Top 5 terrible names

[periselene]

Boys Monty Colin Humperdink Reynaldo Junior Girls
Ellie
Millie
Molly
Lily
Polly

What are yours?

[BouncingTurtle]

Right have read the thread properly.

I agree with Slub. Unless we all agree on every single thing, then we are bound to upset and offend someone.
If you are someone who is easily offended by criticisms of your dcs' names, then you really should avoid this topic.
We are all entitled to our opinion and we should be able to state it without fearing we are going to offend someone.

Apologies if I offended anyone here btw!

[BouncingTurtle]

Actually 'stating our opinion' obviously excludes stuff which is openly racist/homophobic/sexist etc., etc.!! There are lines which should not be crossed!

[Slubberdegullion]

errr that's not really agreeing with me Turtle, but that's OK.

[BouncingTurtle]

Actually 'stating our opinion' obviously excludes stuff which is openly racist/homophobic/sexist etc., etc.!! There are lines which should not be crossed!

[BouncingTurtle]

Oh bloody hell you are right

I'll shut up now.

[Slubberdegullion]

I am specifically talking about the name threads of course. MN would be a dull place indeed if it was without the cut and thrust of a good juicy kick off about....oh you know, the usual kick off subjects. I just don't see how having a load of old argy bargy about names is in any way uplifting or enlightening.

[thisisyesterday]

I don't get the whole stating your own opinion thing.
I have opinions on lots of things, but some I know would cause people upset, and may hurt them, so I don't say it.

this is what I don't understand, this mentality of "we have the right to say whatever we want" regardless of how it makes other people feel.

ffs, people... come on

[LadyThompson]

Thisisyesterday - I thought it didn't really matter with names. I am usually pretty mindful of people's feelings in other topics, but I genuinely thought that everyone would think (as I do) that names are just a personal choice thing, like what sort of clothes you wear or what your favourite colour is. Some of the comments in the babynames topic are quite extreme, but people DO invite opinion and can't expect it all to be positive. However, as I said above, I DO watch what I say in this topic now. I don't actually like the thought of causing actual hurt to people and want to avoid it - even if I think they are silly to care what I think.

[solidgoldbrass]

thisisyesterday: because some people are way too easily offended and it does no good to pander to them, because they simply demand more and more cossetting and rights to censor. I mean, I really don't give a toss what anyone calls their baby, nor do I care what other people think of the name I chose for mine. But wwhen what seems to have been a fairly light-hearted thread suddenly got pounced on by someone wailing that someone else just might be offended and therefore everyone should flagellate themselves and puke with shame etc etc, it did seem worth pointing out that being Hurt or Offended doesn't actually give you more rights than other people, it sometimes means that you (generic 'you', of course) are being utterly ridiculous - or a self-rightous bully.

[LadyThompson]

Well, you're probably right, Hatrick. But I didn't really see it that way at first. I certainly wouldn't criticise anyone's name in RL. I don't change my mind all that easily, but I have a bit on this, I must admit.

[JumpingNASWM]

[LadyThompson]

Well, you're probably right, Hatrick. But I didn't really see it that way at first. I certainly wouldn't criticise anyone's name in RL. I don't change my mind all that easily, but I have a bit on this, I must admit.

[thisisyesterday]

so, solidgoldbrass, if your child DIED. and you then saw their name being ridiculed on a thread on the very site that had previously offered you so much support you wouldn't be a little bit upset?????

you're digging a deep hold here. why not just have the good grace to admit that it's a nasty thing to do instead of trying to defend it??

it's never ok to hurt someone's feelings or to leave people feeling upset. at least, that's how I was brought up.

[solidgoldbrass]

Life is waay too short to go looking for things to be offended about. SOmeone expressing their opinion on a name they don't like or think is ridiculous is not actually making a deliberate effort to hurt the feelings of someone else whose history they don't know about. People of all ages die all the time, but the world keeps turning, and people who didn't know the dead keep on going about their business and expressing their opinions...
And when it comes to hurt feelings: unless someone is setting out to attack you and act with malice, hurt feelings from stuff that wasn't aimed at you in the first place are your problem not anyone else's.

[thisisyesterday]

no, it isn't deliberate, but it happens and that doesn't make it ok!
which is exactly why threads like this are plain nasty

[NotAnOtter]

delighted to see some of my very favourite names on here

[AbbeyA]

I wouldn't mind if my DCs names were on here-I like them which is all that matters! I wouldn't put my list of terrible names because I know from here that they are very popular-so I only mention it if someone asks an opinion.

[Slubberdegullion]

But sgb

"SOmeone expressing their opinion on a name they don't like or think is ridiculous is not actually making a deliberate effort to hurt the feelings of someone else whose history they don't know about."

But that is exactly what happens, feelings are hurt. How could (without being asked for it) proffering your opinion on the hideousness of a name not be offensive to someone who is called, or child is called it.

Names are quintessentially personal. I don't understand how people can think otherwise.

[halogen]

"so ... if your child DIED. and you then saw their name being ridiculed on a thread on the very site that had previously offered you so much support you wouldn't be a little bit upset?????"

But how can people keep up with every single person on MN and their children, whether dead or alive? It's crazy. This is a big place and there are a lot of posters. People don't have time to read every single thread. I've seen my daughter's name on a few threads where people said they hated it (Tabitha in case anyone wants to have a dig - feel free) and it's fine. I don't care. I like the name and I chose it and I don't really give a flying fuck what anyone else thinks about it. If you like your children's names, then good on you and you obviously chose the right names for you and them. And you shouldn't be put off by other people not liking them. I don't see what's to get upset about.

I read the rancid names thread and thought it was quite interesting. I'd have posted my thoughts if I hadn't thought it would just kick off again.

For the record, the only names I really can't stand are made up names and misspelt names. Make of that what you will.

[LadyThompson]

But you know, Slub, some people DON'T mind if others think their name is hideous. I don't. However, I do now see that some people really do, and though I wish they wouldn't mind, I am keeping it zipped, to an extent, because of the people that do. I'm not posting a list of names I think are 'terrible' even though I think it would be harmless, I do see that others might not. But if someone starts a thread saying 'What do you think of the name Marmaduke' (I picked that name at random so don't flame me), I may well tell them what I think as I have been invited to do so. Anyway, off to bed now as I am starting to bore myself...

[thisisyesterday]

oh well that's ok then isn't it. because you don't know, so it's ok to hurt/upset/offend.

if I did that in real life, because I was unaware of someone's history, I woudl apologise to them. and I would feel pretty bad.

it seems that because we're online some people feel that it's ok to do that. it isn't

[Slubberdegullion]

Yes some people do and some people don't, just as I said in my first post

so what?

so what if you don't care?

So you see your DC's name on a 'horrid names' thread and you shrug your shoulders and go "oh well never mind" and potter off and that is that. You have gained or lost nothing. All you know is mner x doesn't like your DC's name

BUT

(and this is where names are interesting)
I'll bet the majority of parents have put some careful thought and consideration into their child's name. Often there are familial or cultural references to their choice. A name says a lot about who you are, and where you come from (and probably where your parents think their DC is headed ). And of course that name goes with your child, it is all bound up with your kid.

SO
(again)

some of us will be hurt if that name is slated

AND
(again)
what on earth is the OP hoping to get out of expressing this particular type of opinion on a large forum?

[still don't get it]