Cheating in painting competitions

IanNewbold · Post by **IanNewbold** » 19 Feb 2008, o 23:31

Navarro is correct when he says the problem is human nature rather than the use of funny or false names. But the use of false names is easily abused as it was in the case in question. And if I have understood it correctly the use of a false name has enabled the villain to escape cleanly to repeat his offence elsewhere using another false name. He has merely lost one prize this time round but no one knows who he is.

The organisers have done all they can do in this case and that is a good thing. But they could have taken much more effective action if they knew who the offender really was.

The danger in making it easy for cheats to escape in this way is that the cheating will spread. Sadly that is human nature. And we lose nothing of any real value by giving up the use of false names, at least as far as I can see.

Nick names and funny names can be amusing and fun and if we back them up with our real names so that everyone knows who they belong to they are not open to the same abuse as false names.

Trovarion · Post by **Trovarion** » 20 Feb 2008, o 00:01

if they knew his real name they would have been able to take much more effective action like what? file a giant lawsuit against the guy because of 25 bucks? have him put to jail so he has to shower with the bad guys who are only waiting for people who cheat in online painting contests to teach them?

It's a good thing we keep an open eye on entries and prevent cheaters from succeeding, but is there even any law in any country that covers a crime called "stole picture of a miniature to win a prize with"?

I use a nick, yet it would take you 2 minutes to find out my real name (hell you can even see my face on here xP )...which probably is not a bright idea in the end anyway, because there's too many wicked people out there...which is the other end of everyone having to use their real name in the monkey circus that the interwebs is. need my account number too with my name? xP

Moose · Post by **Moose** » 20 Feb 2008, o 03:18

You got that right Navaro. I only found good people here and good zombies

)

Amen

Sahatiel · Post by **Sahatiel** » 20 Feb 2008, o 04:41

That kind of thing is disgusting. I have a friend who's very into (and good at) digital art, and has been victim to many people stealing her stuff.

As for using our real names? I don't give out my real name to ANYONE online. It'd be like giving out my phone number. Identity theft is all too common, and using a made-up name online is one way to protect yourself from it. Especially if you have a name that is easy to trace. Like mine. I'm the only person in the country I live in with my name. If your last name is something like Smith, well it's a lot easier for you to hide.

Post by **mahon** » 20 Feb 2008, o 09:21

I think there's not much wghich can be done until we have to confirm our identities on the internet somehow. If one day we get forced to verify our personal information in some way when we register or sign up somewhere on the 'net - that will limit the freedom, but also the possibilities of cheating. Not that it's something I'd want....

So I think we all know it's not good, we all know that what can be done is just staying vigilant. I think it's not too hard to find real identities of many people on the net, but do we really want to have everyone reveal who they are? I don't really care...

Of course, the easiness of hiding behind false identities, funny nicks, and avatars causes many problems, but I think it's a part of the internet. And changing it would change the 'net radically...

LadyEyes · Post by **LadyEyes** » 20 Feb 2008, o 23:56

And Ian, you're missing something in your argument. They had to have had a real name and contact information of some sort in order to issue a prize. Wherever there is an actual exchange, like giving a prize, there has to be some sort of real-world information given. And since the person wanted to collect said prize, they would have at minimum given a valid email address.

Look, I now deal with identity management for a living and all the junk that tends to go with it (fraud, privacy issues, etc.). If someone really wants to get into this, we can, but I really don't think it would be a fruitful or satisfying experience for most people involved. The issues brought up by people here are all valid, and there are hard questions that need decisions made. But the point is, they are HARD questions to answer and there will ALWAYS be someone upset with the answers.

Can we please stop now and simply agree to disagree about the use of nicknames online?

Post by **mahon** » 21 Feb 2008, o 00:14

yep. OFFICIAL EOT.