G+: Should I stay or should I go?

[firecat]

From here: https://plus.google.com/107625304798786970122/posts/cz6fCZDM5SV

Now that Google has clarified the name policy for Google+ I'm trying to decide whether to maintain a Google+ account. Do you have an opinion?

ETA: This is the clarification:
http://www.google.com/support/+/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1228271

ETA2: I'm not using my legal name on G+. I'm using Firecat Stef.

I'm not worried about having my account suspended because (a) I'm not influential enough for Google to bother about me, and (b) I don't use Google's other services in ways that would be broken if this account's G+ access were suspended.

(I use Google Reader, which is affected if my profile is suspended or private, but my tests have suggested that it's only affected in the sense that I can't "share" stuff or +1 stuff, which is fine. I don't use Picasa or Buzz.)

Reasons to leave

Google+ is not designed for people like me. " The name that commonly identifies you" doesn't apply to me. I have several names; they all commonly identify me, and I insist on choosing which ones I use in which fields.

The name rules are patronizing and controlling. I don't cotton to being patronized and controlled. I don't want to add value to a social networking service that patronizes and controls its users.

If I'm not sure whether my profile will be suspended, I'm unlikely to post anything particularly interesting.

Since I don't want Google to have more private data about me than it already has, I'm unlikely to post anything particularly interesting anyway.

I already try to follow far more information sources than I can keep up with.

Reasons to stay

I like the interface. I seem more inclined to interact with this interface than with Facebook's interface.

I like that I am learning more about some of my friends who are posting different stuff here than I've seen them post elsewhere.

I like some of the political discussions I'm seeing.

Comments

[graymalkin13.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about G+, but your analysis seems very logical. Your reasons to leave are pretty much the same as my reasons for not joining in the first place.

Since you do have some solid reasons for staying, maybe use a G+ compatible name to stay and just read stuff. (Not posting private information of your own.)