Aliases and anonymity online

[Bantari]

I don't think that people create accounts simply so that they can "be jerks".

Just to clarify where I came from with that: the OP specifically mentioned creating an account for being "argumentative/troublemaker/troll", which I guess qualifies.

Also, I have seen it happen sometimes - people I knew created new accounts just to make trouble and be pests. usually, it was a short-lived joke played on friends, which might be OK, but not always. The best I could ever get out of them as an explanation was "Aww, c'mon, its funny!" - even when nobody else was laughing.

So I don't get it.

[Kirby]

Just to clarify where I came from with that: the OP specifically mentioned creating an account for being "argumentative/troublemaker/troll", which I guess qualifies.

True. I don't know why someone would create an account simply for being a troublemaker, though. I guess they want to cause trouble. So is the argument here that it should be acceptable to cause trouble?

[Calvin Clark]

Just to clarify where I came from with that: the OP specifically mentioned creating an account for being "argumentative/troublemaker/troll", which I guess qualifies.

True. I don't know why someone would create an account simply for being a troublemaker, though. I guess they want to cause trouble. So is the argument here that it should be acceptable to cause trouble?

Perhaps the OP can clarify, but there is a sentiment that on some servers bans can seem arbitrary to people used to less regulated forums. To such a person, any chatting may seem risky, but they still want to chat. They also still want to play sometimes. There is a difference between having an intention to cause trouble and being unable to predict what will get you in trouble.

[Bantari]

Just to clarify where I came from with that: the OP specifically mentioned creating an account for being "argumentative/troublemaker/troll", which I guess qualifies.

True. I don't know why someone would create an account simply for being a troublemaker, though. I guess they want to cause trouble. So is the argument here that it should be acceptable to cause trouble?

Perhaps the OP can clarify, but there is a sentiment that on some servers bans can seem arbitrary to people used to less regulated forums. To such a person, any chatting may seem risky, but they still want to chat. They also still want to play sometimes. There is a difference between having an intention to cause trouble and being unable to predict what will get you in trouble.

The algorithm for avoiding trouble is extremely simple on KGS:
- 1. Behave as you normally do.
- 2. If you get in trouble for something (like get warned or banned) do the following:
--- 2a. Ride out your punishment (in case of a ban, usually like 24h)
--- 2b. Note/remember/write down what you got in trouble for
--- 2c. Don't do it again.

That's it!!!

I guarantee: if you follows these steps, eventually you will reach a point that you never ever get into trouble unless its on purpose.

[wineandgolover]

Perhaps the OP can clarify, but there is a sentiment that on some servers bans can seem arbitrary to people used to less regulated forums. To such a person, any chatting may seem risky, but they still want to chat. They also still want to play sometimes. There is a difference between having an intention to cause trouble and being unable to predict what will get you in trouble.

Even then the problem is with the ban policy, not having the accounts tied to users. Banning individual accounts isn't the solution. If anything, it exasperates the problem, because some people believe that creating troublemaking accounts is acceptable and just part of the system.

If you have a bad banning policy or an overly enthusiastic/arbitrary admin, fix the policy or retrain/fire the admin.

Pretending it's the accounts that offend, rather than the person behind the account is completely irrational.

[UnclMartin]

As a former admin at KGS, I can confirm that some users do make several registered accounts so they can be jerks. We had a number of "serial sandbaggers" who would make another account each time they were caught. Some of them were abusive toward their opponents, in addition.