OMG - Less abuse and spam potential... oh my.

I still wouldn't pay for authentication, though, I know I'm real and have nothing to prove to anyone.

*I will trade my badges over on the left under my forum name for a cup of coffee, they don't make my opinion better than anyone else's opinion!... and neither does a little blue mark*

As for two-factor auth, it's over-rated for all but the novice internet user. You have to provide the platform MORE information to protect your information, and they all get hacked at some point... in which case not having it actually protects you more by revealing less.

*I will trade my badges over on the left under my forum name for a cup of coffee, they don't make my opinion better than anyone else's opinion!... and neither does a little blue mark*

Kinda feel the same, that's why I turned 'em off (you do this in your forum profile). Really cleans up the page, messages easier to read. :)

I turned them off but everyone else will still see mine unless they turn awards off in system prefs too. I'd have preferred nobody see mine if I turn them off but ah well.

At least in my view it's cleaner and everyone is the same again. I never did care for badges as signs of importance or authority or trustworthiness when it comes to opinions... but some like rewards.

All good. :)

Heh! Opinion for a cup of coffee is one thing. A blue check is something else. While I won't be participating (left FB YEARS ago...never joined Twitter) there is some validation involved if the blue check can be held to that validation... and perhaps avoid rancor and misinformation!

The OP is simply a statement that those who do NOT do validation will lose a few perks, which to my mind is streamlining the platform and reducing the amount of abuse displayed in the past.