There are some old features disabled by admin in order to save forum's capacity/ bandwidth. Highlighted colors for donators, for example. Additionally, animated avatars disabled months ago, too. Due to this, i don't think admin will integrate other kind of effects that might create new kind of annoyance, and consume forum bandwidth.
Not really because having buttons such as: Like, Dislike, Crying, Fantastic, etc. would be like having something in form of Smileys... We aren't discussing about smileys over here...
Merit button has lots of sense because it only displayed if you earn at least one merit, and it prevent spammers to rank up.
If you feel that a Thank You button doesn't make any sense then even the Merit Button makes no sense according to me
Send Merit = For members that hold a rank and has some Send Merits with them
Thank You button = For every user who are still struggling to achieve their First Merit / Rank and wish to Thank the user for a wonderful post..
If i was a Newbie with 0 Send Merit and if i notice a post that's worth a merit, i am not going to send PM randomly to Merit Source users and share that link of a constructive post and ask them to reward with a Merit on my behalf, if they find the post worth...
If i have to appreciate a post then i should do it myself with the available resources (i.e. Thank You button or similar) that i have within my account privilege...
In a forum every member is important regardless of the Rank they hold or the amount of Merits they have achieved throughout these years with their quality post...
Agree. A newbie with one earned merit is more worthy than a legendary without one earned merit. Knowledgeable users do not equal to constructive users. With merit system and new rank requirements, total merits you earn, and your rank disclose your quality and your past contribution in the forum.
After-all, a Merit or a Rank is just something added to your profile in addition to what you really are. It doesn't mean a higher rank user has more knowledge than a lower rank user or vice versa..
Nope. Merit sources are around, and merits are abundantly for good posts. They will find good posts and good posters, no matter which users make it.
They may end-up with 100 post or so and still may not receive a single Merit because their post went unoticed although they are good..