the name "meredith", for me, is linked with this rather incredible looking redhead in high school who i wouldn't get more than a very occasional "hi" from. i was the geek, the nerd, the braniac, so anyone who could achieve their popularity based on their looks was not allowed more than the passing "hello" to my type. we all know what high school social structures maintain as law, right? she's the first meredith to come to mind with the mention of the name, but by no means do i prejudge.
this is probably due to my own name. how can you ascribe anything to a name when you've been given one like "thad". not "thaddeus" -- as i've been saying lately, my parents took the "deus" out of it. combine it with my last name, and i'm pretty sure i'm the only one on the planet with this combination (ask kratkrat about the trouble he had with it when he first saw it back in 2nd grade).
my big problem with my monosyllabic moniker is not any value or lack of value that people ascribe to it, but that it's phonetically weak. try introducing yourself over the phone with it 20 times in a day and see how many people get it right on the first try. "pat?" "matt?" "scott?" "no, thad, like thaddeus..." phonetic weakness plus unfamiliarity leads to people jumping in and making you what they think your name is. every so often, i like the slipperiness it affords, but more often, it becomes an exercise in assertiveness.
i've never tried to go by a nickname, though. so that's one societal experiment i can't give data on. my full name, though, sounds vaguely papal. yeah, officer, kiss my ring. bless you. say 20 hail marys and let me on my way.
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Date: 2003-01-04 11:41 am (UTC)this is probably due to my own name. how can you ascribe anything to a name when you've been given one like "thad". not "thaddeus" -- as i've been saying lately, my parents took the "deus" out of it. combine it with my last name, and i'm pretty sure i'm the only one on the planet with this combination (ask
my big problem with my monosyllabic moniker is not any value or lack of value that people ascribe to it, but that it's phonetically weak. try introducing yourself over the phone with it 20 times in a day and see how many people get it right on the first try. "pat?" "matt?" "scott?" "no, thad, like thaddeus..." phonetic weakness plus unfamiliarity leads to people jumping in and making you what they think your name is. every so often, i like the slipperiness it affords, but more often, it becomes an exercise in assertiveness.
i've never tried to go by a nickname, though. so that's one societal experiment i can't give data on. my full name, though, sounds vaguely papal. yeah, officer, kiss my ring. bless you. say 20 hail marys and let me on my way.