We've given people moderator status before and have had it cause issues, and I've had 4 (!) requests from different users
this week for moderator status. This is not counting Papa Legbas constant demands to run the forum. As such, this seems like a wildly bad idea - especially considering the previous reasons mentioned for why its hard to gauge who is an alt. We are a target for attacks, and that sorta thing throws all sorts of red flags. In general, I tend not to give power to anybody who wants it. It should be a responsibility and a duty. There have been exceptions though.
I've fought against what you talk about in the past during the "John is Drunk With Power" reign where I also tried to get rid of all the trolls. As you can tell by the name, it did not go well. On the other hand, many of whom I complained about have since left, so maybe it worked better than I thought at the time.
Among other things, I now realize a bit of humor mixed into things isn't really hurting anyone, and at times it helps break the tension caused by heated debate.
To the point, here's what I found back then. Those using alts have been here a long time and know what they are doing now. They use Tor and proxies to ensure new ips, or only post from one account on their phone and one from work etc. This also helps stop detection through user statistics (when they post etc.)
You can always pull a Papa Legba and say anybody that is posting
has to be markjo, or anybody that disagrees with him and has a name starting in 'm' is also markjo, and I'm afraid that further insight into user ips and private information etc will just degrade into this kind of silly witch hunt like this nonsense:
Fact is, markjo is clearly John Davis & has full control over all the forum functions; anyone who claims otherwise is either retarded or in on the scam.
This is not debatable.
Obviously I have full control over the forum. That's part of my duties here. Markjo clearly does not. These delusions are clearly paranoia. I'm afraid that as far from Papa as you are, what you are suggesting is essentially a witch hunt that will kill the site altogether.
In short, I think spacecowgirl is right on this:
scepti, I don't think you are being paranoid. There are obviously people here using alts. Having access to IP addresses and the emails used for registration won't tell you anything, tho. You can hide your IP behind a proxy, and can make thousands of free email accts.
The best way to figure out who is playing the game, is look for the signs. The most you can do is ignore the alts and not let them ruin your time on the forum. Some of them are entertaining!
However, I'm more than happy to help address the problem through other avenues. To that end, I'm willing to provide evidence that my name is who I am to you personally. I also can speak for myself and say I have no alts here. What else can I do to help?
Perhaps with some specific instances of this supplied, we can as a group come to a suitable solution.
Having access would tell me everything I need to know. I'd suss the majority out within a week and be able to place them into their respective groups for alts.
Some may be vague and escape initially but most won't.
How would it tell you this? What methods would you use? How do they address the previous mentioned issues? What methods could I program into the forum that might help? These are some initial questions I have.
The one's I do mind are those that are here to specifically bully potential flat Earth/alternate Earth thinkers.
I agree. We do need a solution to the constant 'bullying' that happens here. Perhaps this is the heart of the issue, and alts are but a symptom.
Additionally, Antonio is right. We do need to protect our private user data as best we can.
Looking forward to your thoughts, you clearly care about this forum and its purpose and that's something that I always love to see and aid.