To me, I see the irony in not allowing to sell merits, while allowing accounts to be sold. Actually, it is not allowed for merit sources to sell their merits. Maybe non-sources are allowed to sell their merits, since they don't have a constant supply but have to get it from others.
That opens up a category of users or accounts who are not merit sources which sell their merits, then get merited by sources. Or even two or more hops away. So if a merit source sends the non-merit source 2 merits, that user can sell the 1 sMerit they can send? It boggles the mind. There's probably already a black market for this, some site called meritroad.onion or silkmerit.onion. Ha, I'd like to be the middle man for all those trades.
Come to think of it, I maybe read something about an ERC-20 token ... but can't find it now, probably dead.
I wouldn't really know as no one has offered more than a satoshi for merits and I'm in the category of those people not allowed to sell them, so it's not worth even the time to consider it.
Topic: Staff Dabs abusing merit? - page 3. (Read 2362 times)
Merit sources aren't supposed to be selling their allocated merits, so if someone's old (no problem at all by itself, I also sometimes merit older posts) and average posts no one else would merit are suddenly being merited, to some people this will look like selling merits or self-meriting an alt account (I'm not saying this has to be the case here, just saying how it may be seen).
I'll also leave these quotes from theymos:
emphasis mine
Of course just the act of distributing merits can be useful if the next user now has sMerits of their own to merit useful/constructive posts of low-rank users.
post edited to add the 1st quote
I'll also leave these quotes from theymos:
While we will not be directly moderating this, I encourage people to give merit to posts that are objectively high-quality, not just posts that you agree with.
If you want to be a merit source:
1. Be a somewhat established member.
2. Collect TEN posts written in the last couple of months by other people that have not received nearly enough merit for how good they are, and post quotes for them all in a new Meta thread. The point of this is to demonstrate your ability to give out merit usefully.
3. We will take a look at your history and maybe make you a source.
I am especially eager to have merit sources in sub-communities such as the local sections.
1. Be a somewhat established member.
2. Collect TEN posts written in the last couple of months by other people that have not received nearly enough merit for how good they are, and post quotes for them all in a new Meta thread. The point of this is to demonstrate your ability to give out merit usefully.
3. We will take a look at your history and maybe make you a source.
I am especially eager to have merit sources in sub-communities such as the local sections.
emphasis mine
Of course just the act of distributing merits can be useful if the next user now has sMerits of their own to merit useful/constructive posts of low-rank users.
post edited to add the 1st quote
I don't look in this area often, or at all. But somehow I got mentioned and it popped up. I don't really have anything to say. sMerits can decay (or so it says)
I joined this forum long before there were Legendary members, before Activity was a thing, and before Merits or sMerits existed.
Let me tell you a parable:
... if that doesn't make you think, let me tell you another story:
I am not God, I never claimed to be. Whatever act of injustice you perceive, why not think of it as mercy. Merit being given to you does not depend on your desire or effort but on the will of whoever gives it.
Would you despise someone for offering the kingdom to poor, oppressed, weak sinners because they were made equal to you?
Again, I am not God, so don't nail me to any cross. If you do, please, let me be the good thief. At least today, I will be in paradise.
The dude probably doesn't even know what merit is. Or could care less.
In this thread alone, 20 of the posts have signatures (from campaigns). I don't care about that either. But maybe someone who only got 17 merits is complaining because someone else got 18 merits. I'm not sure.
But I'll err on the side of caution and give the OP a merit to make him equal to the one he's complaining about. The post is otherwise "high-quality" even if I disagree with it.
Quote
You have received a total of 1 million merit. This is what determines your forum rank. You typically cannot lose this merit. You have 5 billion sendable merit (sMerit) which you can send to other people. There is no point in hoarding sMerit; keeping it yourself does not benefit you, and we reserve the right to decay unused sMerit in the future.
You are a merit source. The next 4 billion merit you spend will come from your source rather than your sMerit balance. Merit spent from your source will come back in 5 seconds. Unused source merit is wasted. It is not allowed for merit sources to sell their merit.
You are a merit source. The next 4 billion merit you spend will come from your source rather than your sMerit balance. Merit spent from your source will come back in 5 seconds. Unused source merit is wasted. It is not allowed for merit sources to sell their merit.
I joined this forum long before there were Legendary members, before Activity was a thing, and before Merits or sMerits existed.
