Introductions
Not “vouching” — that sounds legal. Introductions. “Alice introduced Bob to the network.”
How It Works
An existing trusted user introduces a new user. The introduction is visible, limited in quantity, and carries cost.
| Rule | Why |
|---|---|
| Limited introductions per period | Scarcity creates value |
| Introductions are visible | Accountability — everyone can see who introduced whom |
| Bad introductions decrease capacity | Skin in the game |
| No numbers displayed | Avoid vanity metrics and gaming |
The Cost of Bad Introductions
If someone you introduced turns out to be a bad actor:
- They get flagged by the community
- You see a notification that your introduction was flagged
- Your introduction capacity decreases
- You can dispute, but disputes weaken future introductions regardless
This creates a natural quality filter. One professional introduction from a trusted colleague is worth more than a hundred from strangers.
Why This Works
Abuse does not scale when every fake identity requires a real person to stake their reputation. Creating a thousand bot accounts requires a thousand real people willing to burn their introduction capacity — and those people need their own chains of trust.
The system mirrors how trust works in the physical world: “I know someone you should meet” carries weight precisely because the introducer’s reputation is at stake.