Getting merit can be extremely difficult here in this forum. I am a legendary member here, and have more than 10,000 posts. But I have just 10 merits to my name. That is one merit point for every 1,000 posts. But the good thing is that you can participate in bounties even if your merit score is zero.
What's interesting to me is you joined this forum exactly 2 days before I did, yet when they issued merits they only gave you 10? Are you sure about that, guy? You were supposed to get 100, unless you became Legendary after the system went into effect, in which case you would only get 50, I think.
I am not talking about the "default" merit points. I have about 1,000 default merit points, which they give to all the legendary members. I am talking about the "earned" merit points. I have only 10 earned merit points, despite making so many posts here regularly.