If the whole idea is to reward quality posing users, and slow spam down. Then farming for it, or giving it to someone just because they are your friend should be against the rules, however would be hard to prove. So it is likely just unethical.
sorry, but am i missed something about the rules this "merit" works, where to find it ?
and i think it's hard to read, the people think and you think it's different like you called it good post and help you but the other people didn't