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back to article Google+ bans real name under ‘Real Names’ policy

First, Google sparked a furor by banning pseudonyms from Google+ under its “Real Names” policy. Its next row, now warming up in Australia, is the banning of real names that happen to lie outside the programmers’ assumptions. An Australian journalist and commentator, who changed his legal name to the mononym Stilgherrian many …

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    1. A J Stiles
      Reply Icon
      FAIL

      No, that's *not* how it works

      If you want to open a business to the public, you have to open it to *all* the public or *none* of the public. That's how the rules work. Because the simple fact is, "free market" wanking notwithstanding, civilisation is about protecting the weak from the worst excesses of the strong.

      The glibertarian line -- that everyone is free just to start their own, alternative business which, by virtue of its non-exclusionary nature, will end up being more successful than Google -- turns out in practice to be bollocks.

      Business owners are by definition in a position where they have the upper hand over their customers -- and it is in everyone's interests that they do not abuse that unequal relationship by capriciously excluding entire sectors of society.

      Try opening a whites-only hotel and see how long you last -- even if you place a stack of brochures for inexpensive surgical skin colour reassignment in an area not subject to the colour bar.

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      1. sabroni Silver badge
        Reply Icon
        Unhappy

        If you want to open a business to the public...

        ...you have to open it to *all* the public or *none* of the public.

        This is nonsense. You can't force a business to trade with someone they don't want to. And this isn't even a business, this is people trying to use a free service then moaning about the ts&cs.

        Have you never been refused service in a pub? I have, purely based on the barman not liking the look of me. It's his gaff, his rules.

        Looks like the daily mail is right about people's sense of entitlement these days....

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      2. jake Silver badge
        Reply Icon

        @A J Stiles

        "If you want to open a business to the public, you have to open it to *all* the public or *none* of the public. That's how the rules work"

        Total, complete and utter horseshit.

        For example, here at Chez jake, aka "jake's Wife's Horse Ranch & Winery", we are open to the general public 7 days a week, but reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, for any reason. Our policy is a variation of "no shirt, no shoes, no service", but on steroids ... Basically, if any of the people/horses/dogs who live here think you smell or look funny, you will be escorted off the grounds. Keep a clean nose, on the other hand ... We've been known to allow random tourists from all over the world to stay in our guest house for free for a few nights ;-)

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    2. Bastard Sheep
      Reply Icon

      You've made a very common mistake in understanding the situation...

      "so it's Google's rules. Don't like the rules then don't use the service.

      Can't understand why people feel they have the right to get upset about this. They're not paying for the service and alternatives that allow whatever name you choose are available. So put up or shut up!"

      What if we want to use the service? What if many people we network with socially are on it to a large degree? It took me years to sign up to facebook, and I only did so because I was missing out on a lot of interaction with friends due to not being there. Essentially if I wanted to know what was going on with my friends lives and what things were coming up, signing up was my only option.

      It's not always an "option". There are other sites out there that offer similar services, but they are only of any use if those you interact with socially also use it. If they don't, they are not options.

      By being forced to use wallet names and not being allowed to use the names we most commonly go by, we are being anonymised and having this very social linking broken.

      Also, we are paying for it with our personal information which google onsells.

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      1. sabroni Silver badge
        Reply Icon
        Stop

        @Bastard sheep

        I've not made a mistake. I've read your post multiple times but there's no convincing argument as to why Google should change, just a feeling of entitlement from you. All your "friends" are on google+ so feel you should be allowed on to. But all your friends are playing by google's rules, why do you feel you shouldn't have to?

        You feel entitled to use this service and entitled to use a name that you decide on. You have a right to neither of those. Their service, their rules.

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  2. Joe Harrison

    Sergey Brin of all people

    Russians have complicated patronymic names that can sometimes get quite long. Most of the ones I know invent a shorter version that they think English speakers will feel more comfortable with.

    I remember years ago trying to support an X.400 system that crashed every time on names containing an apostrophe, ah good times.

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  3. David Pearce

    Indonesians

    I believe the majority of Indonesians only have one name.