Let me tell you a parable:
Quote
There was a son. He said "Father, give me merits"... then he goes away to a distant forum and spends it all. Then there is famine.
He thinks "Oh my, I am posting crap and not getting paid for it, I will go back to my father and he will treat me like one of his hired spammers and I can eat."
So, the prodigal son returns, and even before anyone else can see him, gets awarded 18 merits from an otherwise infinite supply.
He thinks "Oh my, I am posting crap and not getting paid for it, I will go back to my father and he will treat me like one of his hired spammers and I can eat."
So, the prodigal son returns, and even before anyone else can see him, gets awarded 18 merits from an otherwise infinite supply.
... if that doesn't make you think, let me tell you another story:
Quote
I hire 3 people to work in my vineyard:
Person one comes in the morning, works all day, I pay him 10 merits.
Person two come noon time, works the rest of the day, I pay him 10 merits too.
Person three comes late in the afternoon, works until evening, I pay him 10 merits too.
Person one comes to me complaining "Why did you pay person 3 the same as me, I have worked 8 more hours than him?"
I answer "Would you rather you not get paid at all? Don't come to work for me then."
Person one comes in the morning, works all day, I pay him 10 merits.
Person two come noon time, works the rest of the day, I pay him 10 merits too.
Person three comes late in the afternoon, works until evening, I pay him 10 merits too.
Person one comes to me complaining "Why did you pay person 3 the same as me, I have worked 8 more hours than him?"
I answer "Would you rather you not get paid at all? Don't come to work for me then."
I am not God, I never claimed to be. Whatever act of injustice you perceive, why not think of it as mercy. Merit being given to you does not depend on your desire or effort but on the will of whoever gives it.
Would you despise someone for offering the kingdom to poor, oppressed, weak sinners because they were made equal to you?
Again, I am not God, so don't nail me to any cross. If you do, please, let me be the good thief. At least today, I will be in paradise.
The dude probably doesn't even know what merit is. Or could care less.
In this thread alone, 20 of the posts have signatures (from campaigns). I don't care about that either. But maybe someone who only got 17 merits is complaining because someone else got 18 merits. I'm not sure.
But I'll err on the side of caution and give the OP a merit to make him equal to the one he's complaining about. The post is otherwise "high-quality" even if I disagree with it.
I commonly see one good post from a user, and then go through their history to merit even more of their posts, because if they have made one constructive post then they've likely made more. You can go through my merit history, and you'll see that I've done this a lot for multiple users of all kinds of ranks. Even, some of the highest merited users on the forum.
Especially when it comes to newbies. I think users are a little more willing to give merits to newbies or have made an effort with their post even if lets say a hero member made the same post, and they wouldn't have got merited for it. I think its in the nature of a lot of users to encourage newbies as much as possible.
Especially when it comes to newbies. I think users are a little more willing to give merits to newbies or have made an effort with their post even if lets say a hero member made the same post, and they wouldn't have got merited for it. I think its in the nature of a lot of users to encourage newbies as much as possible.
Agree 100%. I am very stingy with merit. Yeah I know I should not be. I never really thought about it but now I have to go back and check to see if I gave more merit to people with higher or lower ranks and how much merit they have. I know I have not given at times when I look at the 1st post in the thread and see 30 people have given merit and I'm just thinking why bother sending one more.
Have to spend some time this week and see where and who I should send some merit to.
Which loops around to the 1st post in the thread. If I dump a bunch of merit on 2 or 3 people who threads I now look at again am I doing anything wrong? No I'm actually just fixing an oversight.
-Dave
Coolcryptovator, I think its completely free to ask a question on this forum and I agree that OP did nothing wrong by opening this thread. I personally noticed this merit distribution, same as many others that not have too much sense, but most forum users still think that merits are being given only for quality posts, which of course is not the case.
Many users try to post best they can, but they very often remain unrewarded with merit, which certainly discourages them to try to be even better. Merit distribution is not perfect, neither will ever be - but merits distribution is not moderated (except in very rare cases).
Many users try to post best they can, but they very often remain unrewarded with merit, which certainly discourages them to try to be even better. Merit distribution is not perfect, neither will ever be - but merits distribution is not moderated (except in very rare cases).
