Poetlister he/she/it?, What is this bugger on about? Options

[Kelly Martin]

Getting back to the issue at hand, "Cato" did have to provide identification to get access to checkuser. We don't know to this day whether "Cato" provided valid identification (as MB) because Cary never answered the question. As well, the validation method (faxing or mailing a pdf of a drivers license) does little to guard against impersonation.

I've heard rumors that Cary routinely gave a free pass on the identification requirements to people he liked. I imagine we'll never know.

[LessHorrid vanU]

Food for thought, too, MZ...

Maybe Facebook and Twitter don't make a big "game" out of sockhunting or impersonator squashing because they make it pretty easy for users to "report abuse". And I know (at least from personal experience on Yahoo! Answers) that they simply "shoot first, and maybe possibly ask questions later".

Wikipedia's different in that they only "shoot first" in cases of WMF criticism, boyish vandalism, and commercial puffery. Everything else, including "avowed pedophile socialists who create excellent articles about defunct railroads", gets a 3-week discussion, followed by a tribunal, wrapped up by a bureaucrat declaring "Keep" or "48 hour block" as the solution.

Are you one of those defenders of democracy who has a problem with people of a socialist mindset, Greg? I, as a woolly, pinko loving, liberal, believe you have an absolute right to wish to extend freedom of expression and thought only to those who agree with you... even if I do not share that view.

ps. Sorry I couldn't save your userpage.

[thekohser]

Are you one of those defenders of democracy who has a problem with people of a socialist mindset, Greg?

Nah, I just thought I'd throw that in there -- it seemed to fit a certain sector of Wikipediot.