Google Wants You to Use Your Real Name on YouTube

Google has launched a pop-up dialogue box on YouTube that urges you to use your real name when trying to make a comment. From the article: "When you try to comment on a YouTube video, a box will pop up that displays your username as it’s currently seen, along with a side-by-side comparison to what it will look like if you let YouTube pull your name from Google+. You can choose 'I don’t want to use my real name,' but that will lead to another dialogue box that basically guilts you into agreeing. If you still insist on remaining anonymous, you have to tell Google why: 'My channel is for a show or character' or 'My channel name is well-known for other reasons' are two options. 'I want to remain anonymous, is–unsurprisingly–not one."

Just like a slashdot poll

[danbert8]

Somebody always bitches about the lack of options. Maybe Google should have included a "My name is Cowboy Neal" option?

The names Coward...

[Anonymous Coward]

Anonymous Coward

Re:Privacy Concerns Aside

[cellocgw]

Oh, I thought you were going to link to this http://xkcd.com/386/ [xkcd.com] .

But actually I was going to post: "What: real people actually post comments to YouTube?"

It could be worse...

[AliasMarlowe]

For instance, if redtube [redtube.com] required you to use your real name...

Re:Good move on Google's part...

[Anonymous Coward]

You mean drive away the people who spew inappropriate crap? I can't really see in the majority (wide majority at that) case where you would need anonymity. Who cares if you post some reply to some video anyways?

Re:Just like a slashdot poll

[rtfa-troll]

There is a European Union decision that people have the right to use Pseudonyms. Google has said they accept this. The only reason that "Cowboy Neal" isn't accepted is that is that their policy demands that names be convincing as normal every day usage. So; for now two suggestions

1. All slashdotters should agree that our future kids will be named "Cowboy Neal" (no requirement to rename existing kids - especially the ones old enough to resist).
2. Everybody should, for now, sign up to Google+ and Facebook from a European union hosted system with a fake but real sounding name and fake data
3. When the children get to an age to legally sign up, we can use their names as a precedent to get the "Cowboy Neal" option open for everybody
4. If either Facebook or Google+ resist on either point 2 or point 3 then be ready to take them to the European Court of Human Rights;
5. For great justice

Re:I tried this this morning...

[c]

> On the other hand, when Google does mine, they'd probably wonder why I watch
> so much Dora the Explorer on my business account. (It's tied to my business cell
> phone, which I use most often to keep my daughter entertained.)

Yes, we were kind of wondering about it. Thanks for clearing that up. It's been added to your file.

The Google, Inc. Team

Re:Privacy Concerns Aside

[w_dragon]

I'll see your xkcd and raise you a ctrl-alt-del [cad-comic.com]

Re:Good move on Google's part...

[Anonymous Coward]

An AC saying other people don't need anonymity when posting. Either excellent trolling or someone's irony meter exploded.

Re:Privacy Concerns Aside

[Anonymous Coward]

First they came for my LOLCats, but I did not LOL...

Re:Privacy Concerns Aside

[Bomazi]

I I thought he was going to link to this one: http://xkcd.com/202/ [xkcd.com] . It is one of my favorites.

Re:Privacy Concerns Aside

[Anonymous Coward]

I'll see your xkcd and raise you a ctrl-alt-del [cad-comic.com]

You said "raise you"... as if to say you were providing something more ... but... you linked to Ctrl-Alt-Del... error... error... ERROR... DOES NOT COMPUTE... DOES NOT COMPUTE... DOES NOT COMPUTE...

Re:Just like a slashdot poll

[residieu]

Meep Meep Meep Meep Meep Meep Meep

Translation: Just because I'm a muppet, doesn't mean I want people knowing my real name.

any real name?

[Anonymous Coward]

Is any "real name" ok, or does the "real name" have to be yours?

Re:Just like a slashdot poll

[gmuslera]

Just don't call your son Bobby Tables [xkcd.com]

Re:PIGS OPEN FIRE ON BABIES

[DarwinSurvivor]

Why the hell would you bring your baby to an anti-violence protest?!?

Re:It could be worse...

[Flere Imsaho]

YouTube, on the other hand, is full of generally "normal" people with little to no internet savvy who spew bile from the heart.

That's not the organ I would have said they use...