The great book of pseudonyms » Should Facebook users be allowed to have fake names? Elliot Chan Opinions Editor ‘we, M opinions@theotherpress.ca Bo we get into the debate of whether or not having a fake name on Facebook is justified, we must first understand why people would want to use an alias to begin with. The Internet is a public place, and like all public places, once we choose to be there, we cannot control what other people will do around us. The way we dress, the things we say, and pretty much all our actions can be visible. Visibility is sometimes seen as vulnerability. Some people want fake names so they can conceal their account from stalkers, exes, co-workers, family members, etc. Other people just want to be funny, and use joke names to do so. Facebook’s policy is not heavily enforced, so if you do want to use a fake name, you can do so and probably never get caught for it. However, I don’t believe you should. Facebook is equipped with numerous : security features that enable : you to block certain people : from viewing your account, in : addition to a privacy setting that : cloaks all your activities until : you give permission not to. If you have a public persona, : like a stage name or pseudonym, : you can create a Facebook : Page—which pretty much acts : the same as a profile—with : some limited functionalities. : This is great for interacting : with those who don’t know you : personally. You can monitor : and moderate it as you please. Some worry about the security on Facebook. The fear : of Big Brother is one that lingers : on their skin every time they : enter their real name into a : computer system, but believe : me, there is more data locked in : your credit card and smartphone : than there is on your Facebook : account. Who cares if the : government sees what you are : posting? As long as you aren't : plotting a terrorist attack, : you'll be fine. On top of that, if : someone wants to find out your : real identity, they can do it; a aati icy Va tats i Inbox (60 Noah Shachtman eect AE GuL eh — f Add Osama as a Friend Send Osama a Message Poke Osama Information : fake name is the crappiest form : of security. You don’t need a : front door to break into a house; : there are many ways to get in. For the other point, joke names are funny, sure. But as : far as comedy goes, it doesn’t : have strong sustaining power. : After a while, even the friends : who found your joke name : humourous will become a little : annoyed, having to think twice Wall Osama Bin Lah Den Info Photos Basic Information New York, N¥ Male Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Married Women Men Friendship Dating Networking al Wiew's: Other ews My Way Bitchez Personal Information b different muslim hoez terests bombing america Favorite Music nelly furtado. alv & ai. stuff like that : when trying to invite you to an : event because they are used : to thinking of you by your real : name. If you have a nickname : that everybody uses to refer to : you, that is a different story. Our names are a part of our : identity. While I believe there : should be a certain amount of : freedom on the Internet, I also : believe that we should be visible : ina space with so many dark lowing up shit, walking my goat albakar, sexing a million Image via www.rounds.com corners. We can add locks, but we shouldn't add to the shadows. If you don’t want people to see pictures of your vacation, don’t post it. If you are getting harassed, inform the authorities. If you are having an identity crisis, seek help. Remember that on Facebook nobody knows you are a dog—but they should if you are, shouldn't they? The target audience » Why retailers’ preconceptions are insulting to the customers Elliot Chan Opinions Editor ‘we, S opinions@theotherpress.ca ust browsing, I’m always just browsing—at least I used to e. | tend to panic a little when a retail clerk pops out from behind a rack of clothes and inquires: “Can I help you look for anything?” Nope, just browsing. However, recently I’ve started making some bigger purchases, and I’m not talking about televisions, hockey gear, or computer software. I’m talking about appliances, furniture, and an engagement ring. Not exactly kid’s stuff, these are bona fide adult purchases. It’s a next step understandably, and hey, I’m proud to be making strides. My problem is not with having to grow up and buy expensive things seldom advertised as “action packed,” my problem is with the service I get upon buying them. It’s subtle, but like all forms of discrimination, it’s apparent. I look younger than I am, I'll admit it—and if I don’t, people will insist that I do. It’s a gift and a curse. Whenever a liquor store employee doesn’t ask me for identification, I feel they should be fired. Yes, I look : young and so in many adult : situations, I’m treated that way. It doesn’t matter how : old I look, though. It doesn’t : matter how much money I may : have. What matters is that I : should feel welcomed and be : kindly guided through the : shopping or buying process : without feeling like a kid taking : food from the adult’s table. Many retailers make status : a commodity in their stores. If : you are seen buying something : there, you are of a higher class : or tax bracket. When young : people enter the store, they : are perceived with suspicion. : It’s uncomfortable and that’s : probably why they do it. Capitalism has turned : retailers into machines that only : : focus on those who have and : : ignore those who don’t. And : sometimes when those who do : have look like those who don’t, : they experience a less than : satisfactory customer service. : It’s as if a server at a restaurant : only served those who tip well : and disregarded those who : : don’t. That’s kind of a shitty way : : to deal with customer service— : asifit’s a commodity, sometimes : : with a monetary value. To the people working : in retail, I say this: don’t ever : assume that someone doesn’t : have money to buy your : product. Don’t ever make it : sound like they need help : paying for it. They might, : but they might not. Your job : is to facilitate a sale, not to : make assumptions about their : livelihood. While statistics and : data ona given demographic are : Image via thinkstock useful in determining marketing : strategies, isolating or alienating : outliers—discriminating : against age and wealth—is not.