    I often had to enter my maids name twice on airline booking forms to work round a similar problem

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  4. Torben Mogensen
    FAIL

    More assumptions

    I often have trouble with my middle name "Ægidius" on web sites. Same with my street name "Egebæksvej" and my city + postal code "2100 København Ø". Not only because of the Danish letters, but also because many programs assume the postal code is entirely before (or after) the city name, whereas in this case the postal code is 2100 and Ø with the city name in between. Fortunately, the Danish post service can figure it out if I write "2100 Copenhagen" or some other substitution.

    Many US sites also require you to list a state or province (of minimum two letters), even if you specify a country outside the US. And complain if the ZIP code isn't 5 digits. Or if you don't have an area code in your phone number.

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    1. Lockwood
      Reply Icon
      Unhappy

      Yep

      I have had to put myself down as New Hampshire for a few things, despite living in the original one.

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  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    They don't like my real name

    Google insists I've misspelled my real name when I tap it into their search engine, and is quite aggressive about using its own suggestions.

    If they refuse to recognize my name in one department, why should I use it in another?

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  6. Richard IV

    I know exactly when Google will change the policy.

    As soon as they start allowing companies on board. What do you mean we can't have an account for each of our trading names?

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  7. LuMan
    Coat

    Google

    So, can Google actually have a Google+ account then? I'm not aware that Google has a surname.

    Unless Google IS the surname... and the first name's Fuckingbloodyuseless!!

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    1. The Fuzzy Wotnot
      Reply Icon
      Thumb Up

      Actually!

      I quite fancy that for my first name! Might as well as I get called it several times by the Missus when the DIY doesn't go according to plan!

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  8. Stefing
    Mushroom

    Put down the torches

    I know El Reg loves to bash the Goog but a friend of mine could not register on Facebook due to his name - getting on Google+? No problem.

    To get onto Zuckerberg's personal data mining enterprise he had to assume another name and explain to all his friend that, yes, it was indeed he.

    No such problem with Google+.

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      [citation needed]

      n/t

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    2. Stoneshop
      Reply Icon
      Flame

      One anecdote does not data make

      I know quite a few people who have G+ accounts under a nickname, but looking normal enough per Google's criteria. They haven't been suspended (yet).

      I also know people who have been suspended from G+,even though they're using their "name friends and colleagues know you by" (as per the G+ user agreement) and haven't managed to get it reactivated. They've been using those names (as far as I know) well longer than Google has been around. So who's wrong here?

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  9. A J Stiles
    Meh

    I know how he feels

    I know just how he feels.

    I live my life in the common gender -- it's about what's between my ears, not what's between my legs -- and I have enough trouble persuading people that the correct form of address for me does not include any of "Mr", "Mrs", "Miss" or "Ms", but is just simply "A J Stiles". I can't afford a higher degree, and I am too intellectually honest to seek ordination as a priest.

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  10. Anonymous Coward
    Alien

    Anonymous

    I don't get the fixation these sites have on you using your real name. What if I don't want to? My friends know my internet handle, my boss doesn't. I have no intention of letting my boss follow me on facebook or google plus. Why? I like having a seperate private life!

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  11. Anonymous Coward 99

    Personal Safety?

    Or what about people, like one of my friends, who has been strongly advised by the police (due to threats made against them by various nondescript nutters) NOT to use a real or well-known name on Social Networking sites.

    Even FarceBook allowed their name change after being showed this

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  12. Anonymous Coward
    Black Helicopters

    Never tell!

    Never use your real name and better still open multiple accounts and switch between them at random. And always use Ghostery or NoScript and AdBlock. Just for the fun of it, and to thwart their neo-totalitarian aims!

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  13. Gil Grissum
    Pint

    Hmmmm.....

    Interesting. "The name I'm referred to most often in real life" is my stage name as a musician, which I use for my Google + account. Family members and people on my day job however, do not refer to me by my stage name (and co-workers are neither aware of my stage name or know that I'm a musician/starving artist), so I guess I dodged the bullet on this one. Then again, Google bots may have gone to my music site, heard the tunes, liked them, and let it pass.

