Can anyone source for me the slightest evidence that FB's recent, aborted attempt to force its users to use their real names was targeted at drag queens or other putative LGBTx groups? I've seen story after story and meme after Auntie Meme claiming such, and I think it's absolute rubbish. While I am and have been vehemently opposed to the "real name" policy, I have seen zero evidence that it was intended to target queer people. The many claims to this effect ignore (perhaps insultingly to other identities) the fact that FB users across all spectra of identity have nicknames, stage names, pen names, drag names, cosplay names, porn names, super-spy names, mad bomber names, what-the-hell-ever names. It's not FB's business in any case, but claims of "Waah, I'm being singled out!" are precious, petulant, and finally horseshit.
Glad I cleared that up. Now if only gay strip clubs would start discriminating against drag queens. Can you say "perfect world"?
They were just the loudest complainers, I suppose. Imagine that.
ReplyDeleteI think they were just the largest impacted group. None of my friends forced to change names on FB are drag queens.
ReplyDeleteThere's this: Facebook Apologizes
ReplyDelete"The issue around the site's 'real name' policy arose after a single user reported hundreds of accounts as fraudulent, reports ThinkProgress. At first, the company didn't notice that the accounts being reported as fake overwhelmingly belonged to drag queens and other LGBT people, instead of belonging to users who were attempting to harass, impersonate, bully, or spam other users — which are legitimate grounds for an account's suspension."
Thanks, Robert -- that's more detail on the issue than i'd seen. And it makes a lot of sense based on my understanding of certain members of the Fundamentalist Xian community.
ReplyDelete