However, you absolutely entitled to your opinion on the matter - and as was mentioned before, no one has any expectations or is forcing anyone to do anything. It is all your choice.
I will make it clear again to you that Twin Galaxies makes no money from the verification process.
In fact, for each user that is verified, Twin Galaxies has to PAY for that service.
What this means is that while Twin Galaxies is willing to invest its own money into you for the verification process, you are not willing to do the same for yourself.
This means that you are in a questionable position when trying to take the moral or ethical high ground on this issue when you are not even willing to put forth what TG is putting forth along with you.
Regardless of reason, this is an indication that you are not ready, interested, or able to be ready to participate in the various requirements that maybe involved to compete and be recognized on a worldwide stage at a professionally respected level. In fact, there are no significant and popular worldwide sports organizations at the professionally recognized level where you would not need to make a single phone call ever or have a verifiable phone number in order to participate.
For a user to become verified so that they to participate at the professional level within the Twin Galaxies community, Twin Galaxies is not asking for anything outside of what is considered normal for any top level organization. You can disagree if you want. That is your option. We totally respect you and your desire not to meet the current requirements.
Do you guys really think this is the right way to keep people interested in TG ?
When verified users interact with each other, they can at least know that they both have taken formal steps of commitment to the process of worldwide recognition. They both can know that each other are real people and that TG is working tirelessly to ensure that. There is a tighter sense of community. This knowledge can help elevate the community and the level of respect between players. It certainly can elevate an outsider's viewpoint (for instance the media.)
Twin Galaxies is a serious organization, focused on recognizing player achievement and elevating the players and culture at large. If you don't want to participate, that is ok. No one is making you. If you think the verification process is "too much" or invasive or whatever, that is fine. There are many other places on the net that you can go and report high scores - you are free to go use them and be happy. If you feel "2nd class" for some reason, that is a construct you have created in your own mind. No one here is saying that - however, Twin Galaxies is not interested in compromising the credibility of its players, processes or its scores at it moves forward.
Everyone is treated equally here. Everyone is subject to the same rules and requirements. There is no deviation from this.
In regard to the question of "What if a user doesn't have a phone?" This is the official response:
By deciding that verification is for you, you are asking to participate in a professional level video game organization that is focused on generating worldwide recognition for achievements. So, just as if you wanted to play in professional Tennis tournaments, you would need a Tennis racquet which requires some investment into yourself and your chosen sport- Similarly, in order to fully participate within TG you will need to meet some requirements. Call-in verification is one of them - and it is for you to decide if that investment into yourself is worth it. As mentioned above, TG does not get any money from the process, and in fact has to invest along WITH YOU to get you verified.
If you honestly can't afford to make a phone call but still want to compete, be promoted and recognized in video game scores against others on a world class level, then Twin Galaxies suggests that you may have a prioritization issue and certainly an incomplete view of the kinds of resources that are involved in actively participating in any professional level sports organization at a contributor level.
As mentioned above, there are many other places where you can submit scores that will not have the steeper requirements of Twin Galaxies. There is something out there for everyone and that is great.
Twin Galaxies policy will not be changing on the matter of verification. It is evenly applied to all, and it is totally optional.
Thank you for you your understanding.
