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Sunday, August 25th, 2024 4:20 PM

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A better explanation when suppressing alternate names

I originally posted this in the thread at https://community-imdb.sprinklr.com/conversations/data-issues-policy-discussions/as-attribute-for-cast-name-of-beth-no-longer-accepted/65d1766b36d43032e5748d3c?commentId=666369067fd5ff6e026b4d39&replyId=66cb0f0679a3546beaf6eb85 but it didn't get much response (and none from the staff), so I am breaking it out as its own idea.

Currently IMDb allows people to suppress their alternate names so those alternate names will be unsearchable and will display with the attribute (as a different name). Col Needham explained that this option cannot be allowed only to certain people but must be made available to anyone in the database with an alternate name, in the following reply:

We would be interested in your solution to the problem in that case; probably best provided on the other thread and in the context of ensuring equal opportunity is afforded to every person and without the risk of misrepresentation or discrimination. We believe the solution we implemented is the only practical one which meets these needs as well as the legal requirements,but do let us know if we missed something obvious.

A reminder that outside of this being the right thing to do in the spirit of the above goals, IMDb is also required to conform to both privacy and equality laws across multiple locations. We must offer this service to anyone who requests it as otherwise that itself could be viewed as discrimination. 

https://community-imdb.sprinklr.com/conversations/data-issues-policy-discussions/as-attribute-for-cast-name-of-beth-no-longer-accepted/65d1766b36d43032e5748d3c?commentId=666369067fd5ff6e026b4d39&replyId=66991c55ff390f78f2b55519 

However, we have seen that this option is used not just by people suppressing their alternate names for privacy reasons.

The option is also being used to suppress name variations such as the inclusion or exclusion of a middle initial or a suffix such as "Jr." or "III", or a partial version of their name (such as a person being credited just by their first name instead of their surname).

I suspect that in some cases, some people may have misunderstood the option to suppress alternative names.

I asked Col to show us what the interface looks like if someone goes through the process to suppress their alternative name(s), and he posted an image that shows that it looks like this:

Note that there is no warning or explanation of what the "not displayed" option implies. 

If someone selects "not displayed", I recommend that they should receive a warning along the following lines:

By selecting "not displayed", you are indicating that the alternate name Col Needham and IMDb should not be searchable in the database at all, and your credit for this title should be displayed with the attribute (as a different nameinstead of (as Col Needham and IMDb).

This option is intended primarily for privacy reasons and would not normally be used to suppress minor name variations such as nicknames, included or excluded middle initials, or partial names. 

Please make sure that you understand the meaning of the "not displayed" option before proceeding.

[  ] Warning understood, go ahead anyway.

I think this might discourage people from choosing the "not displayed" option by mistake.

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