That merit thing is becoming a communistic idea. For Newbies like me, merit will be mandatory for progressing, and I understand this. But harassing everyone to earn merit constantly is a bit too much, really. Now it aims to impose more and more restrictions. This forum should be a place of freedom, but it is getting restricted more and more, sadly.
it will take some time to understand that the freedom you mentioning is abused by majority. and the merit system is a try to fix the outcome of this freedom lol