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Subject:Re: Help with fake names issue From:Cindy Daoust <cynthiadaoust -at- gmail -dot- com> To:Kat Kuvinka <katkuvinka -at- hotmail -dot- com> Date:Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:24:49 -0600
No, not from the legal department. I'm contracting on a large
government project and someone who works for my client was told many
years ago to use names that couldn't possibly be real names and is
very uncomfortable with anything else.
The actual eLearning development guidelines for this organization
allow for fictitious names as long as they aren't copyrighted or
famous people.
Just reaching out for alternatives and/or persuasive arguments.
Thanks!
Cin
On 3/29/12, Kat Kuvinka <katkuvinka -at- hotmail -dot- com> wrote:
>
> Where did the objection come from? Ypur legal department? I worked with
> medical software. Our lawyers said you can use real names, like John Smith,
> as long as you do not use real patient data from someone named John Smith.
> We were protecting the patient's identity, not John Smith's.
>
> If you need to use the real data and made-up names, you should also add a
> disclaimer. It is impossible to conceive of every possible name.
>
>
>> Friends,
>>
>> I have been provided with a list of acceptable names to use in a
>> training project that includes things like "Deadlines, Expects Many,"
>> "Flare, Shiny Red" and "Paint, Many Colors."
>>
>> As an alternative, I presented a list of names like "Sarah Bellum,"
>> "Les Payne," and "Jean Poole" (it's a medical application) and most
>> people liked it. But there is an objection that if it could possibly
>> be a name of someone anywhere that it can't be used.
>>
>> Someone pointed out that if Beyonce can name her daughter "Blue Ivy"
>> that nothing can be ruled out for a name. But some are still fearful
>> of consequences.
>>
>> I feel the users will be distracted by these names.
>>
>> Any advice on how to argue successfully in case of a better set of
>> names would be much appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Cin
>> aka "Glass, Empty Water"
>>
>> P.S. Back on the list after a few years off in the non-profit sector.
>> Nice to be back.
>>
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