I feel like there's a prevalent double standard when it comes to protecting identities of forum users.
If topics existed where lots of users were posting theories and collecting evidence in an attempt to unveil the real-world identity of another forum user, I don't think such threads would be tolerated. As per the rules, doxxing is only permitted in the case of legitimate scam accusations:
here are some new rules on doxxing:
1. Personal information must be confined to the new "investigations" board (under Scam Accusations), which is only visible to Members and above. Personal information is defined as anything which links a user's online identity (username, email, etc.) to their meatspace identity
So why do we allow rampant probing and scrutiny regarding the identity of satoshi? I don't see any justification for them to be an exception to the rule. There's no way people would accept it if it were their
own account subject to such investigations. If someone did ever successfully identify satoshi and published it here on the forum, then they would have clearly violated the rule. Ergo, users are attempting to break the rules every time they publicly try to link:
a user's online identity (username, email, etc.) to their meatspace identity
This should not be happening. There are inherent dangers in revealing someone's identity, particularly if they are considered wealthy. The user in question, or even their family, could be at risk of falling victim to burglary, kidnapping, torture or other crimes (and I'm certain there are few potential targets more tempting for criminals than someone as flush with BTC as satoshi is perceived to be). There are very good reasons why attempting to dox someone is frowned upon.
I propose it's time for this rule to be applied properly, to end the double standard and to ensure no one is attempting to dox anyone else when there is no valid complaint of a scam.
You made a massive curveball of a topic and in retrospect, it makes total sense. At the end of the day, Satoshi Nakamoto is a bitcointalk user, and is thus inclusive of all the rules and regulations that are imposed upon this forum and its users, including the right to his private information and the right to not reveal it.
I am one of those people who are so against the revelation of Satoshi Nakamoto's identity and all that shit, but only because I think people are investing all their efforts in a fruitless labor. When they could've been investing those talents and the progresses they have made to further bitcoin's reach and extent. To me it's enough that Satoshi is the creator, he didn't have to reveal who he is or how he's doing since that would take away from what bitcoin is supposed to be, a secure, anonymous, end to end payment system. Magnifying this rule against Satoshi's invasion of privacy could actually smother the attempts of users here who can't make good posts to speculate upon his identity and whereabouts, since if possible this could mean that the mods could block or delete posts alluding to this topic.
