Quote from: The Pharmacist on February 04, 2018, 04:33:14 AM

I gave OP a merit point because he obviously put some thought into his posts, which is more than can be said for 90% of users here.

He's on the SMAS list at the time of writing, thus no merit from me.

Quote from: nullius on February 04, 2018, 05:04:36 AM

I am very uncomfortable with the merit giveaway threads. I myself have neither entered any of them, or even checked to see if I was eligible. I know that some of the people running them are well-intended; and I dont think there will be any long-term damage, if such threads be only a temporary phenomenon during the exciting and tumultuous initial phase of the new system. But widening such threads into a permanent, formally organized institution would undermine the merit system.

There is and must be one, and only one proper way to earn merit: By making high-quality, on-topic posts in the forum appropriate for their subject matter.

I concur. While it may take some time until this filter works as it should (i.e. some people may be posting good posts in sections that are filled with garbage, ergo they are hard to find right now), I don't prefer the giveaways. They create the wrong incentives. I was also thinking about *merit bounties* that are not just about posts (e.g. do X to get Y). We must definitely prevent the system from going into that direction and tag all the participating parties if it comes to that.

Quote from: romani245 on February 04, 2018, 07:40:28 AM

Quote from: nullius on February 04, 2018, 05:04:36 AM

Merit sources may need to develop more elaborate distribution strategies, given the importance of the task entrusted to them.

Fully agreed, there.

Not yet. Read my italic mention above.