Excellent advice to get a merit. Based on my monitoring, Most forum members get a merit on the quality topics they started, and only a small percentage of merit is given if we only comment on the topic, even though the comments that we write is a quality post. Therefore, the Newbe - Jr. Member members try to create a new topic in hopes of getting a merit. Though most of the topics created are junk topics.
A new topic should to be really quality and interesting one to get a merit. Also I see that in the most of cases only first few comments on a new thread get Merit and in the most of cases those first comments appear as the best reply and support to the point.
This topic about how to get a merit appeared on the board for many times already. I just do not understand why users are so lazy to surf the board a little and to find all information that is necessary?!