Well, they should consider second chances for those accounts that has been banned and give them some warning I guess they've worked hard for it just to earn merit and in my own opinion, I think it's totally unfair for them. It's totally worst by now because of the merit system and it is not that easy as it was before and you can't even share some information or links easily without any consent/authorized by any community manager.
Do you not feel they have not had ample opportunity to read the Meta section here? There are multiple threads weekly on this very subject. It takes all of 2 seconds for them to click the Meta button and read a few of the thread titles and see what is not acceptable here.
On top of this you say they worked hard to "earn" their merit? If they were being deceitful about their posting habits, do you think that some of them didn't buy their merit?
The merit system makes this forum better honestly. Now users have to put real effort into their thoughts that they post in order to get the merit rewards from other users. Yes, the days of easy money are gone for the bounty hunters who came here to earn a living. We are not against these users at all. If they want to earn some money that's perfectly fine, but do it without posting a load of trash all over the forum. Do it without buying merits, accounts, copying others work, or being dishonest.
Basically its a sink or swim system. You're not gonna hop on here and just magically be a Hero member in the next 1.5 years without putting in the effort. If you do put in the work and rank up honestly as well as earn your merit honestly, you gain a sense of pride on this forum. You might also start gaining some respect from what most of you consider your seniors of the forum.
I fully agree with your opinion, indeed most of the bounty hunters only want something that is instantaneous, without considering that thinking about the rules, there are so many bounty hunters who do post spam just to reap huge profits for themselves.
Besides, there are also many forum members who just copy and paste content just to expect to get merit, this is really crazy. they want to be respected but not based on the work they make but on the plagiarism of the work of others. and this really needs to be eradicated from this forum so that this forum will develop.
it's actually simple to be a good member and at least support the development of this forum. by obeying the existing rules and not breaking them, we will be safe and not banned.