While I've mostly observed issues here behind the scenes, I'm not particularly indifferent towards them. It is the least expected - the influx of abusers. A good up and running system will always attract abusers like a sugar is to ants. What matters however, is how we deal with these issues, the policies put in place to forestall a reoccurrence, a resurface or more realistically, how these issues are dealt with when they rejuvenate. Abuses can't be totally prevented, they can only be effectively dealt with any time the ugly heads are raised.
The issue of bid bots is very sensitive and equally controversial. Once profit is placed before content like some other platform subtly do, then scorum shouldn't worry about bid bots. But if content is the order of the day - as it still is - there should be no room for them. Of course, they are needed for promotion of various projects and posts but when all and sundry have access to it, then mediocrity becomes the celebrity.
We can't just start to flag all promoted sh*t posts and we can't even get to all so the best action is to prevent them all together. There is still some kind of synergy between scorum users. Organic votes currently keep the system running and interaction still motivates members. Users could easily get the value for their contents and we are all given equal opportunities with the way the Scorum's first page is shuffled. All that could change as manipulation will become easy once bid bots are allowed safe passage into the system.
The crux of this platform is to promote sports and not overly about the profit. It is undeniable that once some users have a lot of influence, they will be more inclined to frequently drop low quality posts and self vote or perhaps circle vote. What if there should be some kind of diversity score that hampers this? Maybe self and circle voting should take a toll on their vp or reduce the chances of their posts getting to "Hot" or "Trending". Or there should be a very volatile reputation system that increases and decreases with specified actions.
Soon, hackers will flood in with clone websites with the aim to deceive members into losing their key and subsequently, their wallet. That will definitely happen when scorum finally enables withdrawals. Should there be some kind of TAG that can only be placed on such members - when reported - by administrators which nukes their posts and visibility and equally compromises their profile with an obvious blacklist notification and warning? That will surely do and can even be used to demotivate spammers and abusers. It could also be employed for serial plagiarists willing to game the system for their own pocket.
@vlad and his co admins have been able to curb abuses so far and respond to critical underlying issues of the platform. We only hope that the team doesn't get complacent overtime and the status quo lingers. Lethargy is a very common bane of popular platforms and they often set in after they have found their way to limelight. I just hope this wouldn't be the case.
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