I'm not sure that I fully understand how the list of DT is formed, but can this somehow be connected with this? It seems there, among other conditions, a sufficient number of users with a merit in the range of 10-250 is needed. Sorry if this looks stupid. I’m even sure that this has nothing to do with reality, I just don’t understand why to reward several old messages, if you can reward one with any amount of merit less than 50.
ps Taking this opportunity, I want to congratulate Dabs with adding to the DT list today, and express the hope that this will make the forum better.
ps Taking this opportunity, I want to congratulate Dabs with adding to the DT list today, and express the hope that this will make the forum better.
He is Dabs!, don't you know who you dare to accuse with such poor arguments?
So what? He is not God by the way. Although this matter isn't much alarming but it doesn't mean OP should get punished. It should not handle like that you are showing. I think OP became afraid and that's why keep silent. I wouldn't like to discourage anyone there is that kind of case. Same on the other hand I don't like to involved to tag merit abuser if they are not related with sells.
If he wants to give his Merits 1,2,9,10,30, he can do it, I don't see any abuse there ...
I'm sorry for you.
Same for you. Seems everyone saying "Dabs" doesn't made mistake since he is a staff (I can understand). But you are all encouraging him sending merit on spam post. Lern to say which is good which is bad, you don't need take action or no need tag for that. But guid him where he should spend his merits.
Again although I am agree with you all that "Dabs" doesn't abuse merit but still I believe he should be more bit careful about his merit distribution.
I commonly see one good post from a user, and then go through their history to merit even more of their posts, because if they have made one constructive post then they've likely made more. You can go through my merit history, and you'll see that I've done this a lot for multiple users of all kinds of ranks. Even, some of the highest merited users on the forum.
Especially when it comes to newbies. I think users are a little more willing to give merits to newbies who have made an effort with their post even if lets say a hero member made the same post, and they wouldn't have got merited for it. I think its in the nature of a lot of users to encourage newbies as much as possible.
Especially when it comes to newbies. I think users are a little more willing to give merits to newbies who have made an effort with their post even if lets say a hero member made the same post, and they wouldn't have got merited for it. I think its in the nature of a lot of users to encourage newbies as much as possible.
MichaelX is a 4 year old user who's still a Newbie. He's not a spammer, so there's no damage to the forum by Meriting him. There's also nothing gained by MichaelX.
I sometimes send a lot of Merit to one user, and I don't think that's Merit abuse.
I sometimes send a lot of Merit to one user, and I don't think that's Merit abuse.
I commonly see one good post from a user, and then go through their history to merit even more of their posts, because if they have made one constructive post then they've likely made more.
I guess it's only a Merit source thing to have to search for good posts. I'm happy when I can "unload" a bunch of sMerit, and I'm happy to see new users who aren't spammers. They're the future of this forum (and Bitcoin)! 
I don't know if Dabs is a merit source,
Base on our merit source @cabalism13, Dabs is a merit source in our local section but I rarely see him sending merits to our section.To be honest below post doesn't deserve even single merit from me even I am a merit source and I don't see how this post could consider even good post,
Well, this is something suspicious. There are more merit worthy posts than this post and yet it receives 4 merits I got my tokens, but I'm not sure if I've received the Incent bonus.
Why do we have to care about how others use their merits? They have rights to hold their merits or send them to any posts of any user they want. There is no official guide or rule on how to send merits. Ideally, merits should be sent to good posts, but it does not matter if someone sends merits to a funny one.
Merit can be send to anybody even a spammer and a shitposter. I believe that every sMerit holder has the right to send their sMerit to anybody and there is nothing we can do about it unless we will tweak the rules about sending merits.Overall, I find it suspicious but like I said there is nothing we can do about it as they have rights to send it into every user they want.
Oh please!
He is Dabs!, don't you know who you dare to accuse with such poor arguments?
If he wants to give his Merits 1,2,9,10,30, he can do it, I don't see any abuse there ...
I'm sorry for you.
He is Dabs!, don't you know who you dare to accuse with such poor arguments?
If he wants to give his Merits 1,2,9,10,30, he can do it, I don't see any abuse there ...
I'm sorry for you.
Who cares how Dabs is using his merit? If he wants to give 100 merit to a 5 year old one word post, why can't he? Pretty sure we are all free to do with our merit what we want.
The fact that there are even threads about this is irritating. I can understand if it's some guy meriting up a bunch of multi-accounts or something like that, but this clearly isn't the case here.
Why not ask him in PM before defaming him with an entire thread?
The fact that there are even threads about this is irritating. I can understand if it's some guy meriting up a bunch of multi-accounts or something like that, but this clearly isn't the case here.
