No Sirs, address everyone by their username, you might be surprised you're actually more accomplished or my senior in real life or not still, don't consider the ranks you see to mean much, they are just visual representation of how much we have spent on the forum and merit recieved.
I am sorry if this displeases you. I am used to addressing male fellows this way. I found it more polite and formal way of addressing any gentleman.
Including the merit you send. I think you have a thread that says
You want to help newbies. But I took a look at the merits you recently posted. They are all for heroes or legends, although they are indeed worthy of merit.
I deliberately kept blind eyes at this post. The forum is a double edge sword, sharp at both edges. I have decided to do what is right that does not battle with the forum rules.
Pretty sure everyone is allowed to have changed of mind (assuming that's what happened to the OP). The newbies you speak off, are they willing to be helped or they just want to earn form the forum. We have alot of people already helping newbies so him not sending merits to them is no big deal provided he isn't abusing the merits which from your words he isn't.
It will be nice if you can click the thread I opened to ensure eligible newbies earn their first (only 1) merit by answering questions. The kind of attacks that came to me, I was forced to read my post again if I have posted something different from my intent. I had to lock the thread. As you rightly pointed out merit is not a rank basis system. And I attest that it's quite rare to stumble on a newbies post worthy of merit. So, I merit only merit worthy posts in order not to flaw the purpose of merit system.