Help Topic: Qualified Merit Badges

On Writing.Com, Merit Badges are virtual symbols of recognition that are given at will from one member to another. Each badge is custom-designed to represent a particular trait, specialty skill or theme.

All received Merit Badges are shown in the "Merit Badge Summary" section within the Community Recognition Details window. Only Qualified Merit Badges, however, count toward to member's Community Recognition number.

All Merit Badge are qualified except for those badges received from the same member within a 7 day period*. Multiple Merit Badges received from the same member only qualify if they are given more than 1 week (7 days) apart. This helps to ensure Community Recognition is based on a wider, more diverse cross section of members within our community and not just one or two generous friends. (Because of the number of badge opportinuties offered by Writing.Com itself, badges from Staff Portfolios are exempt from the 7 day exclusion. All badges from Staff are automatically qualified for Community Recognition.)

Qualified Merit Badge totals are calculated once per hour.

For complete information on Merit Badges, please see:
"Merit Badge Info" .

* Badges given before January 2nd, 2024 are based on a 14 day period between badges, unless they were given during a special Community Recognition bonus event with a stated shorter time requirement between badges.