Re: K3GM reply #19
What good is your real name? Google it in under find people and come up with a thousand or more people with the same name across the country and play whose who?
Not being critical of you post, but it raises good points so I quote it.
A real name does add an air of accountability, even if tracking one down requires some effort.
Over at Fauna Classifieds forum, they require your full name and verifiable address upon registration, and you can use any cutesy handle you like. The intent, since that is mainly a buy/sell commerce forum, is to reduce rip-offs and make everyone feel like they must answer for their words and/or actions. Improperly handled business deals rapidly achieve notoriety. Your handle is prominently displayed, but below that fictitious title are your real name and City, State. Works pretty good, but dishonest people will still surface from time to time.
Actually though, and assuming you're not sending a hit squad to settle these disputes, where a person lives and what his real name is and how easy it is for you to physically find him seems completely unimportant in the context of forum behavior. Maybe in a sale gone wrong, but for simple discussion, not so much. People so inclined will say stupid and/or abrasive things, whether you know who they are or not.
Then,assuming we solve the login ID problem, what about all the "cowards" that "hide" behind a PO Box license address - we'll have to deal with them next... I have nothing to fear (married) and use my street address, it's "those other people" I wonder about. </sarcasm>
Interaction here should be pretty simple:
If he breaks the rules, with or without a call sign, report the post.
If he doesn't break the rules but otherwise ruffles your feathers, with or without a call sign, try to keep it in context and either respectfully prove them wrong or just ignore them.
I was rather disillusioned to find that the call sign lends no credibility to one's posts. As pointed out above, there are plenty of Extras asking Technician-level questions.
IMO, being able to log in without a call is important to both encouraging new hams and to SW listeners.
I have seen several forums try too hard to limit membership to a narrowly qualified group of users that resulted in new member activity dropping to almost nothing. By the time new folks are 'vetted', they find the process not worth it and don't bother. The relatively few members there spend most of their time agreeing with each other. Result: Boring forum with no new information, no new members and a very solid level of stagnation.
At least with a call sign you can check the FCC data base get and address and Google street view then check out his home, lawn ornaments, cars/motorcycles and antenna set up.
Agreed, LOL. I actually think an electric blue "gazing ball" (model isotropic radiator) should be required for forum membership, but I have pretty high standards that I like to impose on others whenever possible.
