I'm glad a new thread has started about this topic. After originally getting involved in the discussion on the original thread, I chose not to continue as I had not been on for a couple of days and the thread had grown quite large- too large for me to have continued in limited time.

Ok, Brian, I like the way you have methodically set out a plan of pros, cons and what it would entail to pursue either option.
It is unfortunate that more people`s logic is not as considered and efficient as yours as, I believe, this problem would not have arisen in the first place.

On the anonymous posters subject being of two issues-
1- Offensive/ problematic posters. (Anonymous or not)
2- The principal of anonymous posters.

How about forgetting the whole anonymous thing and focussing on problematic posters who fly off the handle at the drop of a hat?
You could give a seies of tests to measure a person`s debating skills. It could be judged by you or some other power- and if they don`t cut the mustard they can't post on AX...

This may sound daft to some but it`s no dafter a concept that banning anonymous posters.

Anyway, if you did decide to follow the verification procedures I, for one would probably not pass (aside from the fact that I would have reservations about them anyway). I usually post at internet cafes, I am not in any phonebooks, I change my address from time to time and I only have yahoo and hotmail accounts and do not work for a company that provides me with one.

I do not consider myself a problematic poster but I would not be eligible to post anymore.