Name Prejudice

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Have you ever felt discriminated against, or (whether consciously or not) discriminated against someone just because of their first name ?

Not only through any racially-based motives, but also through perceived non-racial ideas. For example, I have sometimes suspected that being called Darren has helped lump more than a few prospective job applications in the 'out' tray just because some people may think I am what they consider to be "a Darren" - perhaps a Phil Collins-listening, style-free suburban lager lout.

Am I just being paranoid ? Or have you ever experienced similar feelings ? On the other side of that coin, do Tamsins and Lucys make you automatically think "hey, she'll be snooty", and if you are one, has it happened to you ?

― darren (darren), Friday, 13 June 2003 22:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Darren's a perfectly good name. If your parents saw this they'd be distraught. Bad boy!

― Lara (Lara), Friday, 13 June 2003 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)

No, you're right. Darren isn't so good. I like to think I'd never discriminate against someone in a professional context because of it. But see what I said about Pauls here.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 13 June 2003 23:04 (twenty-two years ago)

This is outright lunacy!

― Lara (Lara), Friday, 13 June 2003 23:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I like your friend Paul.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 13 June 2003 23:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, I didn't like your post so I didn't check out the link.

― Lara (Lara), Friday, 13 June 2003 23:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I am not proud of my prejudices. I'm just trying to recognise them.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 13 June 2003 23:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't like Heathers

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 13 June 2003 23:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I love Heathers.

― N. (nickdastoor), Friday, 13 June 2003 23:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha.

I like Tanias.

― Lara (Lara), Friday, 13 June 2003 23:35 (twenty-two years ago)

And Rachels.

― Lara (Lara), Friday, 13 June 2003 23:36 (twenty-two years ago)

The more I hear about the plague o' neds in Scotland, the more I wonder.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 13 June 2003 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

But not Wendys.

― Lara (Lara), Friday, 13 June 2003 23:40 (twenty-two years ago)

And Rachels.

I don't.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 14 June 2003 01:33 (twenty-two years ago)

There have been studies that have shown African-Americans with names like LaToya, Shenquitha, LaShone, etc. will be passed over for jobs but when apply with the same exact qualifications but different names will succeed. evil.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Saturday, 14 June 2003 01:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I always feel like slapping the kinds of people who use forenames as a shorthand for types - Sharon and Tracy are popular ones.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 14 June 2003 10:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Australia has many 'Bevans'.

― estela (estela), Saturday, 14 June 2003 10:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I like Richards, it is a very business like name. When I started my job a few weeks ago they had me down as Richard and I thought I could say nothing and be a Richard, see how it fitted. But my hair is a bit messy and I'd really need a new suit and daily shaving to really, I mean really truly become a Richard.

― Ronan (Ronan), Saturday, 14 June 2003 10:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't like it when people shorten their names (i.e. Steve from Steven, a form of belittlement too often applied to the mastermind behind Eyeball Kicks by the beasts all around).

Some exceptions:

Dave - because both David and Dave are so commonplace, they don't count as real names at all, so what does it matter?

Fred - if under 30, I think Fred would be a great name. So would Frederick, mind you.

Willie - similarly, if not bald, be called Willie. Once bald, revert to William.

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Saturday, 14 June 2003 12:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Fred - if under 30, I think Fred would be a great name

Thankfully Fred Durst is 32. And that twat off BB4 is called Fed.

I deal with a guy at work called Fred. I've only spoken to him on the phone but he sounds v. young therefore Fred is OK for young guys (assuming he's not an old guy with a really young-sounding voice)

Re. Williams, I used to go out with a guy called Bill, which really made him sound like an old cloth-cap-wearing man (he was 25).

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 15 June 2003 11:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Blimey, Ronan. I'd never thought of myself being particularly business like.

― RickyT (RickyT), Sunday, 15 June 2003 12:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't like shortening people's names either, and I really hate it when people do it to mine.

There are certain names I'm less fond of, but this prejudice is mostly based on associating those names with certain people I have known and disliked rather than on a general assumption that all Darrens are lager louts and all Sharons work in Woolworths.

I have never met a likeable Vanessa (apologies to any of you with this name!)

― C J (C J), Sunday, 15 June 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Do people shorted your name often, C?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 15 June 2003 13:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Stop that, you.

― C J (C J), Sunday, 15 June 2003 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

how about online? when I posted under my 'real' name on ILM, I got shouted down regularly. when I became all mysterious and serpentine under this pseudonym, people became less likely to do that.

or maybe I just got better at posting or something.

anyway, I am so not a Matthew it's not funny. I'm Matt, baby, and that's the place to be, just like I'm a Cancer not a Gemini and any horoscope that plugs me in as a Twin is full of shit. I'll shorten me name, and trade astrological signs, and dowhatchIlike.

― Neudonym, Sunday, 15 June 2003 13:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Why N. hates me: revealed at last!

I think of Nicks as sort of charismatic scoundrel types, though I believe that's just based on a few I've known.

I've never really warmed to a Jason or a Brandon, though I don't abjure the possibility.

― Paul Eater (eater), Monday, 16 June 2003 02:07 (twenty-two years ago)

The only people I take an automatic dislike to based on names is anyone named Jeff/Geoff, because I've met four different ones who turned out to be evil assgoblins in one way or another.

― Nicole (Nicole), Monday, 16 June 2003 02:12 (twenty-two years ago)

The name I most associate with people I don't seem to get along with is 'Alex'

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 16 June 2003 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

(and it's my middle name too)

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 16 June 2003 02:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I tend to discrimate against people with the same name as someone I don't really like. Now that is stupid! I hate people shortening my name. I mean, Sarah can not get much shorter!! Close people do call me Sar, but I don't mind that. It's just people assuming that they can do it that i dont like.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Monday, 16 June 2003 10:33 (twenty-two years ago)

I always feel like slapping the kinds of people who use forenames as a shorthand for types - Sharon and Tracy are popular ones.

Irish Neds are called Antos.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 16 June 2003 10:40 (twenty-two years ago)

eight years pass...

I always feel like slapping the kinds of people who use forenames as a shorthand for types - Sharon and Tracy are popular ones.
― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, June 14, 2003 6:35 AM (8 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I feel for ILX aussie chix here

― absolutely better display name (crüt), Saturday, 23 July 2011 22:37 (fourteen years ago)

I only realized recently that having my weirdish name prob hurts me a little bit when I'm applying for jobs

― iatee, Saturday, 23 July 2011 22:44 (fourteen years ago)

probably would help you if you applied to Whole Foods

― corey, Saturday, 23 July 2011 22:51 (fourteen years ago)

haha

― iatee, Saturday, 23 July 2011 22:54 (fourteen years ago)

You'd be surprised how often, with a name like Aimless, that people prejudge me based on that.

― Aimless, Saturday, 23 July 2011 23:06 (fourteen years ago)

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