I was always impressed to be on a particular forum thread, and be reading a back and forth about a particular company, and have a representative from that company chime in and defend themselves.  The reality is, you just couldn’t keep up with it.  The burden is on the company to constantly be trolling around with an ear bent, listening for the complaints out there.  I would like to see a shift in the responsibility.  A way for a fan of a particular company to assist in the process.

As part of a browser, or forum, in the form of a button, or context menu, a user could highlight a section of text and select “alert” or “complaint” or whatever you’d want to call it, and it would send an alert to the predetermined message center at the company’s website, that at the following address, there was a complaint, problem, or abusive comment made and they were notified by user “Johnnybravo835.”  Instead of going out and looking, they would have the information coming directly to them.

This would be in the forum’s interest, as it will always be beneficial to have company reps on the board in such situations.  It adds traffic.  It validates some of the traffic for the given discussion.  It’s just a better discussion.  It’s good for the individual, as it allows for them to demonstrate their loyalty, and obviously good for the company – which of course will want to offer some discount or reward for the loyal fans that use it appropriately.

Lastly, and simply, it just makes for a better web.

Some chess player thoughts here.  As we move forward, our web identity becomes less and less anonymous.  Applying this model to that fact, we have an increased discouragement on loudmouthed complainers.  The worst thing to do on a forum is run your mouth and get called out as a jackass.   It’s a permanent record that you were put in your place.  It keeps folks in line.  This idea will only assist that process further.