Real Names
Real names is a hot topic at Unity forum now and quite expectedly there's no shortage of opinions. So, I figured we all need a bit more details about BoonEx' position about using real names in Unity.
One of the latest "scoops" read:
9. Real names soon.
Unity is planned to request everyone to show their Real names instead of their usernames. If you absolutely have to stay anonymous, no problem, but you're likely to have your Unity experience limited.
First, note that it's "request", not "require".
REAL NAMES DISPLAY WILL BE OPTIONAL
Second, we won't show your real names, unless/until you approve it.
Third, the ideas is to "add to" not to break anything that Unity already is.
We will NOT take away any of your current rights or features. Real names display may add new options that'd be available IF you display real names. Such options are "certified real name" badge or, maybe, doubled weight of vote count, etc.
Personally, I think that privacy is over-rated. We have Facebook, LinkedIn, phonebooks, PeopleSearch, GoogleMaps, etc, etc. It doesn't take a degree to locate a specific person. I bet you can pinpoint home address of at least 50% Americans using Internet. Web anonymity is a cool feature, but is a feature of the past, that's slowly dying, like it or not. That's just my opinion, anyway. Quote me if you like, but it has nothing to do with what we plan to do at Unity.
The idea is to ask for a real name at registration page (or profile edit) and display it somewhere, prominently. however....
One should be able to specifically state that they want to remain anonymous. In that case we'd display something like "Unoboonex (anon)".
One could also use a fake name and display something like "Mickey Mouse". I see no problem with that - if you feel like presenting yourself as somebody with "Mickey Mouse" being your real name - so be it. I for one, changed my first name and surname some time ago.
... so, why do we need those Real Names anyway? That's for the people who have no problems revealing their names and using this as a reinforcement of their claims, self-promotion or whatever they need it for. It's an extra feature, basically. Real Name could be a company name for example - cool for those running a Unity Store. At a later stage we plan to start "verifying" names/company names and issuing some sort of notice about verification (here's where the "limited experience" word may substantiate). Consider difference beween products bought from "SegaMega (anon)" and "James Tadeo (verified)".
BoonEx Unity is a business network, and we have all sorts of people here. Professionals looking for jobs, groups selling mods, freelancers and consultants may actually WANT to display their Real Name, but now we suggest Username as a default option and encourage the spirit of anonymity. There're buyers who actually WANT to know real names of sellers, without asking.
How would you feel if I were hiding my real name (which is Andrew Boon, formerly Andrey Sivtsov)? I am happy to have the opportunity to tell you my name and our company name and the ABN (Australian Business Number).
... and again, personally, at the age of dying privacy I feel so much more secure, because I'm one of millions again, and not just one of the few [...nerds who tell their real names online].
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If Avatars and Daily Quotes are dead since a long long time ;-) this is now the age of reinforcement of Internet Privacy and Security, at least here in Europe.
Michel Bondallaz (verified)
1. Andrew stated: "First, note that it's "request", not "require"." That means you don't have to provide it, you can just say you want to be anon and you are anon. You can say your name is "nottellingyoumyname" and it will be accepted. Of course, that one will see more
A good example of what has happened to me in the past was on yahoo years ago i had a screen name that had my name plus numbers something like johnsmith2009, anyway some psycho looking at my profile figured out where i lived and decided to prank call my job. At the time i was working see more
It's a little annoying how people shear the word "real names" and simply jump into hate bandwagon. Should've just added the real names display option without even telling about it. Nobody would care.
Now here I am telling about the plan of OPTIONAL display of real names. It's only natural that if you use an OPTION you gain something, and if you don't use it, you don't gain anything. If you have problem with this option - fine, don't use it. See, some people print their names on mailboxes, some don't. Some print their names on doorbells, some don't. Some add their names to phonebooks, see more
Its really confused sometimes here.
real names checking like what was needed for a pundit is not a problem and yes needed, but realnames online don't do that.
Oh, and again, it's definitely going to be an OPTIONAL field.
As I've said before, if I'm buying something from someone I like to know a little bit more about that person than just "Nic1955" or something like that. But that's up to me if I care see more
If your paying money, you can ask the person for their name, but how do you know it's their real name? By requesting real names and then doing a verification of them, Boonex is simply paving the road for the buyers and sellers. In this instance sellers will not have to provide this information every time someone new comes along as it's been done see more
I can't request you to show me your "Footman's" ID.
Ok, I can verify that Footman is, say, John Smith, and just keep the name private in our system without displaying it to others. What's the use then? HOw does it help people that do transactions with you. IF things go hairy we wouldn't be bale to tell'em your name anyway, right? Right.
How hard is that to understand Andrew, you can NOT force or require this from anyone so now your going to ignore me and I wont get the help needed.... explain to me what what your referring to the help I need?
Your just going to roll over and say not helping you if your real name is not there ?
I do feel very strongly about this, ive been buzzing around the internet for over see more
If I read this right, I believe this is an "option" NOT a "requirement". I would assume that means that if you don't want you real name displayed, fine, choose the option for it NOT to display.
So what is the big deal? If anyone who has purchased something online, you had to enter you "real" name for billing purposes. And for anyone who thinks it's impossible to find out information about yourself, see more
Some people just tend to overreact when they hear some "anchor" words, like "privacy".
How will you be verifying real names? ebay doesn't verify my name. paypal doesn't verify my name. they verify my access to an email address and bank account.
I'm Patrick Kennedy. Am I a 40 year old network engineer in Vermont, or a congressman from Rhode Island? And once you verify one of the above, how am I to trust that verification?
Ebay does the same thing. You have to verify who you are with a bank card/checking account and if the names don't match then your out of them.
The difference here is, to use all features of Paypal you have to be verified. Yes, you can have people send you money and paypal will send see more
I wasn't as clear as I wanted to be with the paypal/ebay examples. They do verify that the names submitted are indeed the proper ones with the authority to authorize transaactions on given accounts. They do not require my name to be visible in order to use the sites to their fullest.
I have no problem with requiring a first name and see more
"I wasn't as clear as I wanted to be with the paypal/ebay examples. They do verify that the names submitted are indeed the proper ones with the authority to authorize transaactions on given accounts. They do not require my name to be visible in order to use the sites to their fullest."
That is where you are wrong. You can use paypal to purchase something with a credit card without signing up, you can receive funds to your paypal account without verifying and paypal will see more
In the end, this is no different, except that Boonex is still allowing you to join. They are just saying, you will have limited abilities until you do the verification process.
Now lets get one thing clear here, its great if you are in business, with a business name, and maybe a business address to go with it,All your internet dealing are aimed at that, but most see more
This may not stop the seller from being malicious, crap may still happen if people used real names, or are verified, but a lot less of it would. Real names isn’t a cure-all, but it’s a big step, at least, for the customers of BoonEx to feel secure, and sellers who care about building and maintaining a reputation see more
We need a little more security see more
I've found that using real names makes a dramatic cut in the amount of "up yours" posting online, because it's one notch closer to a real life encounter that see more
"I tend to take more seriously the writings of a person who lets his real-life persona be associated with his writings. It brings a whole new sense of responsibility into what you say and do online."
-well said