Solving the Troll Problem

[Brimacombe]

Why not require telephone verification from new members? They have to provide a phone number and answer the phone and verify that it is them to get clearance to post on the forums. What empowers these troll parasites (yes, I am aware of the redundancy) is anonymity. Strip their anonymity and they shape up fast.

Now I am sure that a lot of trolls on their "nice guy" accounts will howl everything from "Big Brother" to "censoring the web" to "invasion of privacy" to "It will kill project 1999" etc etc etc. However, I think it does not take a doctorate in psychology and sociology to determine what their actual concern is. You are not asking for fingerprints and Social Security Numbers.

International players? Make them talk to you on Skype video chat.

Don't have a cellphone? How many guys posing as girls to get flirting gifts or whatnot have protested that their mike is suddenly broken when invited to mumble?

It takes work, sure, but at some point you have to decide whether it is worth it to moderate a forum where your users are being abused psychologically, or just not worth the effort, and too bad for them.

I won't play the troll's game of: "If you say something I win because you got mad, and if you don't you are now my bitch." Trolls are the paste we pick out from between the cleats of our boots and everyone knows it. Make them show a face to post. Make them powerless, like they deserve to be.

-Brimacombe

(I apologize for the double post, but I wanted this to have visibility. Thanks for your patience.)