That which we call Donna by any other name would smell as sweet.

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Okay people, what's in a name?

My friend Fiona always hated the name Donna. "All Donna's are lumpy and bitchy," she'd say. "Donna," putting on her strongest, most moronic St Helen's accent. "It just sounds leaden." Now Donna who posts here is certainly not bitchy, and doesn't seem lumpy or leaden either. I also knew a pretty, very nice Donna who was in my English class at school. Sadly Fiona got stuck working on a project with a horrible Donna and retains her Donna-prejudice to this day.

On a slightly different tack, I've just been looking at notes I made whilst interviewing teenagers on Friday. I was checking the name of a blonde, husky voiced type. Laura. "Of course she was called Laura," I thought. Because I've never met a Laura who wasn't a potential sex bomb.

So, names. Important? (Go on, tell me all Anna's are total godesses)

― Anna (Anna), Monday, 27 September 2004 23:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Like most things, it all depends on your personal experiences. Sorry.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 27 September 2004 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)

If I meet someone who has a name that doesn't seem to fit them, it's really hard to remember that name. I may even call them a name which I deem more apt.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 27 September 2004 23:27 (twenty-one years ago)

'Hi Candy'

'My name's Rebecca'

'Yeah I know'

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 27 September 2004 23:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh and every Anna I've known has been a totally sweet and innocent hottie with a darker side lurking underneath.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 27 September 2004 23:29 (twenty-one years ago)

The other night I met a Heather who was nothing like a Heather. It totally threw me.

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 27 September 2004 23:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Bwha ha ha.

I once renamed a girl called Michelle. I called her Claire for a month. It was especialy bad because I was living with her at the time. No wonder she started to hate me.

― Anna (Anna), Monday, 27 September 2004 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

i seem to be irresistably drawn to women whose names begin with K or a hard C. which covers a lot of ground.

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Monday, 27 September 2004 23:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I think of Emily as a name for a really plain, polite, quiet girl. That's totally not me. I like it, though.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Monday, 27 September 2004 23:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Never trust women named Heather. Believe me now and thank me later.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 00:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Be more careful of people who pick ludicrous nicknames for themselves.
Being a Thomas I always, always, always eschewed "Tommy" because I hated it and thought it sounded unbelievably stupid. And I've yet to meet a Tom who let himself be called Tommy (or worse yet PREFERRED Tommy) who wasn't a complete dipshit one way or another.

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 28 September 2004 00:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Dude, my sister is a Heather and even I don't trust her.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 00:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Do you ever get that feeling from a person's email address or AIM chat handle that you already hate them?

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 28 September 2004 00:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm a proper Charlie mind you.

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

but it was only till I went to university that people started calling me Charlie - up until then I'd insisted on Charles because, well, Charlie Brown, Charlie Chaplin etc... But a lot of people felt uncomfortable calling me that cos it's a posh name, so Charlie it was.
Better than Cambridge though - they called me "Chaz" when I studied there - eeek!!!

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 00:22 (twenty-one years ago)

The other night I met a Heather who was nothing like a Heather. It totally threw me.

― Christine 'Green Leafy Dragon' Indigo (cindigo), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 01:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Other names to avoid: Osama, Adolf, Yanni.

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 28 September 2004 01:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha ha ha. TOMBOT OTM.

As for my own experiences:

People who insist on being called "Amanda" are evil bitches, either secretly or overtly. (i.e. this is not applicable to Mandee.)
Renees are of the Devil. Wait. I know ONE Renee who isn't Evil Incarnate, but she's much, much older.
Catherines, Katherines, and other variations of this name are almost all sweethearts and great to have around as friends.
Brittneys (and other variants of the name) are all the unfortunate offspring of slightly airheaded upper middle class folk, cursed with the destiny of becoming future NFL cheerleaders or Hooters waitresses (same difference).
All Julies (and variants) are really, really nice and quiet people. Good eggs.
All Ambers really ARE either former, current, or future strippers.
Monicas I have known have been slightly slow-witted but VERY VERY good people whom I enjoy being around and conversing with.

― Many Coloured Halo (Dee the Lurker), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 05:55 (twenty-one years ago)

My parents nearly called me Damien, and I was always really glad they didn't because there were (I think) four Damiens in my school, and they were all really unpleasant. I'm not sure I've met any Damiens who aren't.

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 06:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Which is worse, Tammy or Tamara? I've never gotten on with anyone with that name.

