11 comments

[ 1.4 ms ] story [ 37.0 ms ] thread
As draconian as it seems, there was great wisdom in the decision by the Screen Actors Guild that no two members can go by the same name professionally---you can't even use your own legal name if someone else has already taken it. The policy totally prevents snafus like this.

It makes me glad I have a (nearly) unique name; although I'm likely to see a variant of this problem as I'm moving to a town (in Virginia) named Farmville---est'd 1798. sigh

Even they, who actually have a real reason to police names, allow the same first and last name when there is a different middle initial.
Well, yes, that makes sense for a membership association like the Screen Actors Guild. Unfortunately, if Facebook wants to retain its real-name-only cachet, it simply can't afford to have too many stories like this pop up.

This story is particularly worrisome when you consider the amount of ID-verification that this account must have had on file after he already faxed them 3 pieces. What does it take to proof yourself from peremptory nullification if a driver's license, birth certificate and bar association license don't cut it?

Too bad that Mark S. was there first, looks quite a bit older too... So who has to change their name? Is your answer "not me, the other guy"?
Here's the problem with trying to establish real identities over the Internet-its very hard. Quora has had this problem, and so has Facebook.

I can't believe websites still think its a good idea to associate a name with an account rather than just a handle.

I use my real name as my username because I'm bad at coming up with new names/aliases/whatever.
I hope he gets his Facebook page back and shuts down his business site: http://www.zucklaw.com/

Or at least, take down the auto-playing flash movie of him popping up and talking a la Princess Leia's hologram in Star Wars. Only reason I even looked is because we're in the same city.

If you were to look up my name on facebook I am apparently some super hot blonde female.
Facebook or no Facebook, anyone thinks this story would turn out good for Mark S. Zuckerberg? Free publicity everywhere?