Question 1:

I usually check their post history in this case. If it's a once off, I let it slide. If copy-pasting articles makes up the majority/all of their posts, I report their most recent one and explain they are a serial spammer. The reports are always marked as "Good", but I don't know if that means the mods delete the post or they ban the user - I've never thought to check.


Question 2:

No, I would not merit them. If you ask me again in a month, and that user has shown a sustained effort over a month or longer to improve their post quality and engage in discussion I may. At the moment, there are just too many newbies itching to go back to their spamming ways as soon as they get that elusive one merit.