mds_02 wrote:
And here I was, upset about my minor inconvenience in having to explain why I sometimes go by another name.
That they included a feature that had unintended consequences is not the issue. Sorry trans-folk, but it can be really hard for the rest of us to put ourselves in your shoes in every situation, we're gonna screw up sometimes. The issue is the way they ignored or dismissed the problem even after it was brought to their attention.
No excuses. Google puts on a big show saying they support diversity and are a leader in diversity, yet apparently they have no way of regularly getting input in order have diverse perspectives on changes that they make. I know they have trans people in their company and on their dev teams, as well as members of other groups who would be harmed by suddenly and unexpectedly having their real names revealed (see bottom of post for a link to a full list). Yet the members of those groups employed by the company gave no input. Why?
I think that Google's blaring from the rooftops about their devotion to diversity is all just a show, a way to make money, meaning that the people who run Google are hypocrites. Hypocrisy is evil, so all along Google has been violating their old maxim "Don't be evil."
Full list of groups that are harmed by "real names" policies:
http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Who_ ... _policy%3F
_________________
"You have a responsibility to consider all sides of a problem and a responsibility to make a judgment and a responsibility to care for all involved." --Ian Danskin