Just askin' - what do you think of...

[musttidyupmusttidyup]

Dre

And it's nothing like Madonna, ffs. Dre is a fairly common name (though usually a NN) - certainly in East London where I live.

Just because the only Dre you've ever heard of is an American rapper, just like the only Madonna you've ever heard of is an American singer (apart from that other virgin-birth one) doesn't mean that is true of everyone. I can't believe this needs spelling out.

You know, I love Mumsnet. But on threads like this i wouldn't even try to defend it from accusations of middle class, white snobbishness.

Go banana phone.

Ummm, I've never met or heard of a Madonna or a Dre apart from the Madonna and the Dre. So for me it is the same. (14 years of convent education so it's safe to say I've heard of Jesus' Mother but as we're talking about pop culture here . . . . )

Obviously I'm only talking about my own experience, people I've met. I would have thought that was obvious. Can't believe this needs spelling out.

So do not accuse me of being racist when you know not the first fucking thing about me.

Yes. which is why I italiised the "you've". And then went on to say that it's not the same of everyone.

In other words, your assumption that your own experience is universal isthe epitome of white privilege. So for that matter, is being defensive and refusing to own it when you're called on it.

Read this thread again. Let go of your Ican'tbelieveI'vebeencalledaracist outrage for a moment and just read it. You really don't see the barely disguised subtext?

"as in Dr Dre? Not really, a bit too 'rappy' for me"

"Maybe he'll aspire to enter the medical profession as he grows. I have heard of it actually. In 'merica"

"I think it is awful - trying too hard to be American rappers"

"Perfect name if he turns out to be a Doctor."

Yuh, totes no race or class prejudice going on on this thread, is there? Fucking hell.

Banana I spend hours on baby names objecting to comments like chav and I can't stand some of the snobbery on here.

But to say dre, or snoop dogg or whatever sounds like a rappers name, when the majority of us have only ever heard it associated with a rapper is being snobby and racist is a bit of a leap tbh.

I thought of dr dre. Same as if it was emeinen or professor green!

Anyway op I think it could be a good nickname as well

It's very short like al or ed for eg so it would be nice to have a longer name so you can get dre or other options.

Banana I did not intend for this to be offensive and I'm sorry that you've taken it that way. Surely there must be names that you hear and are surprised by? I am surprised to hear that this is not an uncommon name in some areas - but I assume (and am aware that I might be wrong again) that it is a relatively new phenomenon (not as a short for Andre) and ties in with the popularity of Dr Dre? Therefore the assumption that the little Dre's are as a result of this is not the wrong assumption to make?

No. No it's fucking not.

Because Eminem is a made-up name riffing on a packet of sweeties. And Professor Green is a made-up name riffing on a title and a surname.

I can't belive this, I really can't.

Dre is actually a fairly commonly used name in this country - at least the part of it I live in. Who are you talking about when you say the 'majority of us', anyway? How on earth do you know that most people here have only ever heard the name Dre used with the prefix Dr? Again, it's the epitome of white privilege to assume your own position as the norm.

I think Dre sounds pretty cool actually, but if ds came home from school and spoke about a mate called Dre, I would assume he were black, like his friends Denzel, Dante, Tyreece, I knew they were black before I met them, just like I knew his mates Abdul, Hamid and Mohammed were all Asian, I guessed his mates Jack, Alfie and Patrick were white, they are, nothing wrong with saying a type of name sounds black/asian/chinese.........My theory goes out of the window though when I go into my local post office, the men there are all Pakistani, but are called Charles, Paul, and Patrick!

I think BananaPhone has jumped so high to conclusions here, they have missed and landed in another thread.

Scratches head and wonders how this is racist AT ALL

Again, it's the epitome of white privilege to assume your own position as the norm.
Not making too many assumptions there yourself then banana

I do know a little Dre actually, as far as I know his parents arent Dr Dre fans, wouldnt have crossed my mind to ask tbh...

Yy thedetective

I was referring to the us on this thread that you are calling racists banana.

I am not so self important that I think my experiences encompass the whole world.

Different names are popular in different parts of the country. Just because I havent come across a Dre in my life apart from dr dre dosent make me a colossal racist bastard.

Alright.

Banana, I couldn't agree more.

I'm not very white, def not privileged

I've just had a squiz and it says it's s shortened version of a Andreas meaning manly.

With a Greek origin originally.

Interesting.

Sorry but it's awful. I would cringe every time I read it out on the register. Andre would be lovely though.

Banana Do you ever think your own view of the world is very Londoncentric? Life exists in the far flung provinces too you know. I?ve met a lot of babies, never heard of a Dre. If people's only experience of the name Dre in relation to Dr Dre that doesn?t make them racist. And in that case the ?Doctor? joke is an obvious if rather weak one to make.

I certainly don?t assume that my ?own experience is universal?. I have a brain, I realise that my experience is just that, mine. I know there?s a big world out there even though I may not have seen most of it.

The baby name threads on MN can be pretty ferocious, ?too chavvy?,? too posh?,? too try hard? are thrown around all the time. It?s not for the faint hearted. Someone recently wanted to call her daughter Persephone and was torn to pieces. And as for your assertion that people are supportive of name like Millie, that?s just not true. Lots of people have very strong views that abbreviated names are Not The Done Thing. Some think it is child cruelty to give your child a name other than something that can befits a QC/Surgeon/Show Jumper whatever. And no, I don?t agree that a name can hold a person back professionally.

I know there is a strong ?anti Chav? element on these boards. Britain is the only country (in the most part) that has ?chav? names. I?m not British so I don?t get on board with that. There are loads of names I hate but it isn?t usually because I?m peering down my nose disapprovingly of someone?s socio economic status!

It's an unusual name in many parts of the uk and dr dre is very very famous.

That's all.