You have been here since 2017 but you do not know about how merit and smerit work? That is funny.
May be, it's not that funny. Life happens. We can go with the flow that OP is the original owner of that account but only went on a hiatus here so as to concentrate on other stuff. Merit system then happened in their absence and took them by storm. Again, that someone has been here longer than you're doesn't mean they know much about the forum than you're. I've come across veteran members in rank who post like rookies. BTW, I know OP has got the response to their question. So, it's pointless adding any more suggestions to them.
Not that I want to start anything but first of, it's not something funny and it's somehow rude.
Though he already got his answers, maybe he just asked because of sudden change of interest. I'm pretty sure he will try to search on his own now trying to explore this forum for his own good.
We are all aware that there is no spoonfeeding on this forum and you guys are tired of the same question being asked over and over again, but it is also not good if we answer them sarcasticly. I even admit that I have so many things I need to learn given that I am kind of the same with the OP and not constantly staying on the forum.