Whoa; this isn’t about notion of thin or think skin; it’s about being respectful of the time and genuine intent of truth-seeking readers and contributors, and should seek to cultivate a lasting community predicated on honest interactions. Given the obvious sustained, coordinated attacks, which will likely only increase as other alternatives continue to be censored, shut down, or shouted down, reasonable changes to account creation/new posting policies to prevent these undeniable shill storms and gratuitous harassment seem prudent... to put it mildly.

Trolls have have now started to taunt us that it is easier to create a new account (from which they can start immediately trolling using every dishonest manner and divisive strategy in the book) than it is to even log back in with an existing account! Because it actually is! That’s insane, and masochistic, especially in light of mods’ understandsble complaints about the current demands on their time. This self-inflicted absurdity renders even those reactive measures of reporting and deporting functionally worthless.

For many of us, this great site, and particularly the New tab,is one of the last places on the whole damned cowed Internet to get up-to-date reader analysis and insights on recent developments and communications without being overwhelmed with disingenuous doom. It also has the opportunity to foster a resilient and cohesive community if and when its users don’t feel constantly undercl cheap, no-barrier attack.

It seems a real shame to wantonly surrender this valuable and decent purpose to those who mean us nothing but harm.

Thank you.