After looking at how several cliques and trolls manipulate the system to suit their own agenda
This is a valid point and, I don't know, maybe we should not wait for a "divine intervention" to fix this (although maybe a differentiation would be needed between trusting and empowering users).
I think theymos would make amendments and modifications to the forum structure as long as he thought it was something that was needed. Plenty of members do think it should be fixed because clearly it has been open to abuse by trolls and cliques for far too long.
It is not a good idea having distinctions between "trusting" and "empowering" users. Empower? There will never be full consensus on which members should be appointed with empowerment attached to them and what would they do with power? It would only empower their cliques whilst alienating others.
Several members have bloated egos and are as duplicitous and untrustworthy as they come, but by virtue of being part of a clique (and by subliminally encouraging others to do their trolling and attacking) they could be candidates. I would be unable to vouch for such an outcome and I am sure others will feel the same way and express it if a candidate list was ever drawn up.
In such a scenario the cliques would obviously put forward their candidates and support them with all their keyboard typing power.
Because while some fight each other and may have both good intentions (yes, I know that in this context this statement can explode), some real trolls simply get stronger. I won't tell names since I don't have solid proof, so it's just a hunch.
Yes, agreed. Many times hunches turn out to be correct
Maybe a new topic in Meta is needed to get ideas how to use better the current trust system. One idea that came into my mind was to select carefully a very short list of users we want to "empower". Or maybe it should be as wide as possible?!
Opening a topic in Meta would be a good idea in order for members to put forward ideas and have healthy debate as to how to confront it.