Silk Road forums

Support => Feature requests => Topic started by: phubaiblues on May 04, 2012, 12:23 am

Title: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: phubaiblues on May 04, 2012, 12:23 am
Lately we've been inundated with new usernames on here.  Particularly after the Tony76 debacle, all too many have come on to be brave, to curse Tony, to tell the rest of us where we went wrong, to insult people, and generally to make noise and screw up what has become a vital part of the Silk Road community: these forums.

We've known for some time that repeat usernames were a problem, when scammers would natually create 'shill' accounts over here, to praise the goods they were selling.  Most of us value these forums, and we are proud for whatever goodwill and reputation might be associated with our names on here.  The new 'karma' points notwithstanding, a respected username is still the best way for us to tell whether the informationposted  is credible or not.  It's also a way to just step right over the chronic complainers, and those who accuse every vendor of being a scammer, and otherwise cause problems.  Our usernames are 'who we are' on Silk Road. 

But during our latest fracas, after the disappearance of Tony76, several new usernames surfaced, often showing the cheap cost of  online bravery--when one's own name isn't involved--sometimes taking others to task for perceived weaknesses, sometimes just trying to be funny, sometimes by starting endless and repetitive threads.  Now we even have 'tony76' back, obviously an imposter, but it's making a site I value and appreciate, look a bit ridiculous.  I've counted about 30 or more new names just in the last couple days, all acting like little kids on their mother's cell phone, calling numbers without consequence..

I know at times there might be a good valid reason for acquiring a new username, or especially to have a different buyer name, but who would mind paying a small fee for this privilege?   Not me.  These forums, from the very beginning, have shown their worth, where we can post product reviews, and ask technical or security questions.  But lately too many members with limited ethical standards, have used their new names to mess with other people, and to start endless threads of little use.

The main problem, as I see it, would be how to charge, for these accounts, if someone is new.  I know we want to guard our identities, perhaps we could pay a nominal amount in bitcoins, and since they'll need bitcoins to use the main site, they'd find out about btc that way.  There would be no problem allowing 'guest' accounts, but we don't need them posting here: there are enough valid members that do post regularly.

To sum up: I've been here from the start of these forums, and value them, enjoy the friends I've made, the debates we've had, and of course, the product reviews.  But the last few days have taught me the disadvantage of allowing people to just constantly create new forums accounts, in order to degrade this site.  Please, SR, would you consider this?  I'd be willing to pay for mine.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: cindylove on May 04, 2012, 02:35 am
I agree 100%

Metaphorically speaking, our collective asshole is wide open for LE, scammers, trolls to come here and cause havoc. I've also seen uses who are barely a week old yet they have more forum posts numbering in the hundreds. I've been here a year and I don't have that many. Abuse is clearly taking place and this is harmful to the community. Something must be done ASAP.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: sbkw83 on May 04, 2012, 02:53 am
Even though I'm new here (so I'm probably flagged as a potential whatever) - I totally agree with you.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: CX on May 04, 2012, 05:22 am
Agreed.

There has been an influx of trolls and just generally useless shit being posted as of late.

It would discourage the non-dedicated, scammers and time wasters if there were fee's on forum accounts / buyer accounts...

I would happily pay for a buyer account to use SR this place is the greatest thing on the web.

An invite only type scenario from buyers/sellers with good stats and time frame; 1-2 months etc. on the site also seems viable.... It would encourage people to not to ruin there stats since they may not be able to get another account.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: iandroid on May 04, 2012, 06:47 am
I agree. I am new here, but I am about to make my first sr purchase.

People need to earn trust, and by making accounts like that they aren't.

So I totally agree with this :)

iandroid
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: TheRX on May 04, 2012, 07:06 am
100% agree.

Forcing people to purchase buyers accounts would help to keep the trash out, help with LE (they'll have to get funding for it, not just sign up to snoop), eliminate troll accts designed to talk crap, etc... PLUS, it would generate more money for SR, that could be put to good use. Everything from site upgrades to contes prize and more!
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: awesome1126 on May 04, 2012, 07:47 am
I also agree. Having been here over a year now, I think those who have anything worth posting know how to get enough BTC's to buy a posters account. PLEASE DO THIS AND MAKE PAY FOR BUYERS ACCOUNTS TOO.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: 4l| on May 04, 2012, 08:35 am
I also agree. Having been here over a year now, I think those who have anything worth posting know how to get enough BTC's to buy a posters account. PLEASE DO THIS AND MAKE PAY FOR BUYERS ACCOUNTS TOO.

But people who don't have bitcoins yet still need to be able to ask questions about the process.

I actually think it would be a mistake to sell forum accounts.  What would the cost be?  A few bitcoins aren't going to be enough to discourage organized scammers like tony76 from creating shill accounts, and this type of scammer is by far the largest threat to the community.

What about people from outside the community (members of the hacking scene, for instance) who have valuable information?  These people may not have any need for bitcoin and certainly aren't going to bother getting them (and learning how to do so totally securely) just to create a forum account, but I would still like for them to be able quickly relay information to us if need be.

Forums are very delicate... I can really see this killing a lot of the activity around here.  I think that once the paranoia around the recent scams and the EK/pip2/TFM busts subsides we will see a decrease in junk posting.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: Anon0123456 on May 04, 2012, 08:43 am
I think leaving one general forum open to the public to ask questions and the like, and have private forums for those who have paid for their account to kind of hide that portion away from prying eyes. Just a thought.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: souledout on May 04, 2012, 09:18 am
I think leaving one general forum open to the public to ask questions and the like, and have private forums for those who have paid for their account to kind of hide that portion away from prying eyes. Just a thought.

