User Obiwan helpfully listed out newbies who had been demoted and I went through the post histories to merit them. I have only gone through one month history preceding the latest announcement. So did not merit those who just woke up. I am hoping that these examples and this post can help newbies decide what kind of user you want to be.

|	Profile Link	|	Status	|	Remark	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2099348	|	merited	|	Keep engaging	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1855287	|	No Merit	|	Couldn't find any discussion; Only translations and ICO promotion	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1925023	|	No Merit	|	Sorry, didn't find any meritable posts; Only reports	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1821639	|	No Merit	|	Sorry, didn't find any meritable posts; Only reports	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1393506	|	No Merit	|	Sorry, didn't find any meritable posts	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2169483	|	No Merit	|	Sorry, didn't find any meritable posts; Only reports	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1911471	|	Merited	|	Good Mix and helpful inputs; Deserves better	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2110024	|	No Merit	|	Sorry, different language	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2226189	|	No Merit	|	Sorry, Found nested reports only	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2112621	|	No Merit	|	Sorry, didn't find any meritable posts	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1136975	|	No Merit	|	Here as mod of some MN coin; Better buy Copper	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1931495	|	No Merit	|	Sorry, different language	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2146224	|	No Merit	|	Sorry, didn't find any meritable posts	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=2032982	|	No Merit	|	15 pages of only nested reports in last one month!	|
|	https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=1256570	|	No Merit	|	Sorry, didn't find any meritable posts	|

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Sad to have gone through these but not finding too many people to merit. Then there are those who engage but haven't gotten the ranks they otherwise would have, if not for merit system; like this one. With the new rules, there maybe some members willing to change their styles. Your aim should be to become part of the Bitcoin ecosystem rather than simply hunting for bounties, 90% of which are proving to be scams.
 
For those who would like to earn some merits, there are some links you can check.

• TMAN's Level up challenege. Beware if you are an Internet snowflake.
• Merit System Upgrade by the awesome user QuestionAuthority
• Follow Joe's Signature-Less Challenge to see if and when it gets revived.
• Follow post history of users like JetCash for helpful tips about a host of things.
• For an example of a trailblazer who gathered humungous merit in a short time and then disappeared as quietly, See post history of Nullius
• Check out the signature of User xtraelv for some great links.
• The english language improvement thread by Jet Cash
  

I know its a lot to go through and much harder than simply copy-pasting brainless links. You decide who you want to be. Once you have gained enough knowledge, the next logical step is to actually contribute. Learn to run a node, Learn about lightning network and its implementation progress. See if you can be part of Goods and Services marketplace in your own local areas.

Honestly, there is so much to do if you can take your head out of that useless bounty cauldron for sometime. Good Luck!