Wily D wrote:
I'm not sure that anyone's suggesting abuse is *routine*. I will suggest it's most likely "fairly" to "quite" scarce, although I cannot verify this myself. All that you or I know is that it can and has happened, and almost certainly will in the future at some point or another. Reviewing the list I don't see any indication that anyone believes it's "routine". Did I miss something?
I think that's fair comment, and I also recognize that much of the Checkuser activity must go on behind the scenes. The fact that most of the usage is not transparent magnifies the importance of the incidents of abuse. If the checkusers are seen as too defensive of these occasional abuses the general population draws the conclusion that where there's smoke there's fire.
Even if the checkuser was right it is often better _not_ to defend the action. The perception of justice is as important as the justice itself, and in an essentially secret process the perception is all the public has. There is a need to fairly address public perceptions with credence and without drama; there is no need to be seen as always right.
The effect may be that the occasional bad guy gets away. That's not a problem. If they really are as bad as you believe them to be, they will not disappoint you by failing to provide future opportunities.
Ec