Slight correction: Fox wrote the article. ;)

FML... sorry Foxy, I saw the Euripedes in the lead-in paragraph and forgot to check the byline. Looks like I picked a bad week to quit sniffing glue.

I'm fresh out of glue man but I got some f'n amazing Sharpies that will blow... your... mind...

Totally agree, Pyro. This will at least take some of the incentive out of buying gold. By getting that kind of reputation (do it enough and word can get around) you SHOULD be shunned for business. And that goes for other services as well (getting run through stuff for gold or achievements, etc.). If you know some names, you might even avoid buying their auctions, though that does take a bit more effort (and can be impossible if they are using alts to sell).

I say also discourage, as much as possible, the idea of buying gold, in your guild. Make it a rule. Can you stop it 100%? No. But it's another barrier. The more we work together to stop this (and it will be slow, I know), the more dent we'll put in it. Maybe we can't stop the gold sellers, but by decreasing the customers (and making it less effective and less pleasant to BE a customer) maybe we can help.

For the frustrated newbies and kids who think that buying gold is OK, just to get through the rough times (usually, betw. lvl 20 to 60 or so), DISCOURAGE THEM. Tell them about the hacks (that gold could have come from that friend that got hacked a few weeks ago . . .) and let them know it's cheating and suggest better ways to make gold (often, low level mats sell for very well. They can go out and farm for a bit and do fine). Whatever you do, just drill it into their heads that gold buying is UNACCEPTABLE.

Also, if you see odd behavior from farming toons, try talking to them and if there is no response for awhile, you might report them so that Blizzard can add them to their research. I think it's up to us to help out Blizzard if we can.

If you see a guildie acting weird (such as, a normally friendly person NOT talking, then switching from one toon to another) look and see if you can tell if they are removing all their gear, going from bank to mailbox, etc. If they remain silent (and again, if that's not the way they usually are) you may want to report them. We've saved a few accounts that way. (Also, if you have the power to do so, DEMOTE THEM).

Anything we can do to discourage gold buying (and thus, hopefully, gold selling) is one small step toward their . . . well, if not demise, at least some damage.

We also know about the people who have an army of alts of every profession out there, farming (without bots), crafting, etc., playing the right way. The ones I know are quite generous and proud of their accomplishments - not just the gold, but the effort, and kudos to them. :D