Trufina’s web partners have proved the value of requiring or allowing members to verify their identity information, augmented by verifying additional credentials as well. Professional networks are, well “professional”, mentoring sites are free of pedophiles, auction sites are free of frauds, and dating sites are safer, to name a few.
So, we are intrigued by “A new approach to taming the trolls” by Paul McNamara, in NetWork World‘s ‘Buzz, http://bit.ly/bqpmEz. Most everyone that has spent any time in a news media’s public comment section has seen where a few recalcitrant’s can spoil an otherwise valuable forum for public debate.
In this case, The Sun Chronicle, http://bit.ly/b4Kulo, first choose to shut the comments forum down, then decided to reopen the section based on requiring usage of real names and a credit card charge of 99 cents.
A couple of thoughts on why we’d advocate for Trufina’s style of verification:
- In these days of identity theft, why would the paper want to capture unnecessary credit card information from users, and shouldn’t users resist giving it.
- If a user has shared their verified identity information with the paper, why not let them use a pseudonym for their comments. They get to enjoy the freedom associated with anonymity, while accepting the responsibility of the paper knowing who they are.
- In the event that the commenter wants to participate in other online forums, or take responsibility and build trust in other online transactions, wouldn’t it be better for everyone if through their initial Trufina verification, participants could share verified identity information without additional cost or hassle.
One of these days we’ll connect with a publication on proving our point. The traditional newspaper industry has been reticent to limit any “traffic” to their online properties. Maybe they need to hear from participants that agree with our view. Reasonable people don’t want to subject themselves to unreasonable blather, and don’t mind taking responsibility for their behavior.
