For example, I want to send you a merit then it will take my smerits and once you receive 1 merit you will get 0.5 smerit. For every 2 merits you received you will have 1 smerits. In your case you got 4 merits then that means you have 2 smerits in total if you haven't send your smerits to anyone who you want to merit by sending your smerits to that person.
Does that include new members on forum, so they can send and receive smerits also? thanks for your time
Until you have received any merits from other users you don't have any merits for sent (smerits). Members here receive merits and they also receive half amount of smerits that is clearly explain above.
Maybe this will help to understand
1. when someone sent you merit to your constructive helpful post you will receive the full merits also you will receive smerits.
2. But when you sent smerits to other will not receive any merits for that. That means you are helping others for their efforts.