The very first merit experience on bitcointalk could be considered the online analogue for loosing one's virginity in real life. At least that's what it was for me  I've actually checked my profile page 10x more often than usual that day, just to see that +merit message and it made my thing hard every time, lol  That's even more interesting considering I've been lurking this forum for years without participating prior to registering an account, and when the merit was first introduced all I had was a brand new account with 0 posts&merits despite the fact that I've been a part of cryptoworld for a while. That time this whole new merit system seemed too flawed and quite unfair to me, almost to the point where I've thought it's stupid to enter bitcointalk as a poster at this time. But that first merit point feeling was well worth all the struggle. Even though the system is not flawless, now I can definitely say this feeling of accomplishment can stimulate you on personal level, which does good for forum as a whole. So you're not alone on this, OP, getting merit is hot&sexy in 2018!