[Haskell-cafe] Re: Hackage accounts and real names

[Andres Loeh]

> > Let me summarise the main arguments against the restriction:
> 
> > 1. It stops people from contributing [..]
> > 2. Inconsistency [..]
> > 3. Privacy issues [..]
> 
> 4. It inteferes with people's freedom - who has the right to dictate what 
> name a person (or, for that matter, a group of people) should be known
> as?
> 
> 5. It encourages dishonesty: if you want to contribute but not reveal
> your real name, you have the option to lie about it, and can be fairly
> confident your lie will never be called.
> 
> +1 for allowing nicks.

Another +1 from me.

I must admit that I had never really thought about this restriction, but
the arguments against the restriction clearly convince me. I have heard
no valid arguments in favour of the restriction. I can see that there are
advantages to requiring real names, but that only makes sense if it is
enforced (and I certainly don't advocate that). The way it is now, where
some people who just silently use pseudonyms get accounts, and others,
who are not willing to lie, are rejected, is very bad.

If people are really worried about trust, then a comment/reviewing
system for Hackage is a better solution.

Cheers,
  Andres

-- 

Andres Loeh, Universiteit Utrecht

mailto:andres at cs.uu.nl     mailto:mail at andres-loeh.de
http://www.andres-loeh.de