I think these stats do not show the real picture. These stats also include cases where members have sent 50 merits points for single post (shit post as well) to their alt accounts or friends. Some member posted about this issue in a particular local section. However, if we have some stats collected after removing these merit abuse cases, we can get a better idea about merits awarded in local sections.
Well, obviously a lot of people have tried and abused the merit system but not only in the local section, in many other sections as well so even if you don't take that in count those statistics should still be valuable. In any case bitcointalk is a bitcoin forum originally in english, if someone cannot speak english it's not really our fault. Local sections are there for further discussion.