Security, name changes and trolls - a suggestion

[whatsonyourplate]

I've seen several threads recently talking about trolling, plus ones talking about security and risk of being outed etc. They tend to have opposing views of whether allowing frequent name changes is a good or bad thing.
How about having a 'member since' and 'no of posts' tag next to the user name? Or if that is too identifying, just a newbie/long timer type rating. Some forums I've seen have a star system based on number of posts.

[CuttedUpPear]

Some forums have glittery tickers, that would be great

[Just5minswithDacre]

A lot of us de-regged and re-regged after after Jeffrey's antics, which would complicate things. MN would have to match up old accounts with new to establish accurately how long we've all served.

[Just5minswithDacre]

'Member since' coupled with 'no of posts' would be way too identifying.

I wouldn't mind join year, but no more than that. People need to be able to NC to ask about bum boils and so on.

Trolls aren't generally NCers as I understand it.

[VioletBam]

I've had to reregister a number of times because I'm shit at remembering passwords! I'm not a newbie. I don't want people thinking I am either.

[cozietoesie]

Are you feeling well this morning, Cutted?

[MachiKoro]

Well, there are perfectly valid reasons for name-changing as discussed.
How about just more general awareness? If people didn't get hysterical, all jumping in the bandwagon whenever another troll was initially posting, and then unmasked, trolls wouldn't do it. I mean what would be the point without the drama?
There are lots of regular, non-namechanging postersbthat regularly embellish their stories too. People need to take things online with a pinch of salt, a good deal more cynicism might help.

[cozietoesie]

I've posted in a previous system where people who had just registered were identified with a little symbol next to their name and could only post - if I recall - ten times until they'd been registered for a week. (At which point, the little symbol also disappeared.) It seemed to work OK. People who had an urgent query could still post if necessary - they just had a reminder when they posted that they were on a limit and couldn't go hog wild.

Name changing didn't affect that situation.

[whatsonyourplate]

Yeah well, it was just a thought. A system like cozie suggests could work to slow down newly registered trolls.