However, Indians May Not
Like when a restaurant doesn’t allow people who aren’t wearing shirts to enter.
Vic Gundotra, Social SVP – Google
Google’s real name policy has been a failure and thorn in the side of Google+ since its beginning.
Maybe requiring a shirt to be worn in a restaurant is one thing, but forcing only one style and brand of shirt is another, especially when it comes to names – and Native American Indian names at that.
This week, I read an interesting article that provides yet another reason why enforcing a “real” name policy is not always in a brand’s interest – or the user’s. Besides claims of discrimination, it highlights the failures of incompetent policies and the folks responsible for them.
So, just in case you missed it this week … here’s the article:
Google+ names policy discriminates against American Native Indians
The writer’s conclusion is :
Frankly, the fact that Elaine Yellow Horse appealed your policy three times and it was only once the media got involved that you did the right thing shows that your staff are either incompetent, or racist. I hope for incompetence. Either is bad, but racism is much worse than incompetence.
This problem does not exist over on Twitter – but Twitter allows you to pick your name and respects the user experience. I guess Google is just showing Native American Indians where they can find a better social experience without that sign on the front door – “Real sounding names required.”
