Anyone that gives you Merits either in sell or dash, it is at his own risk. Anyone that has plenty merits as you said in the op or probably a legendary member,  associate with you in meritting, the person will damage his own account.
Your trust status is mess up, as a newbie, it is very bad of you to accumulate 6 negative trust feedback. If you create good threads, astray merits might fall on you. I wish you all the best man.