Prove email and phone are required in online services

#1

Post by i_see_things » Fri, Mar 24, 2023, 1:56 PM UTC

I'll pay you $160 if you can prove mathematically that the only way to offer online services without spam is by requiring people to provide an email address or a phone number. That would be an interesting result.

If this can't be proven mathematically and you are an online service then please answer: why must online services require users to provide an email address or a phone number to get service? Why is no other option offered to the user?

Why is it impossible for a human to use online services while not having an email or a phone?

Re: Prove email and phone are required in online services

#2

Post by mattl » Fri, Mar 24, 2023, 1:59 PM UTC

What would you use instead of an email address to identify a user upon registration? An email address is something most people have and its a workflow people are familiar with.

Re: Prove email and phone are required in online services

#3

Post by jaclaz » Fri, Mar 24, 2023, 2:00 PM UTC

>Why is no other option offered to the user?

Name these other options, please.

Re: Prove email and phone are required in online services

#4

Post by i_see_things » Fri, Mar 24, 2023, 2:19 PM UTC

jaclaz wrote: post #3

>Why is no other option offered to the user? Name these other options, please.

One is the same option you used to signup for HackerNews: a new username. Not a pre-existing email or a pre-existing phone number.

Re: Prove email and phone are required in online services

#5

Post by jaclaz » Fri, Mar 24, 2023, 2:26 PM UTC

i_see_things wrote: post #4

jaclaz wrote: post #3

>Why is no other option offered to the user? Name these other options, please.

One is the same option you used to signup for HackerNews: a new username. Not a pre-existing email or a pre-existing phone number.

I thought that an e-mail was asked also on HN, maybe it is optional?

Re: Prove email and phone are required in online services

#6

Post by hitpointdrew » Fri, Mar 24, 2023, 2:32 PM UTC

mattl wrote: post #2

What would you use instead of an email address to identify a user upon registration? An email address is something most people have and its a workflow people are familiar with.

I think the point is NOT to identify users, but only to not have spam/bots. Unless it’s a paid service, users should not have to identify themselves. You can keep out bots with CAPTCHA.

Re: Prove email and phone are required in online services

#7

Post by i_see_things » Fri, Mar 24, 2023, 3:01 PM UTC

hitpointdrew wrote: post #6

mattl wrote: post #2

What would you use instead of an email address to identify a user upon registration? An email address is something most people have and its a workflow people are familiar with.

I think the point is NOT to identify users, but only to not have spam/bots. Unless it’s a paid service, users should not have to identify themselves. You can keep out bots with CAPTCHA.

Users should not have to identify themselves regardless of the service being paid or free. Because stopping spam and bots is possible without requiring the user to provide an email or a phone number.

Nobody cares about anything.

Re: Prove email and phone are required in online services

#8

Post by mattl » Fri, Mar 24, 2023, 3:13 PM UTC

i_see_things wrote: post #7

hitpointdrew wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the point is NOT to identify users, but only to not have spam/bots. Unless it’s a paid service, users should not have to identify themselves. You can keep out bots with CAPTCHA.

Users should not have to identify themselves regardless of the service being paid or free. Because stopping spam and bots is possible without requiring the user to provide an email or a phone number. Nobody cares about anything.

How do you propose password resets work without an email address or phone number?

Re: Prove email and phone are required in online services

#9

Post by numtel » Fri, Mar 24, 2023, 6:44 PM UTC

mattl wrote: post #8

i_see_things wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Users should not have to identify themselves regardless of the service being paid or free. Because stopping spam and bots is possible without requiring the user to provide an email or a phone number. Nobody cares about anything.

How do you propose password resets work without an email address or phone number?

Could use Sign In With Ethereum using a social recovery wallet but I don't think all the pieces are ready yet.

Re: Prove email and phone are required in online services

#10

Post by hitpointdrew » Sat, Mar 25, 2023, 9:33 AM UTC

i_see_things wrote: post #7

hitpointdrew wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the point is NOT to identify users, but only to not have spam/bots. Unless it’s a paid service, users should not have to identify themselves. You can keep out bots with CAPTCHA.

Users should not have to identify themselves regardless of the service being paid or free. Because stopping spam and bots is possible without requiring the user to provide an email or a phone number. Nobody cares about anything.

How do you purpose Netflix, Salseforce, etc. charge their clients if they don’t even know who their clients are?

Please don’t say crypto.