Our Amber was a bitch with a pushy Girl Scout leader for a mom..

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 06:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I was very nearly named Christopher. They went with Aaron at the last minute. Good call? Dunno, you tell me.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 06:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh dear Lord, Tammy's almost as bad as Brittney. Or Brittany. (I knew a Tammy once. Eh. I had no opinion of her.)

Oh! Yolanda -- I pity any of the poor babies who were ever saddled with this name. How in the world was this ever viewed as a good name? Though personality-wise, all the Yolandas I've known (all of them older relatives) have been really decent individuals.

You know whom I've never been able to get along with? The "Crystal"s. I swear to you, any person named Crystal has either been really unpleasant to me or has had a personality I could never mesh with.

Christines, OTOH, I've (mostly) been able to get along with.

― Many Coloured Halo (Dee the Lurker), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 06:27 (twenty-one years ago)

lumpy and bitchy !

Hmmmm..........lumpy could be my future if I keep drinking this much cola, but bitchy needs some more work.

Helens are the ones to leave me with a bad feeling, none of em so far have been people I would like as friends.

― donna (donna), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 07:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Amanda should always be 'Manda' imo, although that's just cos my best friend is called 'Manda'.
I'm sorry Anna, I don't think I've ever actually met anyone else called Anna, but you have definitely set the precident.
I always hated the name Sarah, mainly because sooo many ppl are called it, but over the years I have met so many different types of girls called Sarah, that I kinda like it now.
When I was younger I had a friend name Donna who was lovely & of course Donna on ILX is always very nice!
Helens are the ones to leave me with a bad feeling, none of em so far have been people I would like as friends
B-b-but that's my middle name. *cries*

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 07:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Pink, you secretly have an EVIL heart!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 07:47 (twenty-one years ago)

:-(

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 07:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Weirdly, all Helens I have ever met have been lovely.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 07:48 (twenty-one years ago)

See!!!! (it's just a shame I have never met Suzy so that I could be lumped into that category!!)

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 07:49 (twenty-one years ago)

People who insist on being called "Amanda" are evil bitches, either secretly or overtly. (i.e. this is not applicable to Mandee.)

so. true.

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 07:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Oooops ! sorry Pink, but it's your middle name anyway so that doesn't really count :-)

― donna (donna), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 07:59 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.cdshakedown.com/0798/donnas.jpg

ergo, classic.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 08:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I wonder why Italian mums don't name their baby girls Lady.

― Madchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 08:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry Pink, but the Helens I've known have all been lumpen, dull-witted conformists. Also anyone with "-ine" at the end of their name, and Ruths (though Ruths can occasionally get out of their Ruth-ghetto).

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 08:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry Pink, but the Helens I've known have all been lumpen, dull-witted conformists.
So it's right then!!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 08:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Donna happens to be the name of my favourite female in the world (second to me mother ah course)

― Jedermann sein eigener Fussball (Dada), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I am inclined to like Hannahs, Annas, Sophies, Emmas, Lucys, Catherines and Sarahs. I would tend to distrust Amandas, Stephanies, Helens, Nickys, Tammys, Susans, Rebeccas (only since Matt's ex though that one) and Michelles.

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Rebeccas (only since Matt's ex though that one)
I have this kind of logical thinking about names too archel!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, most of the others don't even have *that* much logic behind them though... it's weird.

― Archel (Archel), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 09:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I distrust any kind of name discrimination with the singular exception of people who call themselves Something-y, Tommy, Johnny, Bobby, Kenny, Stevey, Stany, after the age of like 10.

Um, it only goes for guys.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

There are no hot Barbaras. Or Barbs.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:29 (twenty-one years ago)

WHAT ABOUT BARBARA EDEN? YOU AHVE NOW BEEN PWNED. BY ME.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Um...not my type. :>

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

But she is a genie. HOw hot is that?

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Timmeh! I agree with Ally, it's hard to trust grown men who call themselves Timmy or Stewie or Ricky. I think Johnny and Bobby are okay though, sometimes.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:50 (twenty-one years ago)

No hot Barbaras?

― Jedermann sein eigener Fussball (Dada), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Am I a potential sex bomb?

― Laura E (laurae55), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:54 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.chocolatefantasies.com/emmanuelleBear.jpg

― Laura E (laurae55), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:54 (twenty-one years ago)

(boom!)

