but there seems to be a new influx of members who don't care.
Agreed. I think the word is out that you can get merits underground so people aren't worrying about it.
Theymos should decrease the max merit sent per person per month to 10 from 50. :/
Precisely, and that mostly happened on local board section. They can hide them because only two moderators have and can't easily be caught. I think is just enough for a post giving smerit at least 1 to 2 per post, if more than that or more 10 smerit give that is already suspicious that they abusing merit system and having underground sabotage.
I've just had this brilliant idea - why don't we have a board for beginners.

Edited: I am agreed on this.