Quote from: wwzsocki on January 28, 2018, 01:55:49 AM

Quote from: nioschka on January 28, 2018, 01:14:37 AM

Quote from: theunbeatable on January 27, 2018, 11:32:34 PM

Quote from: HabBear on January 27, 2018, 09:51:38 PM

Please accept my apologies if this has been discussed, I'm not reading through 82 pages.

Currently, the forum's general protocol frowns heavily on the act of asking for positive trust in return for a transaction. Hell, I've been given negative trust (unfairly) for simply stating that I would conduct a transaction for free if the other person would consider giving me trust equal to the experience.

Should the sam rule apply, more seriously, to merit?

I just came across a post where someone explained a simple idea and then said "if you like my idea, send me merit." There is no negative merit, so an ask like this seems more serious than asking for trust.

What's the consensus here, if someone is asking for merit should they be penalized or ostracized or "corrected" as to the correct forum protocol to not do so?

Theymos stated that : Do not beg for merit excessively.
The trust system and the merit system are a two different thing, merits have been designed to improve the quality of posts of those who are here in this forum, and yes there is a consensus here. Because the merit system is different from the trust system you can have negative trusts if you are begging, selling and buying merits.
In simple terms terms you can have -100 plus trust rating even and have 1000 plus merits at the same time. Wink

Does anyone actually believe that the merit system will "improve the quality of posts"? You guys think that a bunch of people (not to mention certain national groups, but it will happen in that way, for sure) won't start to give each other merits for posts like "good sir, when airdrop"? I don't believe that the system was designed for the improving of the overall quality in the first place: it was designed for the slowdown of the forum activity. Quality will more or less remain the same, it's obvious. But what worries me is the existence of these "Gods of Merits" who can show their merit mercy upon their lobby champs, and rage upon the sinners. Was that really necessary? Couldn't that be done in some other way, without showing the muscles? Would someone from the management explain us why that title was introduced, maybe I've missed a philosophical idea that exists in the background of that act (which I won't call the act of absolutist power, although the resemblance is stunning)? Do you think that the act is in line with the very essence of the decentralized Bitcoin nature and everything else that blockchain technology represents, comparing to the banks, states, companies and other bs creations? Will any of these Gods give me 150 merits, so I can move to the next rank? I don't believe so. Will they deny merits to Satoshi because they don't know that it was Him who has written a "low quality" post? Will they give him merits if they learn that it was He who has written the "good sir, when airdrop" thing? Do we really need to associate personalities with the addresses/nicks and to introduce such a state-like central power to Bitcoin and communities that surround it? If management was concerned about the quality of posts, I think a lot simpler and more repressive system of, for example, some negative merits or something similar could be introduced. So, please, don't talk about "quality of posts" anymore 'cause it hurts intelligence. Hail to the Gods ('cause they give merits)! And cheers to everyone else ('cause they make the Bitcoin and the existence of Gods possible)!

I have exactly same fillings when it comes to Merit implementation. I don't think the main reason was to improve post quality and if, this should be discussed and tested before full implementation. I just think that this will make more damage as good in this forum. Another tool which could be easily abused.

I have a lot of question and doubts. Still, don't understand why we need these special users " Merit Gods "? Are they under control? Is there any spreadsheet for initial merit distribution? How to become a " merit God"?

I wouldn't like to become a "Merit God", if you ask me, and here are the reasons:
1. I love Bitcoin, the very nature of it that denies all central power and Gods. It's a good thing, for people, not for exercising the power of an inherited or self-proclaimed position/function. Everybody has the same position and the same function in the blockchain.
2. If you are a God you have to reward some, and deny reward to others. And all of these people represent small parts of the blockchain. They are the reason the blockchain, Bitcoin, and this forum exist in the first place. If they don't mine, trade and post ridiculous posts, nothing of this would ever exist - not even the newly born "Merit Gods" (no matter how odd that may sound to them). So, by being forced to judge these people, I would be actually forced to judge myself.
3. Power is a strange and ugly thing. Not because it's bad by itself, but because the power to make decisions defines who you are, and it's a contagious feeling, you can't get rid of all that power once you gain it. You start that with a best intention, and gradually, without even being able to notice, you really become a sort of a decision-making deity

And people start to respond to that function of yours, with fear, avoidance, worship, butt-licking - but never more as friends, as equals, as peers. But your troubles don't end there, it's just the beginning: when you have that kind of power in one segment of your life, it takes one hell of an effort not to reflect your deity status on the other segments of your life - your actual, real-life friends, family, clerks, passers-by... And these people also reacts, in the same manner. And all of a sudden you find yourself all alone, in constant battle to preserve your position on the power throne, like a real God, high in the clouds (except that you're actually not a real God, so you will suffer).