I need some orientation on how Participants get merit.
It is bad and not proper if you are on this forum just for Merits. I wonder how you know about merits in the first place. It is suspicious and doesn't speak well about your motives for joining. I'd advice that you to have a rethink and quickly align your motives towards learning first about the primary subject of this forum which remains bitcoins.
I would assume the question to be a basic newbie question, nothing bad or offensive or suspicious or improper about it. That newbie must have started exploring the features of this forum.
And it isn't a wonder that a newbie finds out about the merit system. After all, it is indicated in our profile and in every post.
What is rather improper and unfair is to judge right away that merit is what motivates a newbie for joining when in fact he/she is simply asking about it.