Google is trying for people to take responsibility over web content. This is a double edge sword, on one side you promote "accountability" but you drastically reduce the openness of the web.
I have mixed feelings about this.

What happens when the second John Smith tries to sign up?

hmm I think they compare ip, country, city...be cause its not important for the web just for google to know the difference. Just a maybe from me.

What happens when the second John Smith tries to sign up?

John Smith1. There, solved it.

I can understand why they want to know who someone is for legal, or illegal use and abuse, but I don't agree with real names being displayed for all to see. Many people value their privacy.

Being forced to use G+ is not doing Google any favours, imho.

I guess it's simple: If we want to use Google's free services we'll have to expose our details.

Google is really getting retarded...

They have lost the war, they should recognize it.

Google developers are all leaving for Facebook, easy to understand why !

Who in this world of scamers and cheaters wants to give his real name to google !

Who in this world of scamers and cheaters wants to give his real name to google !

That's a little harsh, imho. You don't need to be a scammer or a cheater to want to obfuscate a name.

Google is trying for people to take responsibility over web content

I disagree.

Google is competing with Facebook for personalised advertising dollars.

Both corporations only care about your marketing profile.

You are the content.

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