I've had a couple of friends have incredibly difficult times with G+ -- accounts deleted or blocked and whathaveyou -- because of their names. You may not have trouble with Billy Brite, but you would probably have trouble with PZB.

Billy Martin is a famous baseball player's name, isn't it? I don't want to get y'all confused.

Good day to you, sir! Glad you're happy.

That's what I was thinking, too.

It's good to hear you sounding so much less conflicted and unhappy (and I mean aside from the pain thing; hard to be positive about chronic pain.) It seems your recent decisions have been positive ones -- I know we don't know each other, not really, but that hasn't stopped me from caring about a lot of people who I have invested time in getting to know via LJ. I'm really happy for you.

I registered for G+ using just my initials. Yesterday I got the letter, I'm sure you've heard about them. It informed me that unless I put my real name that people use for me in my daily life, they'd suspend my account. This is pretty funny, because I have read about people being suspended for using the names that people call them in their daily lives being suspended for not being their legal or "real" names. WTF, Google?

At the end of the letter, they say "We understand that not everyone agrees with this policy, and we'll be sad to see you go." That's some haughty shit right there.

I tried putting my first initial with my last name, we'll see how that goes. I don't want people being able to search my name and find me on any social network, because I like to have a separation between my personal and work life. This name policy makes me feel like I can't. I don't like that. It's also unacceptable for the position that it puts people who are
in early transition/ can't afford legal transition costs in. I know they've been called out over this, and had employees leave over this issue...but it hasn't changed a thing.

I had hoped that G+ would be a good alternative to Facebook.

Is Martin your husband's last name?

Random question- Do you remember The Rev. Steven Leyba?

i dropped g+. again.

1. i never could find any use for it.

2. it kept eating my circles (that sounds naughty LOL)

The G+ policy seems to be very willy nilly. Google doesn't seem to have any problem with the fact that I'm using my nickname and not my legal name, but I know other people who have had that problem.

You know, fuck Google +.

I don't know anyone who has tried it who likes it and, let's be honest, any situation where you can't go by your preferred name is a situation be be avoided.

Seriously, I've been "Bart" since kindergarten, I'm not going to suddenly become Barolome-Jean again just for the Google + gods.

Plus, if Marilyn Manson signs up do you think they are going to make him call himself "Brian Warner?"

You are Poppy. You are cool. Whether you are on Live Journal or Facebook or whatever there are going to be people who think you are cool - so why waste time trying to make "circles" on Google + while handing them a shitload of private information and not getting to decide what you want to call yourself.

Yeah, fuck google + without the lube.

sup Billy

I've had a google email address for years, so signing up for the + wasn't a big deal. I'm not too wild about google's wanting to know EVERYFUCKINGTHING about me in the process, but I guess that's just the way it is these days. or i'm just getting old.

anyways, glad you're happy. :)

"I'll just say that for the first time in as many years as I can remember, I am (A) happy most of the time and (B) grateful to have a body despite the fact that it often causes me pain."

Very good to hear!

Been there.
Doing that.
Five years on, no regrets.

gairid said upthread pretty much what I wanted to say. Though we don't know each other personally, it gladdens my heart to hear that you are so much happier. <3

It is so good to hear you being HAPPY.

That last sentence up there makes me really happy to read. Good news!

And name changes, via the court, can be a lot of fun. As a teacher told me years ago about why she changed her name: "I did it because I wanted to have a name I have something to do with as I am now, instead of the one slapped on my ass at birth."

I will think of you from now on as one of Mr Bradley/Mr Martin. The second, natch.

' I'll just say that for the first time in as many years as I can remember, I am (A) happy most of the time and (B) grateful to have a body despite the fact that it often causes me pain.'

And that is truly wonderful to read! :)

so happy to hear that you're happy.

and also: google+ is actually pretty awesome so far. So much better than facebook.

FWIW, I didn't have any trouble signing up with my name.

I'll just say that for the first time in as many years as I can remember, I am (A) happy most of the time and (B) grateful to have a body despite the fact that it often causes me pain.

SO MUCH YAY

1) As for happiness and such, this makes me incredibly happy to read. We worry about you a lot, Doc.

2) Changing name - no major hassle at all, but the followon can be brutal, e.g. you get a name change order, but then have to change passport, DMV bank, etc. etc. info.

3) Google+? I can send you an invite. If they kill your account, meh, someone here will send you another invite and you can try again. :)

In addition:

you can go either way -

go with Google+ as PZB and have some kind of "badge" http://www.techieapps.com/google-unveils-verification-badge-service-to-recoganize-public-figures-and-celebs-added-in-your-circles/ which I think would be nice. A lot of "@RealSOMEONE" accounts that aren't.

OR

I'll keep an eye out on Google+ for Billy Martin :)

I am (A) happy most of the time and (B) grateful to have a body despite the fact that it often causes me pain.

Reading that made me feel so happy for you.

Very happy to hear all this