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Re: Freak Show
Author: Graham Buxton
Date: 07-15-2018 - 05:43
sklinck1 Wrote:
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> On a more serious note, how can we get rid of
> these trolls and keep these discussions from
> turning into $#!t-shows like this one?
First, note that Troll of Many Names is using a VPN system that allows him to present a different IP address to the AP forum at any time. So blocking a specific IP address is ineffective as Troll just switches to a different one.
Moving away from the current "anyone can post using any name at any time" system, and moving to a "pre-registration required, with email confirmation required to register" system will go a long way to controlling the Troll.
If I were setting this up, I would choose a system that actively displayed the number of previous posts that specific MemberID had made, in a sort of "longevity" index, which could be a crude form of a member 'credibility' index. Of course, such a system would still allow Troll to register multiple times, using different names, but each name could be easily blocked upon misbehavior. However, this would require an Admin/Moderator to actively monitor the board and block the account used by the Troll of Many Names (or any account posting insults) each time he misbehaved.
There are virtually no forums left that don't require some form of registration before posting. Even the infamous "topix.com" where almost anything goes requires registration.
But monitoring a forum for bad actors is more work than not monitoring. I believe that David C. could find a few volunteer Moderators for AP, but even then he may get complaints about the decisions those Moderators make. Ultimately nothing will change until/unless David wants to make a change.
-------------------------------------------------------
> On a more serious note, how can we get rid of
> these trolls and keep these discussions from
> turning into $#!t-shows like this one?
First, note that Troll of Many Names is using a VPN system that allows him to present a different IP address to the AP forum at any time. So blocking a specific IP address is ineffective as Troll just switches to a different one.
Moving away from the current "anyone can post using any name at any time" system, and moving to a "pre-registration required, with email confirmation required to register" system will go a long way to controlling the Troll.
If I were setting this up, I would choose a system that actively displayed the number of previous posts that specific MemberID had made, in a sort of "longevity" index, which could be a crude form of a member 'credibility' index. Of course, such a system would still allow Troll to register multiple times, using different names, but each name could be easily blocked upon misbehavior. However, this would require an Admin/Moderator to actively monitor the board and block the account used by the Troll of Many Names (or any account posting insults) each time he misbehaved.
There are virtually no forums left that don't require some form of registration before posting. Even the infamous "topix.com" where almost anything goes requires registration.
But monitoring a forum for bad actors is more work than not monitoring. I believe that David C. could find a few volunteer Moderators for AP, but even then he may get complaints about the decisions those Moderators make. Ultimately nothing will change until/unless David wants to make a change.
