Topic: These two don't go and yet, it keeps been used! (Misconception) (Read 178 times)

These kind of posts have been discussed countless times and will continue to be discussed here because it is a reoccurring idea. This is a generation of social media, so it is easy and possible for users to always compare the activities of this forum to social media like Facebook and twitter.
During my newbie days I proposed "like" as an alternative to merits. It gain some good attention as I made my reasons concise and understandable. But, when I noticed the essence of merits sources and discovered that there is a thread where unmerited or undermerited posts are reported for meriting, I kept my cool.
I believe the merit system is working really good now and doesn't need other changes.

i would have considered comparing Facebook to merit system on the forum if there was something like demerit system. Unlike Facebook where you have lots of emojis representing different reactions to a particular post. But on the forum you can only earn merits for quality posts or spam hunting or even for been unique and creative. Merit is just a single element that can be given multiple times if a user deserves it but on Facebook only one emoji can be used on a post to show you reaction and it gets the highest compromise mostly for celebrities, content creators and social media influencers

Is it possible to compare Facebook with a forum? Where can you post full topics on Facebook? A few phrases barely describe the essence of any news or offer. This is where the difference between likes and merits comes from. It is very easy to give your sympathy on Facebook, absolutely for everything. Likes on Facebook are limitless, but here on the forum, I'm sure that every merit is given always goes through some kind of evaluative reasons for which the owner evaluates the post. Of course, merit is not always given for high-quality posts, sometimes merit comes for a good question or even a joke, but basically, all merits go for smart things, which cannot be said about likes.

I dont think this is a good comparison. Social media such as facebook emojis arent comparable to merits since first and foremost the reaction are unlimited and they can do that even the post isnt quality or even negative one. But merits here are being aquired through a system placed by bitcointalk founders and head. Theres a huge difference with it so its not really a good way to compare it and doesnt need an explanation since its pretty obvious.

Merits are given to those quality topic that some users found it interesting. You are good poster but pick a topic that is more open to knowledge and helpful here. In short the topic isnt that quality enough.

First, this topic is unnecessary.

Second, let me tell you. People are free to use sMerit on the forum. There are no rules on merit usages on the forum. Obviously, there are unofficial recommendation by theymos on how people should use sMerit (from their earned merit or from sourced merit) but it is not closely to forum rules or merit system rules.

I disagree with some ways people use their sMerit but for years I have been here, I can say, the longer the merit system exists on the forum, the less likely people will pay attention on how others use sMerit. It sucks in my opinion. Anyway, the importance is total earned merit does not determine who you are and your quality as well as contribution on the forum. It's applied for members with dozens of merit or a few hundreds of merit.

It is not applied for members with outstanding contributions and thousands of earned merits because I am sure they will not touch those numbers with non-sense or low quality posts.

Another topic about merits  

I confess that you did great job developping this thread ; this is what we call a good quality post. But i don't really think it's an interesting topic or have that educative purposes. Personally, i didn't notice that users (including new comers) are confused between facebook likes and bitcointalk merit points once they read the introductory topic made by Theymos about merit system .

It is also better if the topic is interested in something or aims at an important point in the sense that it answers certain questions. Unfortunately, not all topics are able to provide answers, which makes them important and distinct from others, even if they are well formulated.

There have been misconceptions that seemed to have originated out of no where on the forum and continues to persist up till date. I for one once conceived that idea in my early days of the forum but, I later came to this realisation and haven't met it again, it pushed my creation of this thread.

After having some deep thoughts and comparison between Facebook likes/emoji and Merits, I come to realise that them both are completely different. It's accreditation and functionality takes different parts. A few of this conclusion as I have it are;


1. Facebook likes and even emojis are used to demonstrate our emotions on a post (keyword: Emotions). While,
Merits: it's not just a whole system. A system of recognising and appreciating a post to be of good quality and worth the effort. Therefore, worthy of your admittance. (Keywords: Quality and appreciation)

2. Facebook likes are given on default and just owning an account entitles you to showing your emotions on a post. While,
Merits are given off on quality posts and you get Sendable Merits (Smerits) in return using the ratio (2 merits : 1 Smerit).
Also, there are those called merit sources that doesn't follow this pattern completely in getting them smerits. They are therefore given a certain amount of Smerits monthly to merit unappreciated posts on the forum. This too goes by a calculation that looks at your allocation and exhaustion.

3. Facebook likes and emojis are limitless on an account and you can give it off as you so please without getting exhausted. While,
Merits are limited both to users and merit source. You earn and give off Smerits, then you run out and also, you give off your allocations too early, you also get to run out.

4. Facebook likes and emoji are retrievable. While,
Merits are not. Once it's given off, that's it and for good too.

5. Facebook likes serves just one function only and that is, expression of emotions. While,
Merits are multi-taksed. Which brings us to some of the functions of merits.

Functions of Merits On Bitcointalkforum
These includes but not limited to:
- Post appreciation
- Check mate spams as, spam posts aren't merited
- Encourages quality posting while, discouraging spamming and shit posting
- works in conjunction with activities to determine forum rank
- It serves like a pointer to the sort of discussion that is of interest on the forum

Similarities Between Merits and Facebook likes/emoji
- They both carry a message about a post which could range from Happy to Sad.

Why are Merits desirable on the forum;
It's because they aid you scale the ranks and in turn, benefit from the opportunities that follows ranks such as;
* Signatures,
* Opening of special forum icons/functions,
* It presents your account as High stake therefore puts you out for business,
* Loan facilities accreditation,
* Your respones is looked upon sort out for by silent followers and could be seen as words from experience.

Who are those that gets merited?
People or accounts don't get merited but posts do. Therefore, the correct question here should be; what sort of posts gets merited? and the simple answer to that is, a QUALITY POST. Now, the tricky thing behind a quality posts is becuase, it's persons specific (Subject to individual Judgment), making it difficult to create a standard of it. Hence, the Merits are given upon a post as a user pleases.

How to make a quality post?
It should be pretty informative and on point. Organisation of your post into an easy read helps too.

Most importantly, it is of best interest not to just earn merits and scale the ranks but to learn as you go while looking out for ways to apply them.

N/B: Its just my thoughts and this post is just for educative purposes. Your most welcomed to make contributions and corrections where need be. Thanks.