Numerous daily posts like "How to get merits", thousands of similar responses to posts only worsen the state of the community and do not do any good, but kill communication, don't they? Or, maybe, I've missed something?
Your observation is correct. It is worrisome how some members are desperate about merits, going at length even to break rules because of merits.
I want to believe that this is your concern, not that you do not know or understand what merit is all about. I share similar worry too.