN thread, that is the problem.

I agree with you that ANN, or other project or services thread should not be the top merited thread int this forum, they may get merits but not up to this level i believe. It is kinda sad, but the solution to this problem is kinda problematic because we are talking about controlling and directing people how to use merit (at least more) properly than giving it to thread mentioned above.

xtraelv

legendary

Activity: 1288