To me being a merit source would probably make me feel like I have to go out and send merits. More like an obligation.
Yep, it does feel like an obligation--but truthfully I can only speak for myself. Other merit sources have become inactive and maybe don't feel like it's a "job". The only reason it seems that way for me is because I'm an ardent supporter of the merit system and I want to keep the merits circulating.
Which may or may not be part of the problem. If sources go inactive and are not replaced the flow may slow. Same with not treating it and lets not use the word job how about responsibility. If I were a source I would think part of that is the responsibility to send out merits.
Your idea might be a good one for trusted members, but there would certainly be attempts to buy sMerits to send to alt accounts, friends, and who knows what. However, Theymos sent me a PM recently (after he changed my username) in which he said he had no plans to increase any merit source's monthly sMerit allocation--so I'm guessing he thinks there are already enough merits circulating and won't go for it. Just a hunch.
and
Wouldn't that create a mess? Some account farmers would buy a few lots and then distribute them among their accounts to build up their accounts faster. These days there are a lot of signature campaigns around & I guess this would be a fantastic business idea for them LOL. Spammers would be everywhere; it would be hard to identify them sometimes as they would have so many earned merits.
That is why I said:
Would have to be handled on a case by case basis, since you don't want to be selling merit to someone who might abuse it.
You could get away with it once but you would wind up burning a good account that Theymos thought was worthy of being able to buy merit and also it would be easy to see which accounts were sent to and those could be tagged too.
Admin have confirmed that forum has sufficient funds to keep the forum running normally, they are no longer expecting donations and recently they are also not auctioning factoid slots. So I don't know what compelled the forum or the admin to agree to sell sMerit to its members. You should be able to easily earn lots of sMerit for free without having to pay anything, we know that.
Because I tend to give out a lot and although I do get a lot remember you need 2 received for 1 to send so my supply does dry up now and then. If it was a 1 to 1 or 1.5 to 1 it might be a different story. Or I might have given more to some posts so would have wound up in the same situation anyway.
Since a few people did send some merits (thank you) I will keep them flowing. And now that the report posts that need merit post is back in my brain I will add to it as needed.
-Dave
