Remember when Google+ outed everyone by their real names? Now Google's sorry

Sometimes they're a bit thick...

Once upon a time, I had a Google+ account. For about ten minutes.

Upon creation, their default settings had *all* my public pictures linked to my real name, and on public display. The pictures were supposed to be public (no problem there), but not linked to my real name. Some of these pictures were on anonymous blogs related to controversial topics that might lead to physical violence from extremists with alternate opinions.

Google literally endangered my safety. Or, 50-50 odds, the health and safety of those that might seek me harm.

That Google decision makers couldn't see this usage case reveals them to be morons.

They haven't noticed me

My Google account (with Google+) is not my real name, it's a mildly humourous made-up name. When I read that Google would be hunting down pseudonyms, I thought that I'd be culled. I was fine and keep using the account. Having said that, I only use the e-mail and G-Drive; I don't have any real visibility on Google+, such as photos, posts, friends in circles, etc.

"On Google+ no-one knows you're a dog, but Google knows Google+ is a dog"

...That's the best Tag line yet from El Reg...

Meh!

I guess this still the Google version of Facebook? Or something near to it? As others have said, why bother?

G+ as an "identity service"

What a garbage coverstory. If you don't positively verify the identity of a user on signing up then you cannot be an identity service. I could have signed up as Robert Smith and their name policy would never have batted a digital eyelid, but no, if I were to sign up as Turnip McFondleballs the world would have ended?

Temporary concession?

Just like they forced YouTube users into using their G+ account and real names. I don't trust an 'advertising company which uses tech' (as someone from this forum named them).

I expect they slap down enough supercookies and similar to extract real names in fairly short order anyway.

Should I try to claim my favorite nickname?

Naw, why would I care. I already got it on Outlook. Oh, wait. No improvement there.

Why doesn't ANYONE offer a sincerely anti-spammer email system?

I am probably better known on-line by one of two handles, one of which is close to my real name, the other is not. I've been associated with it for many years though, and more on-line people probably know me by that name than my real one.

Junk

What's Google+? Oh yeah, that service that made searches with '+keyword +keyword' useless. I always thought it was really nice of them to drop that feature because they offered something with a + in it. Not.

It's a start.

Next they should unlink that shit from YouTube.

the only advantage ..

The only advantage I've noticed to having Google+ is that it allows you to have a little picture next to your name when logged in. Delete your G+ profile and it goes away (though the picture itself remains in your profile).

No, I'm Spartacus...

Cool, let everyone sign up as Edward Snowden then I say... To Eric, Larry, Sergey... The good ol days are over for you fellas.. You became far too cosy with government snoops. Talk about stepping over the creepy line, when you promised you never would.... Your CloudFog offerings are taking a hit now I hear.. Well I for one am very happy about that!

Google what????

That is all...

Stampede

Just don't get hurt in the rush to sign up will you.

What's so bad in G+?

From time to time I share a few photos and videos with other G+ users, follow a few interesting persons (mostly tech nerdy people such as Linus Torvalds), a few friends and family follow me and little else. For that kind of use G+ is perfectly fine. Perhaps it is not the be-all and end-all of social networks, but I honestly don't want or need that kind of thing. I don't have a Facebook login and I'm a perfectly integrated and productive member of society.

So please, what is so bad about G+ that makes everyone despise it so much? What do you get out of Facebook, for example, that you don't get from G+?

(please add comment telling why, please...)

Some of us are still suspended

Stupidly the policy has been changed, but the suspended-for-names accounts are still suspended with no appeal other than verifying your real name.

GoogleFail.

I like G+

Unlike facebook and linked in I have a reasonable degree of control over who sees what and I don't get loads of emails suggesting I link with the distant aquaintance of someone I linked to ages ago and can't remember why but am now able to view their drunken photos.

My facebook and linked in profiles are as locked down as possible and state that I am not active there and prefer other channels of communication.

I welcome quality control, I welcome the attempt to make people stand behind their online rantings by providing identity information. I use all kinds of pseudonyms on various forums etc or choose to post anonymously in some situations. In some situations that is useful, perhaps allowing me to be a little more frank about my employer than might be wise were my real name attached. There are plenty of places on the internet where I can do that, what's wrong with having one we can choose to use and where we must behave like grown-ups?

An editor I know said they gather loads of feedback via social networks, most of it is garbage, the exception is G+. It will be a pity if it does end up as just another stinking pile of dross.

Since google went full retard with G+ I haven't left a single youtube comment, or reviewed a single android app (2 activities I was previously quite fond of) I can only assume I'm not the only one.

I don't even know if I have a Google+ account, I just assumed it all got rolled into my omni-account and was visible for the world to see.

I got stalked by a guy who didn't like a really innocuous YouTube comment I made on a technical issue, all because of this idiotic policy change.

He figured out my gmail address then started emailing me, then kept adding me on linked in and calling my office.

I was also actually disturbed to find my Android phone had backed up photos to the Google+ profile somehow by default. They were in an unshared album. I use the phone camera to capture expense receipts and stuff!

On top of that they've pushed Google+ into the play store, so no longer review apps.

To be perfectly honest it's *nearly* driving me to iOS or some alternative to Android.

The result so far: I deleted all my Google accounts and closed Google Apps for business.

I tried to sign up once

Google+ wouldn't believe that my name was real (it's honestly not that weird!) and wanted me to send in actual identification - copies of my drivers license or somesuch.

Instead I closed the browser and got on with my life.

For those suspended for not using a real name - your appeal will be rejected

For those suspended for not using a real name - an appeal will be rejected, for the same reason they flagged it last time, non compliance with the real names policy.

The old policy is still being actively enforced.

WHO CARES...

not interested, NEVER USE YOUR REAL IDENTITY...