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."
Three points (Score:4, Interesting)
For those of you who don't RTFA -- you do exist, right? -- here are the "broader reasons:"
Mind boggling, I know. Even more so when you consider than an entire article was written around those three points.
I know several that do obfuscate... (Score:5, Interesting)
Why? because of Stupid HR people.
I have a friend that has 3 PHD's in Archaeology and is a Viking Historian that heads up the local SCA Viking group. he had to change his name to a viking name to keep schools from googling him and labelling him as a "wierdo that dresses up" and losing teaching positions.
I have another friend that worked in the medical field and was getting questioned daily by his HR department demanding he "friend them" on Facebook. so he changed his name to a made up one, made a new "real profile" that is empty and friended them through that.
Give us laws that protect us from Assholes in the HR department, I.E. let me sue my boss for $34,986,231,15 for not giving me a raise because I posted a LOLCAT animated gif on my facebook wall.
They cant fire me for living in a blue house with yellow flowers growing outside, but yet the idiots in Washington think it's ok to let them do it because I am friends with people named Dave.
HBGary email that ought 2 concern U ALL (Score:3, Interesting)
This really bothered me, don't know about the rest of you:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/16/945768/-UPDATED:-The-HB-Gary-Email-That-Should-Concern-Us-All [dailykos.com]
PERTINENT QUOTES/EXCERPTS:
"According to an embedded MS Word document found in one of the HBGary emails, it involves creating an army of sockpuppets, with sophisticated "persona management" software that allows a small team of only a few people to appear to be many, while keeping the personas from accidentally cross-contaminating each other. Then, to top it off, the team can actually automate some functions so one persona can appear to be an entire Brooks Brothers riot online... And all of this is for the purposes of infiltration, data mining, and (here's the one that really worries me) ganging up on bloggers, commenters and otherwise "real" people to smear enemies and distort the truth... "
and
"They are talking about creating the illusion of consensus. And consensus is a powerful persuader... And another thing, this is just one little company of assholes. I can't believe there aren't others doing this already. From oil companies, political campaigns, PR firms, you name it. Public opinion means big bucks. And let's face it, what these guys are talking about is easy."
and
"To the extent that the propaganda technique known as "Bandwagon" is an effective form of persuasion, which it definitely is, the ability for a few people to infiltrate a blog or social media site and appear to be many people, all taking one position in a debate, all agreeing, for example, that so and so is not credible, or a crook, is an incredibly powerful weapon."
---
* I'd suggest reading the whole article in the link I put up above & not only because of the quotes I pulled from it to get your attention here, but also because it largely BACKS THE FACT THAT EVEN PSEUDONYMS DON'T MATTER, because they're easy to create via alternate email accounts, TOR endpoint proxies usage, OR anonymous proxy server usage on the part of those seeking to be "many from 1"!
(Yes, I'd read that folks - because it MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT YOU ONE DAY ALSO & be "levelled against you" (I hope not)... & I KNOW I've had it happen to me, here, & others spots online (I busted clone52431/clone53421 & others doing it in fact, the "trolltalk.com" pack of admitted trolls around here in fact & years ago from arstechnica people @ Windows IT Pro -> http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/internals-and-architecture/the-memory-optimization-hoax#feedbackAnchor [windowsitpro.com] (Jeremy Reimer mainly))).
APK
P.S.=> That's for anyone that tries to say I am "full of it", etc./et al - though I know that most of you KNOW this type of crap really does go on online, & how/when/where/why IF NOT BY WHOM as well as why...
... apk
Re:I know several that do obfuscate... (Score:3, Interesting)
Wow - really?
My boss pestered me to be added as a friend on facebook. I politely avoided the issue. Several other staff did add the boss and trouble ensued. The boss was quickly unfriended followed by requests to see what collegue x was up to via my account - again politely refused.
My personal life has nothing to do with work. My friends on facebook are just that, friends.
That said, my facebook account is largely dormant now as a result of this. Well that and the pointlessness of so many status updates these days.
Anon cause I can't be arsed to log in...
So what follows? (Score:3, Interesting)
I wonder what follows to real names.
Real profile picture photo?
Real town, school, work place?
Why?, does it make any difference to advertisers to have a name attached to a profile?, would they target that specific product differently if my name is A or B?, I would guess they will try to sell to who I am, and that doesn't change with my name...
Re:Oh Look.. (Score:4, Interesting)
Does it work? - Genuine query (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm asking these questions with a genuine level of curiosity....
What impact do people think having real names genuinely has on advertising?
Is the advertising industry really that effective?
How much notice do people actually take?
Are people really conditioned to buy stuff or even switch brands just because there's an advert?
If I'm making a purchase beyond the weekly shop, I tend to look at suppliers websites, reviews etc - I wouldn't go out and spend my hard earned cash on something just because there's an advert telling me to do so.
Personally speaking, heavy advertising and a hard sell are a positive disincentive for me to do business with the organisations concerned. I've walked out of a shop, partway through a purchase [without paying] because the sales droid would not accept that I didn't want the up-sells and I'll never buy some products because of their persistent and incredibly annoying TV adverts.
These days I'm less tempted by impulse buys and know / research into what I want -- so adverts have little effect on me.
I guess I'm just not in the target audience for many of the advertisers -- or perhaps it's a cultural thing and life's different in the US