Homophobia of the computerised kind struck a woman with the surname Gay when a popular social networking website declined her attempt to sign up, telling her to "enter a proper name". "I was pretty mystified," said Rowena Gay, 30, of her rejection by Facebook.com. "I have got used to a few jokes over the years but for a website to deem my name inappropriate - what is the world coming to?" One of the pool of fast-growing social networking websites such as MySpace and Bebo, Facebook helps people keep in touch with friends and share information online. It has 27 million users worldwide, with another 100,000 signing up every day. The London-based Kiwi said the experience reminded her of what her father had faced when he moved to Britain to teach in 2003. "The school asked him to consider changing his name to Mr Gray because the kids here are ruthless." She was eventually able to sign up to Facebook after substituting her middle name, Janette, for her troublesome surname. It is not the first time the name Gay has caused consternation for Internet users. Nelson woman Gay Hamilton was reprimanded by Telecom when she tried to send its helpdesk an e-mail. Telecom replied that her e-mail contained language - her name - that was "not appropriate for business-like communication". The Sydney Morning Herald also has a similar story today - available on the second link below. Ref: Dominion Post, Sydney Morning Herald (m)