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I distrust any kind of name discrimination with the singular exception of people who call themselves Something-y, Tommy, Johnny, Bobby, Kenny, Stevey, Stany, after the age of like 10.
Um, it only goes for guys.

:-(

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I think of some names as 'fat', I've always thought of the name Pamela unfailingly belonging to a fat girl, and Donald reminds me of a chubby red faced guy.

I think it's because the first two people I met with these names (in my primary one class) were both overweight.

Most of the Pamelas and Donalds I've met over the years tend to err on the plump side.

And Simon is a geeks name. A Star Trekky, bespectacled, asthmatic who reads sci-fi books with pictures of dragons and big-boobed barbarellas on the cover.

― Rumpy Pumpkin (rumpypumpkin), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 11 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Early Stanwyck, anyone?

http://classicmoviefavorites.com/stanwyck/stanwyck.jpg

― Michael White (Hereward), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 16:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Yowzah!

― Jedermann sein eigener Fussball (Dada), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 16:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm so annoyed I am an Amanda. I mean, it's kinda true about Amandas -- they are always bitchy and like wear french braids and are into barrel racing. They probably wear Coors Lite jackets and are into teal eyeliner.

There are only a few names that bug me -- namely Jasons and Chads. I pity any nice boy named Chad.

― Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 16:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I mean the funny thing about the name Amanda is that it seems like it's trying to be classy but really it's the most white trash name evah.

― Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 16:44 (twenty-one years ago)

My girlfriend is an Amanda. She's refused the name though, and gone with Maddie (as in Madeleine/Madelyne).

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 16:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I should have done that! Doh, why didn't I think of that first!?

― Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 16:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Mandee's nice though, I had a great cat by that name for 17 yrs.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Mandee is sweet

― Jedermann sein eigener Fussball (Dada), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:06 (twenty-one years ago)

mandee's a nice name, don't be ashamed.

ah man, a friend of mine moved in with her boyfriend whose name is damien. i hope she's ok, haha.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Mandee OTM about Chad. Chad and Brad. ech.
I like Charlie, dog latin, it has that mod Alfie/Archie 60s London quality to it.
I like it when I introduce myself to people and they say "You're not black." Um. Okay.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

And Simon is a geeks name. A Star Trekky, bespectacled, asthmatic who reads sci-fi books with pictures of dragons and big-boobed barbarellas on the cover.

-- Rumpy Pumpkin (the24hrsleepe...), September 28th, 2004.

or writes huge tomes about the history of electronic music, and likes classifying everything into little neat categories and write about their social relevance and how they fit into the zeitgeist...

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Jordan - that's right! But she spelled her's with a Y. I remember that from a different thread.

I've known lots of dogs named Mandee. In fact, when I image google search 'Mandee' several pictures of ponies and dogs come up.

Brad.. well, that's not as bad as Chad. Not nearly as bad. Chad is like in the inner-most circle of name-hell.

I have to say, about the name "Katherine" up thread. I just met a really awful Katherine that bugs the crap out of me. I was surprised, as she was a Kathy, and I tend to think of Kathys as incredibly nice and mild-mannered.

― Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I've always thought Alex is a righteous and upstanding beacon of name-goodness.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

What about Andy? Seems like a different case.

Heh, and why would YOU be asking about that, Oops?

Speaking of the thread title, for a long time when I was younger, I always thought that Donna was a name best suited to hot blondes who drove red sports cars.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Also: I'm not sure why, but I vastly prefer Sarah to Sara.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Ha, Mandee, that's fabulous that you remember that.

I can't think of Kathys without thinking of the Kathy & Cathy secretary characters from Kids in the Hall.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I love the name Donna. I love the name Patti, too. I wish I were a Patti.

I basically like 1980's bitch names: Donna, Patti, Vicki.

― Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't think of Cathy without having "Wuthering Heights" play in my head for a while.
There are some names that are lovely, but forever associated with songs and thus ensure daily torment in school. I am thinking of the girl at my school named Cecilia.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Donna is a great name. I reminds me of a (perceived) snotty bitch who turns out to be actually vulnerable and cool. It always makes me think of Donna Hayword.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:27 (twenty-one years ago)

one of the coolest people i know is named amanda!

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Tuesday, 28 September 2004 17:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Also: I'm not sure why, but I vastly prefer Sarah to Sara.
Totally!!!

