Wanted to run this by people for feedback, but I'm considering requiring a one-time $20 Bitcoin donation for all new registered accounts from certain Countries (UK, Australia, Denmark, Germany, and Italy are the main culprits of dupe accounts from banned members).
Reason being if the user has invested in their account, they are much more likely to behave on the forum. The problem right now is that users are being banned for legit reasons, then creating new accounts once banned. Some use a proxy to do this. Given I have a background in IT, I can spot them easily and just re-ban them. But it's annoying, and I can't always be 100% sure I'm not banning a legit new user. I think if people have a vested interest in keeping their account in good standing they will then police themselves so I don't have to it.
Does the forum offer enough value to do this? That's the question.
We have some of the most knowledgeable patients in the world, so I think so. An exception could be made to the rule that if a user here in good standing vouches for you, you get a free account. I'm not looking to gouge people but rather find a solution and create incentive for civil behavior.
Thoughts?
I'm open to other suggestions. I tried the "Libertarian" model of a free market/anything goes/no censorship for several years, and people abused it. It didn't work. People can't police themselves, and a small few wound up destroying a good thing for the larger whole.