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> Is there some intrinsic reason that someone be referred > to as "Jonathan Rockway" when you send them a message via > the SMS protocol, but "jrockway" if

> Is there some intrinsic reason that someone be referred > to as "Jonathan Rockway" when you send them a message via > the SMS protocol, but "jrockway" if you send that same > message via Jabber? Counter example: I'm internet-buddies with a person who goes by CUNT'N'PASTE. This is obviously not a name that complies with the Google+ naming policy, but it is the name they chose, and they should be permitted to use it. They were only able to register with Google+ by coming up with a fake name[1], and then spreading the word through other channels that they'd be using a fake name in G+ only. They appear as CUNT'N'PASTE in my Android contacts app, because it pulls names from the Gmail contacts list, which I can edit so it complies with reality. [1] Which makes G+ conversations confusing, because everyone has to remember that this person with the strange name in our comment boxes is actually Cunty, not whatever name G+ accepted.

locusm 13y ago
Here's an idea, tell your friend to grow up and use a socially acceptable name instead - revolutionary I know!
- chris_wot 13y ago
  Here's another thought: in some parts of society this is a socially acceptable name!
  - locusm 13y ago
    The redneck parts - totally ;)
jrockway 13y ago
Engineering is about making compromises. Given limited time, it probably makes more sense to support people with names like "First Last" because they are more common personal monikers than one-word obscenities with special characters in the middle. Yes, you'll annoy people named CUNT'N'PASTE, and that's regrettable. But you'll probably make a lot of First Lasts happy too. It's important to balance the positives and negatives of a decision. On HN, we mostly see the negatives, since that's the sort of thing that people are willing to spend mental energy writing about on their computer. But surely some people like the new YouTube comments or Google+, right?

locusm 13y ago

Here's an idea, tell your friend to grow up and use a socially acceptable name instead - revolutionary I know!

chris_wot 13y ago
Here's another thought: in some parts of society this is a socially acceptable name!
- locusm 13y ago
  The redneck parts - totally ;)

jrockway 13y ago

Engineering is about making compromises. Given limited time, it probably makes more sense to support people with names like "First Last" because they are more common personal monikers than one-word obscenities with special characters in the middle. Yes, you'll annoy people named CUNT'N'PASTE, and that's regrettable. But you'll probably make a lot of First Lasts happy too. It's important to balance the positives and negatives of a decision. On HN, we mostly see the negatives, since that's the sort of thing that people are willing to spend mental energy writing about on their computer. But surely some people like the new YouTube comments or Google+, right?