― PinXorchiXoR (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 10:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't tend to get along with other Elizabeths. Because they've stolen my name, dammit! Ecch, it's difficult to strike a happy medium between the Victorian-heroineness of the full name and the efficiency of Liz. Most abbreviations are retch-worthy e.g. Lizzie - I shudder.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 10:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I dunno Liz, you seem to strike that balance rather well.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 11:32 (twenty-one years ago)

You are certainly more of a Liz or an Elizabeth than a Beth. Beth just makes me think of Little Women and tedious angelic martyrdom.

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 11:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Or, even worse -- BITSY! My grandmother is an Elizabeth and I've never understood why she goes by BETTY.

― Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 12:17 (twenty-one years ago)

http://pinkrabbitsays.typepad.com/photos/february_04/mandee.jpg

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 12:20 (twenty-one years ago)

That's not really flattering to our Mandee, Mark.

― Allyzay Science Explosion (allyzay), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 12:47 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah isnt it a store full of retail slut gear?

― Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 12:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I have no idea, I'm English. It's your name it lights, I just thought it was cool.

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Ive gone on the record saying that Im gonna name my kids Barbie and Duke. You know.. just to see what happens.

― still bevens (bscrubbins), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 16:29 (twenty-one years ago)

The Kens of this world might see that as a missed opportunity.

― Madchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 16:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Penelope ain't no fun, that's for sure.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 17:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I think the main reason I want to go through with this plan is to sire the first goth ever named "Duke."

― still bevens (bscrubbins), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 18:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I've yet to fulfill my ambition to date a girl whose name starts with the letter V. Vicky, Veronica, Vanessa, Velma ... just drop me a line, babe.

― briania (briania), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 18:34 (twenty-one years ago)

What about Elizabeths that go by Lisa? I knew one of those.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:31 (twenty-one years ago)

My older sister was always trying to shorten my name in a better way than "mandee"-- I remember her called me "amda" for a bit. That was stupid.

Aaron, have you considered being RON?

― Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, but I dunno if that really fits me.

Amda sounds like a fraternity: Amda Amda Amda

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Jeremy || Coomb5 has always been shortened in the following ways

JC <-- I chose this when I was 9
Jay <-- I chose this when I was 11-14, 18-20, and my parents call me this.
Jer <-- My sister's name for me
Jem <-- People who are very, very close to me only.
Jerms <-- My friend Meg and her sister are the only ones who call me this
Remy <-- I haven't gone by this yet, but I wanna start. It's sorta cool sounding.

― {Sand in the [vaseline} on the lens] (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

starting right here, I think.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:39 (twenty-one years ago)

It makes me think of a fine Cognac.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:39 (twenty-one years ago)

What about Elizabeths that go by Lisa? I knew one of those.

I work with one. Spelled Elisabeth, though.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:41 (twenty-one years ago)

My initials actually spell out AHZ = OZ
CALL ME OZZY!!!!!

(don't really do this plz)

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I was going to ask this exact thread today.

On the cover of a mag I do stuff for I saw "STUDENT GUIDE BY BERNIE DIVI**Y" and I thought "anyone who was brought up by people who called their child Bernie is bound to be a conservative".

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I just discovered that my co-worker is naming her unborn child RIDER. Poor kiddo :(

― Towelette Pettatucci (Homosexual II), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:59 (twenty-one years ago)

for some reason my landlord thought my name was liam. thats about half of it...

― still bevens (bscrubbins), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 20:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I used to call my friend Aaron "Double A Ron" sometimes to piss him off.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I've never met a Laura who wasn't a potential sex bomb.

I've dated two Lauras, one of whom was kind of a sex bomb, yeah; the other not so much, though who knows, maybe it was me. I can think of another Laura who seemed like a potential sex bomb, but I cannot personally attest.

In re diminuitives, a writing professor of mine used to rail against the name Tammy, not uncommon in the South, where the school in questions was located. "Can you imagine," he used to marvel, "a 60-year-old woman named Tammy?"

All that said, I work with an Anna, and she rocks.

― Formerly Lee G (Formerly Lee G), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Or "in question."

― Formerly Lee G (Formerly Lee G), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

eleven months pass...

I've been watching Ball of Fire with Barbara Stanwyck and, of all the threads that mention her, this is the one I chose to revive. Seems to feature the origin of the name Remy.

― k/l (Ken L), Sunday, 4 September 2005 01:16 (twenty years ago)

Although the truth be told, in addition to being based on Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, Ball of Fire is kind of a lamer version of The Lady Eve.

― k/l (Ken L), Sunday, 4 September 2005 01:38 (twenty years ago)

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