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    1. Olafthemighty
      Reply Icon
      Mushroom

      Google bots

      Might have felt sorry for you!

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  14. Juan Inamillion
    Coat

    "i'm Spartacus!"

    Is all.

    /Sword + sandals

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    1. Graham Marsden
      Reply Icon
      Happy

      I'm sorry...

      ... that username is already taken...!

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  15. Mexflyboy
    FAIL

    Not just weirdos...

    It's not just weirdos who have problems with Developer wankers who make assumptions... I have lived most of my life in English-speaking countries (UK/US) and I can't tell you how many times I've had problems when filling out forms (paper or online!) because some dumbass wanker assumes we all have monosyllabic anglo-saxon last names! So when I need to put down my correct legal last name (one of those Spanish double-barreled jobs with a hyphen in it), more often than not the feckin' system breaks down...

    Add to the mix call centers in cheaply-paid countries where English and Spanish are not the linguae francae, and my normal Spanish-language last name becomes Intercapped (such as SmithJones), or just slammed together (Smithjones) instead of the correct Smith-Jones thang... only very recently has this started changing, but now getting it changed in their systems here in the UK virtually requires an act of parliament!!

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Odd

      You'd think double barrelled names were common enough to be handled by IT systems. But then I don't have one. Tempted to change to one now though...

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  16. Rob Crawford

    Not always a good idea

    to use the name you are commonly known as.

    We have at least 4 people where I work who are 'That Wanker'

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  17. BongoJoe
    FAIL

    Haven't they seen Fawlty Towers?

    What, then, about Lords of the Realm?

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  18. Andrew Roberts 1

    No accounts for Bono or Sting then?

    Not all bad then.

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  19. AceRimmer1980
    FAIL

    It's not just names

    Quite a few large sites based in the US require you to enter a phone number.

    Which must have a 3-digit area code, and a 7-digit rest of it.

    Try entering a typical UK number , with the leading zero helpfully removed and '+44' helpfully put at the start, and they just completely throw the toys, as above.

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Phone number......I think not

      I never give a real phone number. If they want to contact me, they probably have my email or my address if they're sending me something.

      I just don't like giving out more info that I feel is required to provide the service I'm paying for. Phone numbers usually are not required.

      At least that way I know any calls I get are from people I actually want to talk to.

      No one calls me though - that's where it all falls down of course....

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      1. Steve Renouf
        Reply Icon
        Thumb Down

        Not strictly true

        Most times, the carriers require a contact number for the recipient in case of delivery/customs issues.

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  20. fLaMePrOoF
    Stop

    This is the title

    The longer Google stick to their guns on this issue, the more embarrassing will be the inevitable climb-down.

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  21. Dave 15

    real names... what poo

    Its not exactly difficult to fool the system... Fred Blogs, Fake Name, and other such things might eventually get noticed, but its easy enough to call yourself any reasonably likely two word name that sounds real enough. Unless they are going to start demanding you post them a copy of your passport so they can then compare it against the image on your webcam they have no realistic hope of enforcing this stupidity. Without that there is no point in even trying.

    I think Google have shot themselves in the foot here but rather than accept they made a mistake they are loading up the machine gun and pointing it directly at their other foot.

    1 0
    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      It's supposed to be a social network

      How exactly are you going to connect to the people you know if you've logged in with a fake name that they don't know?

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    2. gringo guy
      Reply Icon

      'Til they poo on you...

      Remember Google's an entire infrastructure. On another site I read post that claimed, after creating a Google+ account with a fake name, the person's name on other Google services was then changed to match. Sorry, I didn't keep the link to the post.

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  22. Inachu
    Thumb Up

    Ok then what about this guy????

    What about the actor whos full legal name is YAHOO SERIOUS?

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    1. Captain DaFt
      Reply Icon
      Thumb Down

      Yes, he's a real person...

      But from the movies I've seen, he's no actor.

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  23. Risky

    O'Bother

    If it isn't bad enough having websites reject my name because of the apostrophe, I'm moved to an employer who's used it in the email address and some of their own internal websites can't cope with the thing.

