This seems particularly clear in the case of non-anonymous posts like Ben’s. Ben posted a thing that risks damaging Nonlinear’s reputation. In the process, he’s put his own reputation at risk: Nonlinear can publicly respond with information that shows Ben was wrong (and perhaps negligent, unfair, etc.), causing us to put a lot less stock in Ben’s word next time around.
Alice and Chloe are anonymous, but by having a named individual vouch for them to some degree, we create a situation where ordinary reputational costs can do a good job of incentivizing honesty on everyone’s part.
This seems particularly clear in the case of non-anonymous posts like Ben’s. Ben posted a thing that risks damaging Nonlinear’s reputation. In the process, he’s put his own reputation at risk: Nonlinear can publicly respond with information that shows Ben was wrong (and perhaps negligent, unfair, etc.), causing us to put a lot less stock in Ben’s word next time around.
Alice and Chloe are anonymous, but by having a named individual vouch for them to some degree, we create a situation where ordinary reputational costs can do a good job of incentivizing honesty on everyone’s part.