Some user communities, large (think Twitter) and small, offer an additional level of user verification beyond just getting an account. This is said to encourage and maintain trust between users. On Twitter for example, the little blue checkmark next to the username indicates that the account has been verified as authentic. Twitter only offers this to "notable" accounts because with >300 million accounts, they can offer verification to only a small fraction of the community. The verification requirements are not trivial.
As many of you know, we have had some trolls and dishonest behavior from users over the years. With very few exceptions, the true identity of these people is unknown to us. In a couple cases, we've been ripped off by people we knew, but that's rare. I know many of us have purchased things from forum members we didn't know much about, and sometimes there's some uncertainty that things will go as planned.
I've been considering implementing a system to indicate (probably with a Twitter-like blue check mark next to the username) that an additional level of verification has been completed. I don't know what that verification would include, but enough for me or a moderator to confidently say that the user is who they purport to be.
I understand that many people like the anonymity of the internet, and there are many legitimate reasons why someone doesn't want to expose their identity. However, it's also not unreasonable that others many not want to transact with or believe the claims of an anonymous voice from the ether. There are people who are uncomfortable dealing with others they don't know and that's just as valid a position as those who like to be anonymous.
I don't want to create a division between the non-verified and verified people, but I am thinking that this might be a positive change for our community. We would continue to welcome everyone, but there would be an additional piece of information that some people might find valuable before entering into a transaction or a PITH, etc. I'm also not proposing that we expose personally identifiable information to the community. That would only be provided to complete the verification, so you'd have to at least trust me
I'd appreciate your vote, comments, and questions. THANKS!
TLDR; I'm considering an optional, additional level of user identity verification. What do you think?
As many of you know, we have had some trolls and dishonest behavior from users over the years. With very few exceptions, the true identity of these people is unknown to us. In a couple cases, we've been ripped off by people we knew, but that's rare. I know many of us have purchased things from forum members we didn't know much about, and sometimes there's some uncertainty that things will go as planned.
I've been considering implementing a system to indicate (probably with a Twitter-like blue check mark next to the username) that an additional level of verification has been completed. I don't know what that verification would include, but enough for me or a moderator to confidently say that the user is who they purport to be.
I understand that many people like the anonymity of the internet, and there are many legitimate reasons why someone doesn't want to expose their identity. However, it's also not unreasonable that others many not want to transact with or believe the claims of an anonymous voice from the ether. There are people who are uncomfortable dealing with others they don't know and that's just as valid a position as those who like to be anonymous.
I don't want to create a division between the non-verified and verified people, but I am thinking that this might be a positive change for our community. We would continue to welcome everyone, but there would be an additional piece of information that some people might find valuable before entering into a transaction or a PITH, etc. I'm also not proposing that we expose personally identifiable information to the community. That would only be provided to complete the verification, so you'd have to at least trust me

I'd appreciate your vote, comments, and questions. THANKS!
TLDR; I'm considering an optional, additional level of user identity verification. What do you think?