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Help[Opinions] I agree with most of your points, but... (m)
in reply to a message by Lillian
I felt the need to "deconstruct" a couple of things in your post.
First of all:
Sixth, your own posting name is FairyGirl. Why is it not Emma, if you so despise the use of unusual names? Is it okay for you because you're not a celeb?
There's really no comparison between a posting name and a real, legal, given name, so this point really weakens your argument.
Second:
Finally and most importantly, what the f*k is so great about everyone having the same hundred names?
You talk about assumptions, and yet here you've made one yourself. Nowhere did she suggest that everyone should have "the same hundred names." She never said that every unusual name is a bad name. There is a huge middle ground between popular names and off-the-wall names like Apple, which wasn't even considered a name until Gwyneth Paltrow used it.
---
Friendship is more lasting than love, and more legal than stalking.
-Jane, Coupling
First of all:
Sixth, your own posting name is FairyGirl. Why is it not Emma, if you so despise the use of unusual names? Is it okay for you because you're not a celeb?
There's really no comparison between a posting name and a real, legal, given name, so this point really weakens your argument.
Second:
Finally and most importantly, what the f*k is so great about everyone having the same hundred names?
You talk about assumptions, and yet here you've made one yourself. Nowhere did she suggest that everyone should have "the same hundred names." She never said that every unusual name is a bad name. There is a huge middle ground between popular names and off-the-wall names like Apple, which wasn't even considered a name until Gwyneth Paltrow used it.
Friendship is more lasting than love, and more legal than stalking.
-Jane, Coupling
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Replies
My argument is NOT weakened
There is a VERY strong argument to be made about the difference between real names and posting names, and it's a shame if you don't get it. We all know that 99.9% of people's names are chosen for them at birth by their parents. Whatever FairyGirl's real name is, I would bet large sums of money that she did NOT choose it herself. By contrast, posting names are chosen by the persons themselves, specifically for the sole purpose of representing oneself to the world. FairyGirl is an awfully flighty name to CHOOSE, for someone who doesn't like "stupid" and "daft" names.
Also, the tone and language FairyGirl CHOSE shows a very strong and clear dislike and disdain for unusual names (do I need to write "stupid" and "daft" again?). To begin with, she feels strongly enough about it to have to write the post at all. She used the absolutes "always" and "will" to describe total strangers' behavior, experience and motivation. "...they will be teased...will obviously change it..." I did not assume or imagine it; it's very obvious how she feels.
And I did not make an assumption about FairyGirl wanting everyone to use the same hundred names, I was expressing my OWN opinion about the seeming constant chatter on this board regarding other people's name choices being "stupid" or "daft" or "highly offensive" (as Adonai is, evidently, to Jews, like that should make a huge difference to someone who is not Jewish). It very often sounds as though many, many people here wish everyone on Earth would restrict their choices to what we BtN posters like. And I can't STAND some of the names other BtN posters like!
I am GLAD Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their baby Apple. I perceive it to be everything they think it is, sweet and innocent and poetic. And that is my OPINION. FairyGirl is entitled to her OPINION, too. And I can even have the OPINION that her OPINION is "stupid" and "daft." And YOU can have the same OPINION about ME, you are entitled to it as well.
There is a VERY strong argument to be made about the difference between real names and posting names, and it's a shame if you don't get it. We all know that 99.9% of people's names are chosen for them at birth by their parents. Whatever FairyGirl's real name is, I would bet large sums of money that she did NOT choose it herself. By contrast, posting names are chosen by the persons themselves, specifically for the sole purpose of representing oneself to the world. FairyGirl is an awfully flighty name to CHOOSE, for someone who doesn't like "stupid" and "daft" names.
Also, the tone and language FairyGirl CHOSE shows a very strong and clear dislike and disdain for unusual names (do I need to write "stupid" and "daft" again?). To begin with, she feels strongly enough about it to have to write the post at all. She used the absolutes "always" and "will" to describe total strangers' behavior, experience and motivation. "...they will be teased...will obviously change it..." I did not assume or imagine it; it's very obvious how she feels.
And I did not make an assumption about FairyGirl wanting everyone to use the same hundred names, I was expressing my OWN opinion about the seeming constant chatter on this board regarding other people's name choices being "stupid" or "daft" or "highly offensive" (as Adonai is, evidently, to Jews, like that should make a huge difference to someone who is not Jewish). It very often sounds as though many, many people here wish everyone on Earth would restrict their choices to what we BtN posters like. And I can't STAND some of the names other BtN posters like!
I am GLAD Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their baby Apple. I perceive it to be everything they think it is, sweet and innocent and poetic. And that is my OPINION. FairyGirl is entitled to her OPINION, too. And I can even have the OPINION that her OPINION is "stupid" and "daft." And YOU can have the same OPINION about ME, you are entitled to it as well.
