Comments on: infinite regression

By: billyjoelfan

billyjoelfan — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:31:50 +0000

I can relate to how you feel about your name. My childhood nickname ended in an ‘e’, so for the same reasons that Cop Car outlined, I went back to the non-diminutive form of my name so that my career prospects will get better. My sociology professor made a point of telling his female students that no one would want to hire us if we sent in resumes with names like Nancy, Katie, or Kristie at the top.

By: fletch

fletch — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:28:43 +0000

As a young Jimmy that became an old Jim, and was always officially a James, I can emphathize. I made the mistake of applying for a Social Security card at a very young age with the name Jimmy in order to open a savings account. I’ll probably never get it straightened out with the SSA and that savings account many years ago will cost me a fortune in time if not money.

By: Robert Paterson

Robert Paterson — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:29:17 +0000

Fred(die)

My Nanny called me Robbie – it is my all but secret love name. I was called Robert in corporate life and when my wife is cross with me she too calls me Robert.

I am known as Rob now – but Robbie remains the name that I wish one or two I love the most to call me – I know that if my dog could speak that is what he would call me

Traditional cultures know that names are important and that one name is not enough.

My Godson is now Fred but when we was young and sweeter I called him Freddie. Maybe when he is really gown up – he won’t mind me calling him Freddie again – if I should live that long

By: Doug Thompson

Doug Thompson — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:38:16 +0000

Oh, how our names evolve. I was “Bill” or “Billy” for part of my youth because my first name is “William.” But when I entered high school, there was already a Bill Thompson so I started going by Doug. The rest is history. If someone yelled out “hey Bill” now I wouldn’t even turn my head.

By: kenju

kenju — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:58:42 +0000

Oh, were you missing your lost youth? I know that feeling. My nickname ends in the ‘e’ sound and I have always preferred it to my proper name. I can see how it would bring a feeling of nostalgia to you, though. I would only want to be young again if I could retain my learning up to this point.

By: Cop Car

Cop Car — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:24:25 +0000

In general, the addition of a long-e sound to a person’s name produces a diminuitive form. Thus, as a feminist, I have long lamented the over-use of women’s names ending with a long-e sound. Somehow, it doesn’t seem “appropriate” for a man’s name to end with the long-e sound. Such endings (in my mind’s ear) should go away with short pants!
That said, it is certainly understandable how you could become nostalgic upon hearing your childhood name. Bittersweet.

By: Gin

Gin — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:05:45 +0000

Oh, how I can relate. I can date friends by what they call me. My mother and all her friends called me Virginia Ann, always both names. My school friends dropped the Ann and called me only Virginia. When my circle of friends became artisans, they morphed my name into Gin. A few of them, all males for some reason, call me Ginny. But unlike you, I cringe when I hear Virginia Ann or Virginia, most likely because I didn’t care much for the person those names represent. I’m far more at ease with the person Gin has become. But you are so right that first-named-person cannot be called back. In my case, I’m glad.