Lost in Reception

I haven’t previously noticed Building Web Reputation Systems, a quote from Schneier about a Sims Mafia alerted me to it:

“Hi! I see from your hub that you’re new to the area. Give me all your Simoleans or my friends and I will make it impossible to rent a house.”

Needless to say, the assumptions that the article as a whole works from are too simple to build a useful system from, but the Sims story illustrates on important point; the errors that beginners make in this area are causing actual harm to people and businesses. Getting workable solutions into the real world is becoming increasingly important and urgent.