Why not ask him in PM before defaming him with an entire thread?
I am not sure he is a merit source but if he send the merit from source merit and the post may not be merit deserving then all you can do is appeal this to admin and he can review this and can remove the merit if its unnecessary.After seeing the other's replies this may not be considered as abusing but the user spending merit should spend in the right way.
Basically merit sending completely depends on senders own mind and every single person have their own choice for meriting someone or not. OP if you think that every merit sender will appreciate all in a similar way then its not gonna be fair IMO. Giving merit is a great way of encouraging forum users to continue their best works for the community and in that purpose every merit sender have their personal tastes. Most interesting thing is that we can easily raise our finger against someone for giving merits on relatively lower quality post but we can't say anything for lots of unmerited good posts
I am not saying that its looking good to see merit on unnecessary post but in some cases senders give priority to encouragement rather than just giving.
I am not saying that its looking good to see merit on unnecessary post but in some cases senders give priority to encouragement rather than just giving.
legendary
Activity: 2240
Merit: 4133
eXch.cx - Automatic crypto Swap Exchange.
Here's where the problem is coming from, you see a user putting in efforts, contributing positively to the forum instead of putting aside 1-5 minutes of your time to go through his post history to merit well deserving posts, most meriters decide to merit any post they see, same scenario can be observed with giveaway threads, instead of meriting the threads highlighted they merit the links submitted.
In this case I won't considered it to be an abuse maybe, he just didn't have time to review post to post quality but felt the users deserve recieving some merit for his previous efforts (quality contributions) and for starters he's a staff and probably a merit source so I don't think he'll be putting those privilege into jeopardy for just some few merit and not forgetting, merit abuse is a very subjective matter which DT users are advice to abstain from debating on (tagging users).
In this case I won't considered it to be an abuse maybe, he just didn't have time to review post to post quality but felt the users deserve recieving some merit for his previous efforts (quality contributions) and for starters he's a staff and probably a merit source so I don't think he'll be putting those privilege into jeopardy for just some few merit and not forgetting, merit abuse is a very subjective matter which DT users are advice to abstain from debating on (tagging users).
Why do we have to care about how others use their merits? They have rights to hold their merits or send them to any posts of any user they want. There is no official guide or rule on how to send merits. Ideally, merits should be sent to good posts, but it does not matter if someone sends merits to a funny one.
For one post, I can agree with it, or like it, and send my merit to it, but others can disagree or don't like it, and of course, they don't send their merits to it.
That topic was locked weeks ago, but I think it contains some useful and valuable ideas.
Sendable merit, how to use it? Send it when agree/ disagree with posts?
For one post, I can agree with it, or like it, and send my merit to it, but others can disagree or don't like it, and of course, they don't send their merits to it.
That topic was locked weeks ago, but I think it contains some useful and valuable ideas.
Sendable merit, how to use it? Send it when agree/ disagree with posts?
BINGO
It is meaningless garbage, and impossible to abuse really.
Dabs can give merit to garbage (not that those posts are especially garbage in the context of meta board) and nobody can say anything about it. It can not be abused by DT or mods. Theymos may remove merit sources if they give merit to excellent high value posts if the merit source has said he will focus on giving merit to those persons his political views align with. So merit is meaningless dirt. There can be no other way of seeing it.
I mean some mods here merit derailing off topic one liner insults and it is fine. Or some mods , DTs and merit sources will merit DEBUNKED false accusations just because they can and find it fun to do so. Theymos does not mind about that at all.
Meantime theymos is happy to allow the merit cancer to determine nearly all aspects of governance and control. You can imagine how that is working out.
If you have time pull up all DT1's top 20 merit fans and recipients. You may find that rather interesting. Then look at who includes who on DT and cross reference that with the dirty turds thread.
If you are not on the merit merry go round and actually want some merits (not that you probably do now that we have explained it is meaningless garbage) certainly do NOT mention it is clearly abused in the sense it is not given to merit worthy posts.
Dabs is nowhere near abusing compared to what you will find if you start poking into some meta board threads and have the capacity to determine real value from clearly incorrect debunked low functioning spew.
Challenging the governing group regarding their merit giving habits will never meet with any support. The merit system DIRECTLY ensures a two tier system they themselves control and ensures they get on chipmixer and other high paying sig spots, take the escrow positions , your right to trade or be paid2post and now if your post will be seen.
