P.S., all the whiners complaining about the merit system ipso facto thus demonstrate that they are incapable of writing meritorious posts, and therefore worthless to the forum. Make good posts, and people will notice. Or shut up.
Some complainers (complainants? complainactingors? nobody knew English could be so complicated) are doing quite well merit-wise so apparently complaining is worth something to someone.
Here's a thought. Wouldn't a quality post stick out in a shit thread more so than in a quality thread, thus upping the odds for a less-than-quality poster on up to earn coveted +1 sM, in those cases garnering sM from shitty posters not operating on full thrusters or worst --> their [cranial] core breach is imminent.
Yeah those merits are really hard to avoid. Even if you close your browser someone could still sneak in a merit or two for you.