I suspect that most people who want one have gotten one already. But in case any CT readers haven’t, and would like to try it out, click here to get one of the 150 invites I have to distribute …
However, do ckeck out http://www.docpop.org/2011/08/googles-antisocial-behavior/ before using an invite. I like a lot of things about Google+, but they are currently enforcing a strict legal-name-only policy and if you sign up with a pseudonym and then get blocked you may lose access to Google Reader, Picasa, or other Google services.
It’s deja vu all over again: a for-profit organization attempts to assemble a large-scale societal entity with implicit guarantees of fair and decent supervisory conduct, then gradually betrays the interests of its members in order to maximize revenue. Corporations have neither the motivation nor the duty to perform the functions of governments. How long will it take people to grasp this simple fact?
I like a lot of things about Google+, but they are currently enforcing a strict legal-name-only policy and if you sign up with a pseudonym and then get blocked you may lose access to Google Reader, Picasa, or other Google services.
Yup, not worth it for this pseudonym, not that the loss of my presence would big deal to anyone else. But thanks anyway to Henry for distributing freebies.
One of the things that interests me about the internet is the degree to which government entities buy into becoming a product of or becoming a promoter of private services. A Canadian official was trying to chide me about not being on Facebook to link up with his organization’s representation on that site, which just seems creepy. On the one hand, free advertising is good, on the other it’s a sort of endorsement of the site, and possibly a restriction of some information to Facebook people only. Mind you I’m a Luddite without a cell phone.
One of the things that interests me about the internet is the degree to which government entities buy into becoming a product of or becoming a promoter of private services.
Except if you are France. Personally I think the French move is a fine one, but of course it was met with bemused mockery by some sections of California.
took one, thanks, plan to use it as I use Twitter or blog feeds, as source of public information and discussion. The more strictly local social aspect (my friends or colleagues) is not useful: email works very well for me.
They could probably whip up an algorithm pretty easily to identify holders of multiple gmail accounts and correlate the one with the others, one of which at least might be a real name and that would put paid to the problem, in the standard invasion-of-privacy way we pretend doesn’t exist already.
{ 17 comments }
D. Eppstein 08.08.11 at 4:44 pm
However, do ckeck out http://www.docpop.org/2011/08/googles-antisocial-behavior/ before using an invite. I like a lot of things about Google+, but they are currently enforcing a strict legal-name-only policy and if you sign up with a pseudonym and then get blocked you may lose access to Google Reader, Picasa, or other Google services.
And for a broader picture of the political implications of real name usage on the net, see http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/08/why-facebook-and-googles-concept-of-real-names-is-revolutionary/243171/
Straightwood 08.08.11 at 5:23 pm
It’s deja vu all over again: a for-profit organization attempts to assemble a large-scale societal entity with implicit guarantees of fair and decent supervisory conduct, then gradually betrays the interests of its members in order to maximize revenue. Corporations have neither the motivation nor the duty to perform the functions of governments. How long will it take people to grasp this simple fact?
Substance McGravitas 08.08.11 at 5:37 pm
Yup, not worth it for this pseudonym, not that the loss of my presence would big deal to anyone else. But thanks anyway to Henry for distributing freebies.
One of the things that interests me about the internet is the degree to which government entities buy into becoming a product of or becoming a promoter of private services. A Canadian official was trying to chide me about not being on Facebook to link up with his organization’s representation on that site, which just seems creepy. On the one hand, free advertising is good, on the other it’s a sort of endorsement of the site, and possibly a restriction of some information to Facebook people only. Mind you I’m a Luddite without a cell phone.
tomslee 08.08.11 at 5:49 pm
One of the things that interests me about the internet is the degree to which government entities buy into becoming a product of or becoming a promoter of private services.
Except if you are France. Personally I think the French move is a fine one, but of course it was met with bemused mockery by some sections of California.
Annie 08.08.11 at 6:04 pm
took one, thanks, plan to use it as I use Twitter or blog feeds, as source of public information and discussion. The more strictly local social aspect (my friends or colleagues) is not useful: email works very well for me.
Richard 08.08.11 at 6:06 pm
Thanks.
Kevin Donoghue 08.08.11 at 6:47 pm
Thanks. I’ve no idea how to use it, but am vaguely hopeful I can wean myself off Facebook.
Apostrophina 08.08.11 at 6:53 pm
Thanks very much. (Sadly, this is probably my first comment here, but I’ve been reading for a couple of years.)
Colin Danby 08.08.11 at 7:02 pm
Hold on, your real name is not Substance McGravitas?
Michael Bérubé 08.08.11 at 7:21 pm
Indeed, his real name is Glibby O’Frivolous. You can see why he went in a totally different direction for his nym.
Substance McGravitas 08.08.11 at 7:23 pm
They could probably whip up an algorithm pretty easily to identify holders of multiple gmail accounts and correlate the one with the others, one of which at least might be a real name and that would put paid to the problem, in the standard invasion-of-privacy way we pretend doesn’t exist already.
Tim Wilkinson 08.08.11 at 9:11 pm
Thanks, but a bit too busy with the old rioting at the moment for that (whatever it is).
JP Stormcrow 08.08.11 at 9:16 pm
MB@8: But it’s pronounced “Throat Warbler Mangrove”.
Vesna 08.09.11 at 1:28 am
Thank you.
Ian 08.09.11 at 2:01 am
thanks
Theophylact 08.09.11 at 2:23 pm
Thanks. I’d signed up with them to be notified, but I guess I just wasn’t L337 enough for them to notice.
mrearl 08.09.11 at 8:25 pm
Thank you, Henry, but Google lost me at the screen where they demanded a phone number.
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