Are you guilty of automatically shortening people's names??!

[malachibk]

Let's say, for example, that I say "Hi, my name is William".
Do you then reply, "Hey, nice to meet you, Will"?

I have one of those oft shortened names (not William) and as a piece of advice -- when people tell you their names, USE THE NAMES THEY TELL YOU.

I have a good reason why I don't like the "nickname" version of my name and if someone just decides to use it, he/she instantly falls in my estimation of him/her.

So next time I've decided that this is how the conversation will proceed:
"Hi, my name is William."
"Good to meet you Will, I'm Kathy."
"Nice to meet you Susan."
"Actually, it's Kathy."
"OK, Sue, take care."

[Richardo]

1. Not really, mal...

Actually, I do have a tendency to do that. :spank: Our good friend GOPisEvil let me know that he prefers his full name, both syllables. Between him and you, I'll be a lot more cognizant of others' preferences. ;)

[GOPisEvil]

2. Hey Rich...how ya doin'?

Er...wait a second...

[Richardo]

4. Actually, I *do* prefer the short version of my name...

...as long as it's not 'Dick'. :eyes:

:hi: DavID :D

[malachibk]

3. Funny, Richie.

Very funny. Seriously, though, happens to me every day.

[Bill McBlueState]

5. hey, who's that Pirate?

(Sorry to hijack the thread...)

[Richardo]

7. Roberto Clemente

Back on topic - Clemente was tagged "Bob" or "Bobby" by the anglo management and broadcasters of the day and he always hated that. He was very pround of his Puerto Rican heritage.

You can always hijack a thread for a Pirates discussion, IMO. :D

[GOPisEvil]

9. Have I told you I have a "Bob Clemente" baseball card?

1958, I think...I bought it for the sheer novelty.

[Richardo]

11. Yoiks! Was it this one?

I had this one, but it's from the sixties.

Amazing, innit? Wonder if he ever had to autograph one of those...

[GOPisEvil]

12. I'm sure he did.

I'm sure he signed them "Roberto", too.

Edit - that's not it. I'm almost positive it was 1958.

[GOPisEvil]

14. Found a picture!

[Richardo]

15. Very cool...

When they were courting, my Dad took my Mom on a lot of dates to Bucs games at Forbes Field. She's always been proud that she "scouted" Clemente in his rookie season (1955) and predicted his greatness.

It's a cute family story. ("Yes Mom, I'm sure you were the ONLY one to see his potential - we're SO proud of you." :D )

[Bunny]

18. That's so sweet, Rich!

Nice seeing you again GOP! You too Mal!

Later,

bun

[Bunny]

19. What a neat card!

He did not like Bob or Bobby, did he? I still want to get to PNC Park this year, to buy the $80.00 Clemente shirt, that I cannot afford and do not need! But that rarely stops me, it seems...

[GOPisEvil]

21. I totally bought it on a whim.

I just saw it in an antiques mall, and thought it was interesting, because of the "Bob". I've always admired Clemente as a man, too. I think I paid 30 bucks for it. Mine's not in tip top shape, but it's a nice piece.

I keep it with my Bob Gibson card. :-)

[FDRrocks]

6. I usually extend names

I call Jeffs Jeffrey. Matts Matthew. I have no clue why.

[Whitacre D_WI]

8. It shows an astonishing level of presumption.

My name is Steven Vincent Whitacre. My parents called me Vince from the time I was born.

If people call me Steve, I FUCKING WANT TO KILL THEM. "Steven" is fine, after all, that's my given name. But calling me "Steve" implies a familiartity that is OBVIOUSLY NOT FUCKING THERE, otherwise THEY WOULDN'T BE CALLING ME STEVE!!!

It's this sort of presumptive bullshit that makes people think Iraq had something to do with 9/11. Stupid assholes.

</rant>

[malachibk]

10. Wow! I've found a kindred spirit!!

My dad and I have the same name -- so growing up, he got the "nickname" and I got the full version. That's my name. Shorten it, and you're talking to my dad.

Do you correct people? I don't because it always makes me feel like a prick. I seethe instead.

[Whitacre D_WI]

13. Oh, yeah, I correct people.

My dad is Steve. He wanted to name me after himself, but my mom wouldn't hear of it -- so they compromised by calling me by my middle name.

If someone calls me "Steve" (almost always on the phone, too -- first they annoy me by calling, THEN they call me by the wrong name!) I usually correct them:

CALLER: "Hi, is this Steve?"
ME: "I assume you mean 'Steven?'"
CALLER: "Um, yes, Steven Whitacre?"
ME: "Yeah."

Also, anyone who calls me Steve is also MUCH less likely to receive a favorable response from me. I figure if they don't bother to get my name right, they don't really want my business.

[pagerbear]

16. I @#$%#^#@$%#$ing hate that!!!!!!

Me: Hi, I'm David
Mr. Jocular: Nice to meet you Dave!
Me: David
Mr. Jocular: That's what I said. So, Dave, how's it going?

[Loonman]

17. Heh heh, I'm a stinker

him: Hi, I'm Alexander

me: How's it going Al?

him: Alexander!

me: That's too long, from now on you're Al or shithead, take a pick



I love torturng interns.

[Book Lover]

20. Previously guilty as charged

But I am making a continuing effort to stop. Where I grew up, you were never called by your full name, and as my proper name is Mary Kathryn, which lends itself real well to shortening, it was a bad habit that worked itself in conversations exactly like you folks describe. I learned to stop a few years ago when I found out that I was annoying a coworker by calling him Vinny when his name was Vince. I felt about two inches tall when I realized that in the two years we worked together, no one else ever called him Vinny.

[ronnykmarshall]

22. No, but some people do it to me.

I don't mind, but I prefer to be call "Ronny" and not "Ron".

One time (in band camp) this prick was making a big deal about my name. "That's a little kid's name" This was some guy my best friend was trying fix me up with at a club. Needless to say, it didn't happen.