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I'd take exception to the statement the "posting names are specifically chosen for the sole purpose of representing oneself to the world." not really, or, not always. Some are chosen to avoid using one's actual name, as is prudent in a public forum.
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Of course sometimes to avoid using one's actual name
That much is obvious. However, I stand by my original statement. I haven't noticed anyone using their IP number as their posting name. THAT would be true anonymity. People CHOOSE their posting names, and they do not do so in a vacuum, whatever reasons they may have.
Are you saying that people choose their posting names randomly, and that posting names do not reflect who people are inside (regardless of RL identity), nor how they wish to be perceived? Because that is my very point. What does Tassiegirl mean to you? How do you wish the world to view the poster Tassiegirl? Do you suppose the world would view you differently if you posted as something else? [These are rhetorical questions, btw.] I submit that posting names are very much reflections of us, and most people consciously realize that.
I would fully expect to be vilified if I posted as, for example, "Satanchick," and again thought of very differently if I called myself "Angelbreath" or something. That's all I'm saying. FairyGirl chose her posting name, and it's fine, if flighty, as I said. Even flightiness itself is fine. But her attitude seems overwrought and, given the nature of her posting name, tinged with hypocrisy. That is my opinion.
~Lillian~
Proud daughter of Ann and John
Proud sister of Lauren and Leah
Proud wife of David
Proud mother of Alexander, Scarlett, Sophia, and Gideon
That much is obvious. However, I stand by my original statement. I haven't noticed anyone using their IP number as their posting name. THAT would be true anonymity. People CHOOSE their posting names, and they do not do so in a vacuum, whatever reasons they may have.
Are you saying that people choose their posting names randomly, and that posting names do not reflect who people are inside (regardless of RL identity), nor how they wish to be perceived? Because that is my very point. What does Tassiegirl mean to you? How do you wish the world to view the poster Tassiegirl? Do you suppose the world would view you differently if you posted as something else? [These are rhetorical questions, btw.] I submit that posting names are very much reflections of us, and most people consciously realize that.
I would fully expect to be vilified if I posted as, for example, "Satanchick," and again thought of very differently if I called myself "Angelbreath" or something. That's all I'm saying. FairyGirl chose her posting name, and it's fine, if flighty, as I said. Even flightiness itself is fine. But her attitude seems overwrought and, given the nature of her posting name, tinged with hypocrisy. That is my opinion.
~Lillian~
Proud daughter of Ann and John
Proud sister of Lauren and Leah
Proud wife of David
Proud mother of Alexander, Scarlett, Sophia, and Gideon
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I don't "think" having a posting name such as FairyGirl and disliking unusual names such as Apple (which I personally think is one of the worst (most "stupid") names that I have heard) is hypocritical. If she changed her given name from Lillian to FairyGirl (just an example I don't know what her name is) then you could call it hypocrisy. Also, I know in many of the classes I have been in a "regular" person named Apple would most likely be made fun of (or asked about their name often), but if someone wants to name their child something stange go ahead. Someday, if the child chooses they can change it. Also, it was just someones oppinion yet you "appeared" to be extremly upset about it why? Your children don't have unsual/strange names in fact they seem quite genaric except for Gideon which I haven't heard too often. Oh, and just so you don't call me a hypocrit I am not upset about your post I just thought it was kind of funny that FairyGirl's post was such a big deal.
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I would not
call you a hypocrite, I have no reason to. I did not call FairyGirl a hypocrite either. I said her attitude is overwrought and tinged with hypocrisy, and I still think that. I was not "upset" by her post, I merely differed with her. Did you happen to notice her post begins with a question? I was answering it, in my own way.
And no, my children do not have "unusual/strange" names, as you say, yet I defend the right of anyone to choose such a name, be it Apple or Moxie CrimeFighter or most anything else. I have yet to hear a valid reason from anyone why people, celebs or otherwise, should not choose such names, and I grow weary of childish, foot-stamping rants against those who do.
~Lillian~
Proud daughter of Ann and John
Proud sister of Lauren and Leah
Proud wife of David
Proud mother of Alexander, Scarlett, Sophia, and Gideon
call you a hypocrite, I have no reason to. I did not call FairyGirl a hypocrite either. I said her attitude is overwrought and tinged with hypocrisy, and I still think that. I was not "upset" by her post, I merely differed with her. Did you happen to notice her post begins with a question? I was answering it, in my own way.
And no, my children do not have "unusual/strange" names, as you say, yet I defend the right of anyone to choose such a name, be it Apple or Moxie CrimeFighter or most anything else. I have yet to hear a valid reason from anyone why people, celebs or otherwise, should not choose such names, and I grow weary of childish, foot-stamping rants against those who do.
~Lillian~
Proud daughter of Ann and John
Proud sister of Lauren and Leah
Proud wife of David
Proud mother of Alexander, Scarlett, Sophia, and Gideon
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