I hope that helps the OP see the futility of any merit complaints in meta.
There have been so many users trying to burst merit abusers and it's not being working, I wonder why users still bother. I must say I've seen far worse cases than this, and they've all happened with no one complaining or raising an eyebrow, so if those did, there is no need bringing up any of such related cases.
The thing is dabs would not be tagged, nor would the merited user be, it's almost impossible to prove a case of merit abuse, and if we started to look into it, then you'll be restricting users to how they spend their Smerits, which makes no sense imho. It's best if this sort of cases stop coming up.
The thing is dabs would not be tagged, nor would the merited user be, it's almost impossible to prove a case of merit abuse, and if we started to look into it, then you'll be restricting users to how they spend their Smerits, which makes no sense imho. It's best if this sort of cases stop coming up.
Why do we have to care about how others use their merits? They have rights to hold their merits or send them to any posts of any user they want. There is no official guide or rule on how to send merits. Ideally, merits should be sent to good posts, but it does not matter if someone sends merits to a funny one.
For one post, I can agree with it, or like it, and send my merit to it, but others can disagree or don't like it, and of course, they don't send their merits to it.
That topic was locked weeks ago, but I think it contains some useful and valuable ideas.
Sendable merit, how to use it? Send it when agree/ disagree with posts?
For one post, I can agree with it, or like it, and send my merit to it, but others can disagree or don't like it, and of course, they don't send their merits to it.
That topic was locked weeks ago, but I think it contains some useful and valuable ideas.
Sendable merit, how to use it? Send it when agree/ disagree with posts?
For your info, DTs are not involving about merit abuse because of below quote,
Means admin isn't encourage to tag someone for merit abuse if there nothing related sells. I don't think a staff will involved with merit sells or like abuse.
I don't know if Dabs is a merit source, but I believe he/she should be more careful during spend merit. To be honest below post doesn't deserve even single merit from me even I am a merit source and I don't see how this post could consider even good post,
Which angle this post deserve merit ? If so then all post of this forum should merited. So I believe Dabs should refresh his judgment although I believe he had not abuse merit system.
MichaelX even didn't earned single merit from any other forum member and suddenly got 18 merit from Dabs, is it not something suspicious?
If a DT member tags you for something stupid involving merit (ie. probably anything less than selling merit), then they're not going to be a DT member for much longer.
Means admin isn't encourage to tag someone for merit abuse if there nothing related sells. I don't think a staff will involved with merit sells or like abuse.
I don't know if Dabs is a merit source, but I believe he/she should be more careful during spend merit. To be honest below post doesn't deserve even single merit from me even I am a merit source and I don't see how this post could consider even good post,
I got my tokens, but I'm not sure if I've received the Incent bonus.
Which angle this post deserve merit ? If so then all post of this forum should merited. So I believe Dabs should refresh his judgment although I believe he had not abuse merit system.
This forum has way too many wanna be scambusters. Everyone thinks that's how you get respect around here or something. I like people busting scammers but I also think starting bad accusations should get users held accountable.
Not saying this is a good or bad accusation, just my opinion overall.
Not saying this is a good or bad accusation, just my opinion overall.
MichaelX even didn't earned single merit from any other forum member and suddenly got 18 merit from Dabs, is it not something suspicious?
Maybe you're frequenting the wrong sections. There's always petty bitching going on, but threads in Economics, Speculation, and a few others seem to be free of that nowadays.
I've given up on politics and economics. I keep getting posts deleted, and one gets tired of the same mass media stuff being trotted out, and I'm mainly interested in the supra-national activities of the elite. I did dip into speculation, but my level of knowledge is fairly low, and I'm really confined to speculative trading of the wicks on Coin Base, and there isn't really much you can say about that, you just have to do it. I do want to create a tokenised security for an investment club, and also to fund a woodland conservation project, but I haven't got much further that talking about them over coffee.
Once I can sort out my van, I'll start to discuss Bitcoin for digital nomads, but right now I'm trying to claim compensation for £5,000 worth of goods that were removed from one of my garages as a result of an admin error. So far they have admitted liability, and offered £600, so there is a long way to go.
Re: the OP. Being a merit source is becoming a bit of a thankless task, and I did send you a PM about this. I didn't look at the posts in question, but the amounts seem to be fairly small, and the awards may well fit in with the request by Theymos to encourage new members with merit awards.
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