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I really don't see why Netflix needs insider knowledge or whatever to be able to detect john.doe as being the same as johndoe.

• SlowBro 8y ago
  I believe it’s because this feature is largely unique to Gmail? So Netflix would need to know and maintain a database of rules based on domains. * Gmail: Dots are cool. * Hotmail: No capes! I mean dots. No dots! * Multiplied by 8 hundred gazillion domains...
  • DataWorker 8y ago
    You’re thinking too much like a programmer. It’s a single rule for a single domain that accounts for the majority of users. The right thing to do is ask for a password, but absent that, accounting for gmail addresses seems worthwhile. It would save them getting a thread like this on hn.
  • patcheudor 8y ago
    No database needed, just ask for e-mail validation by sending an account validation link to the e-mail. Problem mostly solved.