+1


what this guy said   8)
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: cindylove on May 04, 2012, 09:21 am
I think leaving one general forum open to the public to ask questions and the like, and have private forums for those who have paid for their account to kind of hide that portion away from prying eyes. Just a thought.

Ditto. Like they have at the bitcoin forum.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: chicafan on May 04, 2012, 09:30 am
I think leaving one general forum open to the public to ask questions and the like, and have private forums for those who have paid for their account to kind of hide that portion away from prying eyes. Just a thought.
YES!  I would support a modest fee for BOTH **buyer's accounts** and forum accounts.  One open forum would seem to make sense though.

I've been a buyer for only a couple of months so have no way of knowing if the direction of SR is downhill or not, but it is a valuable resource to me and want to keep it that way.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: Bridgehead on May 04, 2012, 09:34 am
Not a bad idea.  Say 5 btc per account.  Definitely worth it.  You're right, it would cut down on a lot of this BS.

OR..... but this is probably not feasible, All users with X number or less posts have to be mod approved before visible.  But, that's just nagana happen.

Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: cacoethes on May 04, 2012, 02:37 pm
I'd be willing to pay a premium for my account...  I think it would certainly improve the quality of business around here.  Sign me up.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: blacksunshine on May 04, 2012, 02:57 pm
I am for a fee.  There has to be a way to weed out the rif raf.  on both sites for that matter.  just my .02
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: BenJesuit on May 04, 2012, 04:26 pm
Fee? No, wouldn't work. Regard the law of unintended consequences. While you might curb or stop the obvious silly troll, you won't stop the shill. The seller would be willing to buy shill accounts as the cost of doing business. But since it's a "bought" account, people would be more willing to trust the shill. You may end up with worse scams.

Look, you know who the riff-raff are. You know who that some of these new accounts are as ball-less as those who give out negative Karma, so just ignore them.

Buyers make the market. Nothing should impede a buyer anymore than having to learn the ropes of PGP, Bitcoins, escrow, etc.

The only decent idea is a sandbox area for new posters until the either spend enough hours or make enough posts to be able to post in the regular forum. But of course, the sandbox area would be abused also.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: OldGuard on May 04, 2012, 05:16 pm
^^ I agree with Ben, a scammer would gladly invest a few bucks in buying multiple accounts to help promote his scam. Just look at Tony76, so many people acted like he was the best #1 seller on SR even though he was only around for a couple of months but he sure got on here a talked up a good game and so many people fell for it.

Everybody knows how that scam turned out, who knows how much he really walked away with but I can assure you he would have gladly invested a couple bits to help make sure that went through by having multiple accounts talking about how he is the greatest #1 vendor on the site and in terms of scammer success he probably is #1.

The only way to stop the scamming is for BUYERS to be smarter and not so anxious to give their money away just because someone on the forum said you can trust this guy. These forums can only provide so much protection in the end the buyer has to THINK TWICE before he acts and not let his habit speak for him and make the bad decisions that lead to scammers walking away rich.
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: phubaiblues on May 05, 2012, 02:47 am
Fee? No, wouldn't work. Regard the law of unintended consequences. While you might curb or stop the obvious silly troll, you won't stop the shill. The seller would be willing to buy shill accounts as the cost of doing business. But since it's a "bought" account, people would be more willing to trust the shill. You may end up with worse scams.

Look, you know who the riff-raff are. You know who that some of these new accounts are as ball-less as those who give out negative Karma, so just ignore them.

Buyers make the market. Nothing should impede a buyer anymore than having to learn the ropes of PGP, Bitcoins, escrow, etc.

The only decent idea is a sandbox area for new posters until the either spend enough hours or make enough posts to be able to post in the regular forum. But of course, the sandbox area would be abused also.

Yep, I was just throwing the idea out there, I'm hoping DPR would take a look, but I'd be happy with the idea of a 'sandbox' too...most questions are now answered anyway, between the wiki, and just taking the time to read a bit...but I"d like some way, where whenever  lamebrain gets excited, they don't get to open a bunch of new accnts, just to cause a little chaos...but it's true, I know how to step over them also...last couple weeks was more obnoxious that ever...and I'm in totall agreement on the 'karma' deal...I've never given negative karma, and just disregard it...but in any case, thanks to yours, and all the thoughtful input on this...
Title: Re: Selling Forums Accounts - No More Freebies
Post by: cindylove on May 05, 2012, 08:45 am
Fee? No, wouldn't work. Regard the law of unintended consequences. While you might curb or stop the obvious silly troll, you won't stop the shill. The seller would be willing to buy shill accounts as the cost of doing business. But since it's a "bought" account, people would be more willing to trust the shill. You may end up with worse scams.

Look, you know who the riff-raff are. You know who that some of these new accounts are as ball-less as those who give out negative Karma, so just ignore them.

Buyers make the market. Nothing should impede a buyer anymore than having to learn the ropes of PGP, Bitcoins, escrow, etc.

The only decent idea is a sandbox area for new posters until the either spend enough hours or make enough posts to be able to post in the regular forum. But of course, the sandbox area would be abused also.

The thing is, the scammer is NOT GUARANTEED a profit. He'll be risking money buying the shill accounts. Because there will be less trash in general, it will be easier to point out and catch shills. The thing about scammers is they have a financial motive, we must devise ways to make it expansive and uncertain that they will make profit. That will significantly cut down on scams.