Onna strenfth, my brotha.  HBW says hello.

Now I don't think our current system is completely effective, but I don't think Theymos thought it would be.  Small adjustments like the one we had in September are just fine with me.  It would be much worse if he kept changing the system according to all of this advice members are giving--some of which is good, some not.  The wait-and-see approach is prudent, and in the meantime the shitposting situation does seem to have improved somewhat in some sections, while others (like Bitcoin Discussion) are still an unholy manure pile.

The next move should be more signature restrictions on the lower ranks, and I don't think that them paying for the right to advertise is going to be effective as long as their ROI for buying the right to join campaigns is net positive.  Not allowing anyone under Member rank to advertise in their signature might be a good way to go from here. 

Jr. Members right now are having a hell of a time making it past that rank because of the merit requirement, and I don't think they could get around that as easily as they do now when moving from Newbie to Jr. Member.  Right now they can buy 1 merit or get it from a friend, or they can buy a copper membership.  That's not high enough of a barrier IMO.