Possible name issues with G+

[elke_tanzer]

Name issues with G+ may be a deal-breaker for me, and for much of fandom. Gotta keep an eye on this.

References:
https://plus.google.com/103325808503679220346/posts/U2L7mooA2yF
http://www.technologyquestions.com/2011/06/01/gfail-sorry-but-i-cannot-use-1-because-i-dont-meet-community-standards/
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/gmail/thread?tid=09855e7fbb13e027&hl=en
http://www.google.com/support/profiles/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1228271
http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2011/02/freedom-to-be-who-you-want-to-be.html

That final link there says that Google recognizes "Pseudonymous" use as one of the three uses that most of their products support. I really, really hope that holds true... otherwise I can't see fandom participating in G+, and in fact a bunch of techie types who go by online handles or nicknames that include non-Google-standard characters or no surname may also be turned away at the door.

(cross-posted to my Elke Tanzer G+ and also to elke_tanzer)

ETA: If you care about this issue and already have a G+, please send feedback. Google is listening, apparently, but there are other voices saying loudly "real names good!".

ETA more: http://geekfeminism.org/2011/07/08/anti-pseudonym-bingo/

And ETA even more: http://geekfeminism.org/2011/07/08/social-networking-requirements/

And an even more even more ETA: UPDATE: http://googleplus.dreamwidth.org/5176.html

Comments

[weaverbird]

Wow. Thanks for those links! I had previously seen only the last one, which had given me, apparently, a false impression. I notice in the other links that the fine print makes things far less cheerful about pseuds.

I was on the fence - and hopeful - about G+ but, based on this info, I'm now thinking that unless something changes I'm out. Alas.

[copracat]

I don't think that services like FB and G+ realise the phrase 'If you use your full name, you'll help people find you online' is not a selling point for some of us.

[weaverbird]

Exactly!

I sent feedback.

[naturedance]

https://plus.google.com/105500543639944007050/posts/5HwnahTSuj6

[justhuman]

I had read the "real name" thing as a passing comment in an article this morning, but I was hoping that it was wrong - obviously not.

I signed up for G+ tonight using my "justhuman" Google profile. I had previously filled it out with first name "Just" and last name "Human".

It was accepted into the system, because it looks like a name, but I'm not sure that it won't be suspended sometime in the future if it's somehow flagged.

grrrr - I was looking forward to a new comm too in the arsenal with an actual privacy policy.

[falena]

I sent some feedback, thanks for the heads-up.

[ratcreature]

I've just read an article that says that google removed someone who used their Second Life avatar's name:
http://www.thinq.co.uk/2011/7/8/google-starts-account-cull-google/

I guess I won't be getting a google plus account.

[elf]

This looks annoying and a good reason not to bother signing up for it. I don't need more accounts that won't let me use the name with 12 years' history online. (Okay, here' I'm elf, not elfwreck--but elfwreck points to me.)

It occurs to me that my kids are going to be accused of pseudonymity if they ever try participating online under their legal names. I saddled 'em both with fine pagan-fannish monikers, complete with last names that don't match anyone else in the family. Kallisti, especially, is likely to be accused of using a fake name.

/nods nods

[elke_tanzer]

The whole situation is rather unsettling.

Discussions are continuing today relevant to this issue, and then there's this bit of awesomeness:

http://geekfeminism.org/2011/07/08/social-networking-requirements/

Your kids' names sound like they're wonderful, btw.