Goodbye Google+

This morning, I decide to give up on Google+. I used Google Takeout (https://www.google.com/takeout) to backup my data, then I “downgraded” my account (https://plus.google.com/downgrade/) to remove my Google+ information. 

I seem to be back where I was before joining Google+.

When downgrading, Google asked me for some feedback as to why I was leaving Google+. Here is what I told them:

I disagree with your insistence on trying to determine what my name is. I know what my name is. I don’t need Google to tell me. 

If you ever support Profiles on Google Apps, I might try Google+ again on one or more of the domains that I manage, unless I have moved them elsewhere before then.

If you give up soon on your insistence on trying to oversee what I call myself, I might try Google+ again.

Until then, I’m out of here. 

By the way, this whole thing has really soured me on Google as a whole. I had been moving my various business and non-profit domains to Google Apps, under the assumption that “Google is the most stable provider out there.” After having seen the way that many of my friends were treated with access to their Google accounts unceremoniously suspended, I no longer can trust that Google will always be there for me or for my customers. 

You have lost my trust. I will be looking at alternatives to Google Apps for my domains. 

Larry Page needs to make a public apology, fire Vic, end the insanity, and maybe that will restore some of my faith in Google.

Until then, you have clearly become evil.