This Google App user still can’t hang out in Google+
I’ve been waiting quite a while to try out Google+. I’m a Google Apps user so it wasn’t available to me at first. Which was surprising because you’d figure that would be one of the first groups to have that functionality since they’re invested Google users.
Still, I’m used to being left out in the cold so it wasn’t a big deal to wait.
As I sat through the initial online craze, with some impressive initial adoption numbers, I began to hear the murmurs of a “names” policy. As the details leaked out I decided that I’d never use Google+ if that policy stayed in place.
In virtually every community on the web, I have two identities. One where I do all my real work, including posting sometimes controversial opinions on various subjects. The other acct is my real name…mainly so people don’t keep asking me about my Facebook account. Yes, I gamed the system on Facebook to have two accounts. Many people do it.
Can Facebook connect the two? Probably. And it probably isn’t that hard.
Can the average person? Probably not, which is what I care about.
Wired did a very nice article a few months ago about the whole names thing so I won’t rehash it any further. There were many more people with plenty of influence that were vocal enough that Google changed their policy.
Or so I thought.
I just went into my apps control panel and turned on Google+. Everything went fine until I went to turn on Google+ and entered my name, the one I actually use that is known across the web.
Guess what?
Yep, it doesn’t accept it.
I’m sure it just needs to be updated to reflect the new policy or I’m doing something wrong. If I am just let me know because I’d really like to try it out. But until then…
I just went back to my control panel and turned Google+ off. As long as the real name policy is in place, it’s of no use to me. You can find me as Goofy G on Facebook though.