I think what should help all new members is to study the environment first before looking for uplift, understanding the rules and regulations of these honourable forum perfectly and it will enable us beginner's to create a positive solution's in future through the community.
Funnily enough, people don't necessarily even need to know how the forum works. If a person truly knows and understands Bitcoin enough and if that person just replies constructively, he/she would easily earn merits. The problem is mostly not because people don't understand Bitcointalk, but they're immediately trying to earn merits and getting into bounties even when their knowledge is greatly lacking.
I would add that they don't need to go opening threads about how cool the merit system is, full of spelling mistakes, to see if they catch any merit. Just being willing to learn, and willing to share your knowledge by helping others, is enough.