Even though they aren’t actually verifying that “John Doe” is your real name, there has been much hue and cry over Google+ requiring people to use a real names. This is a concern that Google could address while making their offering more versatile and valuable.

I would suggest a tiered system where the current honour system of "please use a real name" users are "Google+", properly verified users are "Google++" and anonymous users are tagged "Google-". These would have overlapping sites, utility and functions that could be mixed and matched to best suit what the user is looking for.

The users and creators inside Google’s social site could have the ability to limit their contact and interaction to the level that best suits them. There is no reason that it couldn’t be as fine grained as you want with some parts open to every level and the adjacent area limited to Google++ or Google-.

Real name policies lead to a far more civil and useful site than the boorish name calling and self aggrandizing BS hammered out by people hiding behind anonymity to say things that they would never say to anyone’s face. There is a reason a lot of sites that allow anonymous posting give those users the nom de plume of "Anonymous Coward". You might try and say that people are more honest when masked but it always seemed to be the mean spirited and destructive few that drive out the thoughtful and constructive many.

Wherever possible I sign up with the closest variation to Clint Johnson and try to include links back this eponymous website.

I understand that there are places and circumstances where anonymity means life and death but that doesn’t mean we need to hide everywhere and at all times.