Regarding the scan accusation section, I think that section is very important. The trust page is not for discussion, you cannot discuss with other people why you think someone is a scammer and whether others think that the lettering deserves trust. The scan accusations section allows people to do that. Accusers and post their proof, and the accused can defend themselves. The section is like the court, where people determine whether someone is a scammer and the trust given is then the punishments.
No, it really is not.
What is stopping someone from doing a discussion on somebody privately? Making a standing ovation is unnecessary. That forum is being abused, and turned into an outlet for unneeded harassment.
Some people are wrongly judged. We don't have to discuss other people. If you want to know if somebody is worth your time, talk to them personally. Don't talk about them behind their back. I had no idea that thread about me existed until perhaps 3 days later I was messaged about it. I never really thought anything of it at the time, but then I finally had an opportunity to sit and read the comments, and none of them make sense, or are even accurate.
If people want proof about who I am, they need to talk to me personally. Not make threads about me. I never intentionally attacked Mitchell on his age. I never threatened other users. I'm not lying about who I am.
Lies, lies, lies, and more lies.
Why should it be done privately? If one person thinks you are a scammer, then multiple people might, so you would have to prove yourself over and over again to people who think you are scamming. Secondly, having it public allows other public opinions to weigh in. Trusted members and people who have been here for a while can weigh in and give their opinions. Furthermore, if someone really is a scammer, then they need negative trust. Having a public discussion about someone scamming ensures that people on Default Trust will see the discussion and neg the person, instead of just one guy giving negative feedback which no one else sees or trusts. If you suggest that they can just pm DT members with the proof that you scammed, that proof can be manipulated, quotes that you say or that the accuser says can be changed. Having it public makes it so that it is more difficult to change what was previously said because people have seen it and may have quoted it. The edit times also indicate whether a post has been modified and for big scammers, theymos or badbear can even revert the posts so that people can see what has actually been said.
As for discussing people behind their backs, it isn't. The scam accusations are completely public. If you are active in the marketplace selling things, you should keep an eye on the scam accusations section just to make sure that no one opens an accusation against you. I also think it is common courtesy to give the person warning and inform them that you have opened an accusation against them. Send a few PMs several days before and inform them that they have X days to complete the deal or you will open a scam accusation. Then when you do open one, you send them the link to the accusation thread so that they can also give their side of the story.