Scribbler: An IP address is the "address" of your specific connection to the internet. It can easily be traced back to a "bundle" of a specific ISP getting at least as close as the node your are on, sometimes much, much closer.

Using this process it was really rather simple (for someone who knows what they are doing...and I'm certainly NOT saying I'm such a guy) to determine with a 99.99% degree of certainty that Ozstamps was Janejet. Oz made the mistake of replying to an e-mail from me as Janejet. That IP address was similar enough to IP headings on e-mails from Ozstamps to create virtual certainty as to the identity of janejet (and I dont mind revealing that fact now that Oz has refused to do the honorable thing and confess).

That's what I am asking Randy to do. Have his staff log IP addresses on posts just as e-mails automatically do, and if someone is abusive or "under suspicion" Randy's staff can simply go back and look at the log. If there is a pattern, it will be readily apparent whether or not folks are screwing around with multiple handles and who is doing it. Just the threat of this happening should be enough to have a severe chilling effect on flames and multiple handles.

I agree with PG that this will help not only with janejet, molsonmiler, etc, but that it will also chill other multiple handles whether they create a ficticious life for themselves or not.

As Essexjay points out, it could not possibly be less time consuming or difficult for Team Randy to do. Check a toggle and refer to the log when necessary. Simple.

As for this practice making people think twice about posting here, well, I guess that's pertty much my intent. Think twice before you flame. Think three times before you create a pseudonym.

Look folks, IMHO, people are yelling "FIRE" in this crowded theater, and it is well within reason to implement simple and unintrusive controls on such "speech" for the greater good of the community.

Anyway, Randy already knows all this since he implemented the practice once before. I'm sorry for going on and on. It's Randy's house, he sets the rules. Just trying to make a helpful suggestion...