Why Google+ will never back down on real names

[Generic Other]

<snip>
Google continues to court controversy with its real names policy, which asks users to represent themselves with their real names or risk having their accounts suspended.

Critics say the move is harmful to political activists, victims of harassment and numerous other groups for whom using a real name online might pose a safety risk.

So why is Google being so stubborn about this issue and risking bad PR for the sake of a minor technical change? Why not just allow usernames, as Twitter already does?

<snip>

"He replied by saying that G+ was build (sic) primarily as an identity service, so fundamentally, it depends on people using their real names if they're going to build future products that leverage that information," Carvin explained in a posting to Google+.

<snip>

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.media/08/29/googleplus.real.names.cashmore/index.html

Today I found out what this means. I posted a comment on my local newspaper and it went to my facebook account! It seems like we are all going to be forced to reveal our identities eventually in Google's Brave New Internet or risk not being able to interact as we have. Has anyone else encountered that Facebook thing. I erased my post as I did not intend for it to link to my facebook account! Is that the wave of the future?

[Renew Deal]

1. No one is obligated to use Google+

I've seen the Facebook comments on many websites, but I never comment that way. I would never do it with an account linked to Facebook.

[Generic Other]

3. I won't do it again

I was actually quite surprised. I disabled its ability to post to my facebook page. It was also a bit disconcerting to see other facebook friends' profile pics saying they had also read articles I was clicking on. I think people should have the option of deciding what personal info they wish to share, not make the posting of all your info as the default at some website's descretion.

You are smart to exercise caution.

[Major Hogwash]

6. Basically, what this is about is localizing their ability to ferret Democrats out of their community

Then go after us personally, get us fired from our jobs, harrass our kids, tell our neighbors that we are Democrats or Socialists, or whatever is the scariest in our particular community.

That's really what this is all about.

[Generic Other]

7. That sounds about right

yikes.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. i have both accounts and there is no bleed through between them

and i have not tweaked the security settings of either platform...

sP

[Generic Other]

12. I had to reset Facebook security yet again

The whole thing is an issue to those who like to interact online but might not wish to be identified by name. And I don't want targeted ads anyway. I put on adblocks already. I never see ads.

I find it highly intrusive for them to insist they must identify me by name to target me for crap I don't want and didn't ask for. I hope they fail in their quest to dominate the web.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

13. i guess i can see that but it sounds like a FB issue

of security rather than google+. i am not sure they will succeed with this venture as they are late to the party...but we shall see. i actually like people having to use their names. the point is that it is supposed to be 'social' networking. connecting with people you WANT to. you can prevent your info from showing up in public searches so i am not sure about the concern...but i also admit that i don't have anyone stalking me nor any restraining orders against anyone that might want to find me so i am really not in touch with the issue...

sP

[Major Hogwash]

2. 90% of the sites dealing with news that allow comments have a Facebook feed on it.

So, the idea is to spread the garbage at Facebook.
As far as Google+ is concerned, they can go fuck themselves.
I already get enough trash direct mail from snail mail.
And the spam filters for my e-mail accounts are overwhelmed by all of e-mails touting the penis enlarging techniques.

They don't work.

[Generic Other]

4. One time someone on DU gave us a list of terms to put in spam catcher

It pretty much zapped the penis enlargement spam. And many of the others. That was indeed a great public service by one of our own!

[Major Hogwash]

5. I didn't see that particular post.

But, I was surprised to learn that 75% of the women polled in Sarasota preferred longer penises, even though I don't live in Sarasota.
So, I don't believe their poll.

And all of those e-mails were totally unsolicitated, believe it or not.
I don't even know how they got my e-mail address.
The bulk e-mail lists where they spammed the entire e-mail server get through, but they are not even worth reading, so they get deleted right off of the bat.

[Edweird]

9. It took me until just very recently to get a facebook account. Google can pound sand.

[DeSwiss]

10. Have no use for any of them.....

....since I try to avoid joining organizations that were initially funded by former members of the CIA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMWz3G_gPhU&feature=player_detailpage#t=110s">Do You Have A Facebook?

[sfpcjock]

11. Interesting. Facebook prevents me from changing my display name

to something more creative. They say they will close my account at will. ...Lovin' the freedom :eyes:

[saras]

14. I can provide as many real names as they want - hundreds, thousands. It isn't hard.

[AsahinaKimi]

15. Another reason not to have Facebook

At least with Twitter, you have a choice to post what you wish, when you wish to post it.

[Shagbark Hickory]

16. Yeah. That's the plan.