Start a Bitcoin Court

[Maged]

To quote myself from the BitMole thread:

I think I know what we need to do to fix the core issues you explained. I think we need to post some official policies regarding reporting scams, and we need to setup an official Bitcoin court, much like the IRC channel.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Arbitration.

[error]

Some means of resolving disputes is necessary.

[Smalleyster]

Personally I feel it starts with an escrow service that offers different levels of "security" for different fees.

1) both parties register contract here = free or .01btc

2) electronic product/image is cc to here for confirmation of delivery = 0.1btc (or whatever this is just example/guess)

3) Physical product is shipped to member site (computer store, packmail store...) recievein party picks it up at member site and opens it in presence of member with video cam running. = 1btc

Arbitration/court would only be necessary for 1)

How do we keep contracts anonymous, yet feel held to fire when problems arise?

[theymos]

The "court" is the thread where someone is accused of something. Evidence can be presented there, and all readers can reach their own conclusions.

People are awarded the scammer mark when they're proven to have acted in ways that make all of their future trades suspect. It warns traders to stay away without preventing the poster from defending himself.

Note that the scammer mark is not any form of dispute resolution. It is not a punishment. It is only a warning to other traders, and it will only be given when such a warning is necessary. The board should not be doing dispute resolution: that's a job for other organizations.

[lacedwithkerosene]

I'll push bitcoinscams.com to anyone for 1 BTC if I can trust they will develop it into a good reference for the community.

I don't want to touch my own domain with a ten foot pole anymore - but if you're willing to risk pissing off any scammers that you call out, be my guest.

[myrkul]

Arbitration.

[trentzb]

How do we keep contracts anonymous, yet feel held to fire when problems arise?

The enforcement is the hardest part. I have spent some time over the last several weeks trying to figure this one out. Ideas?
 

[BitcoinPorn]

+1 Arbitration.

Full on court threads could be fun, but honestly, the gang up mentality of just online groups as a whole, holy fuck it would suck to be right with everyone going against you.   Because at that point, it no longer matters if you are right or wrong.

Private court/thread.   Only mods can view and participate.  Maybe then pick 12 "jurors" to watch the thread, make comments, ask questions, just as observers.     This way some of the community has a chance to report back to the rest of everyone the events.

Or just make a court reporter.

I'll transcribe, I like watching these cases.

I'll push bitcoinscams.com to anyone for 1 BTC if I can trust they will develop it into a good reference for the community.

Thats it man!  PM me a full list of domains you own just to fill my damn curiosity lol

[lacedwithkerosene]

Thats it man!  PM me a full list of domains you own just to fill my damn curiosity lol

I'll sell you the list. Laffo. Maybe later, too lazy right now. BMA is going to do shirts through SquareWear!
Actually, I kind of enjoy name-dropping a new one in threads randomly.

[Smalleyster]

How do we keep contracts anonymous, yet feel held to fire when problems arise?

The enforcement is the hardest part. I have spent some time over the last several weeks trying to figure this one out. Ideas?
 

And this is why at this point I feel that some sort of Overseen/Trusted Escrow service (like in virtually all real estate transactions in the USA) is the only truly viable solution for rock-solid security.

I'm going to talk to a couple of my lawyer acquaintences who have existing escrow accounts to see what they feel on the matter.

[myrkul]

So when you lose your "court case" that is governed by a bunch of goons online you could just choose not to refund the irreversible payment you received? good idea

or you could use a similar service called an escrow?

Yes, Escrow + Arbitration is the way to do it.

The trick is getting trusted arbitrators.