Is it allowed to ask for Merits?
For example, I created a long post which I think is of quality and then at the end of my post I say please merit me if you think I am helpful etc. etc... Just like a youtuber asking for likes & subscribers at the end of their video.
Merits should be earned. If it really is a quality and helpful post, people should merit you without needing to be reminded. I don't think it's against the rules, but I doubt it will help you gain merit.
So negative trust user have their smerit too? I think that will be another problem. Because, they can use it to troll or give to their alt account. They can simply send all of their merit to the random member and that member will be accused that it is their alts. However, they can send their merit to their alt and act like that they do it for troll. DT members should be more alert for the negative trust account.
It would be very obvious if a negative trusted user gave a random Newbie 50 merits.