I think that merits don't have to be actively sought, they will be earned naturally and spontaneously if you post quality responses that add to the interest of the conversation.
What is natural in having to please an opinion? Write an interesting post?
J.R Tolkin could write here and he would get blocked for writing too much.
An informative post could be a "scam alert" on a post.
A simple no should have more information than all the wage "could be" positive reasoning.