Even if you've never used your real name on a particular social network (common enough on myspace or flickr), Spokeo will use your e-mail address to find your real name on other networks, and then tie your real name to the data that used to be anonymous.

And to your Amazon wishlist.

And to your fan pages on facebook.

And to your photos on myspace and flickr (including photos of your children).

And to your phone number.

And so on. And it will not be subject to any of the “block user” options on the social networks that the data is being pulled from. This is a cyberstalker's fantasy. And there's no way to get off the site. (If you try to get them to remove your name using the link tim128 suggests, they'll actually harvest your e-mail. People will no longer be able to search for you for free by using your name, but they'll actually be able to get more data about you by using your e-mail.)

Harrison Tang himself (the CEO) appears to have had a bit of a stalking problem on Xanga (Check out http://twhman.xanga.com/522201373/almost-done-w… and read the comments responding to his private messages)

Basically, these guys are beyond creepy or socially inept. They're psychopaths.

So call your congressman. His home phone number is probably available on the site.

As for Disqus, popularity is based on if people use the little arrows next to your icon to rate your comment “up” or “down”. You start out at one but if a bunch of people click the up-arrows on different comments, the number gets bigger.