First, what you want to do before asking a question or sharing news, is search into google to see, and make sure there is no other thread about it. This will just make duplicate content and will contribute nothing.
Have you followed your own advice and searched for merit guides/tips? As you said, posting duplicate content doesn't bring anything new to the table, and you certainly won't get merit for this.
I was attempting to help some users... I do not understand the issue with it..?
Nothing wrong with that, what Adolfinwolf is trying to say is that you haven't earned enough merit, basically none, and you're trying to give advice on the basis of what...?