Fake Names On Social Networks, a Fake Problem 283
disco_tracy writes "The leading social networks demand that members use their real names, and they're not afraid to evict violators. Many Facebook users have quietly complied, despite the problems that rule creates for political dissidents, stalking survivors and others. Much of this discussion has centered around people in physical or financial danger of having their identities revealed. But there are broader reasons for social networks to stop pushing real-name policies."
best argument against real names: (Score:4, Informative)
it's bad for business. the same policy killed friendster:
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20071101/194615.shtml [techdirt.com]
friendster started deleting fake names. this was the height of friendster's popularity, 2003. so people left in droves for this new funky site called "myspace"
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20030813/2010251.shtml [techdirt.com]
1. if you do not learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it, GOOGLE PLUS I'M TALKING TO YOU
2. the BOTTOM LINE you idiots. this policy hurts your BOTTOM LINE. just ask friendster, circa 2003
Re:You Are The Product (Score:4, Informative)
Yes, but you as a customer do not have to do your change of address online and pay for it.
I was kinda shocked when I saw this...so I looked a bit harder at the USPS site...and it did provide the option (not as easy to find) to print out the form, and submit it to the postoffice or mail it in like the old ways for free.
Re:You Are The Product (Score:4, Informative)
A very large problem with this forcing of real names is when the sites in question have blacklists for certain names. I have a friend who's real, birth certificate name is "Aragorn" (his parents are HUGE LOTR geeks) and facebook does not allow that name, so he goes by Aragor. It's incredibly annoying to me, but he doesn't really care that much. facebook wants him to send a copy of his driver's license as proof so they'll allow him to use the name.
I'm just glad that they let me use Spike. I mean, it may not be on my birth certificate, but it's the only name I use. It's on my bank accounts (BofA doesn't seem to care), credit cards, cell phone, work ID, everything. My parents have called me that since before I was born and it's all anyone calls me.
Re:I know several that do obfuscate... (Score:4, Informative)
They cant fire me for living in a blue house with yellow flowers growing outside
If you live in an ironically named "at will employment" state, then yes, they absolutely can fire you because they don't like your landscaping.