The malefaction of initials

Some of you may know that Jeremy Markeith Thompson got name-blocked last month, for failing to expand his middle initial in Jeremy M. Thompson.

Some of you may know that L.D. Ulrich was recently edit-blocked.

I have only ever seen him with initials.

The following sequence of edits appears in his log:

User status changed by Quora Moderation.

Quora Moderation blocked Quora User from editing on Quora

Comment: Blocked from editing due to an unverified name. For more information, see Quora’s policy on using real names: https://www.quora.com/Do-I-have-….

#263557002 · Thank · Report · 26 Jun 2017 2:52 PM

User status changed by Quora Moderation.

Quora Moderation restored Quora User’s privileges on Quora

Comment: Unblocked from editing pending review of name change.

#264415158 · Thank · Report · 28 Jun 2017 4:14 PM

Quora User

User name edited.

LD > L.D. Ulrich

#264415159 · Thank · Report · 28 Jun 2017 4:14 PM

User status changed by Quora Moderation.

Quora Moderation blocked Quora User from editing on Quora

Comment: Blocked from editing due to an unverified name. For more information, see Quora’s policy on using real names: https://www.quora.com/Do-I-have-….

#264418496 · Thank · Report · 28 Jun 2017 4:24 PM

If Quora wants initials spelled out, it should spell out its Real Name Policy: Quora’s answer to Do I have to use my real name on Quora? What is Quora’s ‘real names’ policy?“On Quora, you are required to use your real, full name for your account.” If first initials are not acceptable ever, and that is what “full name” means, then a lot of users are already in trouble; and Quora should be using some of its vaunted bot resourcing on initial signup of users, rather than a year in to their posting activity.

If the edit name facility has with the acute risk of instablocking, then some sort of warning should be accompanying the button, rather than reactive bans.

I’ve quoted elsewhere this Greek proverb, with regard to my reactions to Quora shenanigans:

“I’m trying to be a saint. And they won’t let me!”