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    1. Graham O'Brien
      Reply Icon
      Facepalm

      Abs O'lutely

      Having suffered from lazy DBAs in years gone by who banned the use of apostrophes in names it seems to have reared its ugly head again. A few days ago I tried to register my mobe for my bank's inclusive insurance deal only to find that I'm not allowed to use my real name. When I asked the telephone "help"-line bod about this he confirmed that apostrophes are illegal. I asked him whether the bank did much business in Ireland but he seemed unable to comprehend the question.

      For shame, Barclays, for shame.

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  24. Primus Secundus Tertius

    Single names

    Firstly, I'm glad El Reg tolerates pseudonyms.

    A British lord is entitled to be known by one name: examples are Wales, or Cambridge. A commoner must use at least two.

    I have noticed that many Germans, especially when signing official letters, use only their surname.

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  25. Syntax Error
    WTF?

    Predictable

    That Google+ would reject someone's real name.

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  26. Will 20

    I'm Sorry

    But your name is not supported on this system. Please upgrade your name at your local courthouse...

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  27. dssf

    What about these people?

    -Sting

    -Enya

    -Sade

    -Edge/The Edge

    -Bono

    -Moon Unit

    What about celebrities known by ONE NAME?

    http://www.cs.umd.edu/~gasarch/onename.pdf

    What if Google + extends to Japan, or to countries where real, valid, living people are by law or culture accorded or assigned single-name identification?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mononymous_person

    Somehow, Google is not eating its own dog food/searching with its own engine. Or, are/were Google engineers try to re-engineerin first-name/last-name pairing to out people's real identites?

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    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Pint

      Easy

      Sting - Gordon Sumner

      Enya - Enya Bhraonáin

      Sade - Sade Adu

      The Edge - well, works as two names, but David Evans

      Bono - Paul "that tw*t" Hewson

      Moon Unit - Moon Zappa at a guess

      You haven't done a pub quiz before, have you? :-) There are plenty of one-named people, but that list doesn't contain any of them

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  28. Christoph

    Obscure names

    Well, Google obviously hasn't heard of these really obscure people who have only one name.

    Obscure as in a past Secretary General of the United Nations. The 'U' in U Thant is an honorific - his name was just 'Thant'.

    I have a friend in the UK who lost his G+ account because they objected to his entirely legal single name.

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  29. Jonathan Richards 1
    Unhappy

    AACR2

    The sad thing is, these problems were addressed by librarians a long time ago (for certain values of 'long'), since books, remarkably enough, are frequently written by people who do not have names of the GivenName SurName form. The outcome is codified in the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Edition 2. A copy should be in the office of every coding shop where personal name processing is required. Indeed, it would be a good subject for a standard code library (no pun intended).

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  30. Captain Packrat

    Happened to me

    Google suspended my account because I have an unusual last name, and wouldn't reinstate my account even after I sent them a copy of my driver's license. I finally sent them copies of my driver's license, credit cards, Social Security card, passport, marriage certificate, firearms license, car title, sales tax certificate, and insurance paperwork (all redacted, of course). I guess that was enough to convince them my name is real.

    It only took 2 weeks to get it cleared up. I really doubt I'll ever use my account for anything now. I can't trust Google for anything anymore.

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    1. Graham Marsden
      Reply Icon
      Happy

      @Happened to me

      Well, you've got to admit that "Packrat" is a little unusual...

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  31. Jolyon Smith
    Mushroom

    @Lowercase "jake"... you may know database programming...

    .. but you don't know much about proper nouns in the English language.

    Initial capitalisation of names is an orthographic convention applied to proper nouns.

    Names themselves (in English) are not case sensitive. You weren't legally *defining* your name as all lowercase, you were simply trying to insist that your personal, pointless and obtuse exception to the current orthographic convention be adhered to by everyone else when referring to you.

    This is akin to insisting that everyone wear Mickey Mouse boxer shorts over their head when talking to you. It's not that you can't hear them unless they do, it's just that you are choosing to impose a stupid and pointless condition on other people in order to try to mitigate what are no doubt some deep rooted issues within yourself.

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