Hard is the life of the newbie...
If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?
If we want signatures shall we not get it? 

Basically, what the answers here tell us - if you want merits, post quality posts, and forget about merit.
Great!
Like telling hungry people - forget about the bread.
Homeless - forget about the money.
Lonely - forget about the sex.
 

But I do get your point.