If you ask his merit, it is merit begging. If you ask his money, it is money begging.
Certain users are designated as "merit sources". They can create new merit out of nothing, up to a limited number per month (which differs per source). I will not be posting a definitive list of merit sources (so that people don't bug them too much), though you'll soon figure out who they are if you pay attention.
Do not beg for merit excessively.
Theymos was asked about these topics and no objection was raised so we cannot consider it merit begging but I personally consider it spam, the participants in these topics are content to create 10 high-quality topics, put them in a list, search for any source that gives them merits for those threads, repeat it again and again.
The result is 10 high quality posts, 100 low quality posts, many spam review posts trying to get those 10 high quality posts more merits.