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HelpRe: Smilla
in reply to a message by Jagoda
LOL, I didn't read this before I made my response.
Actually, for me, it's not the childhood bullies. It's that once Smilla is an adult, a lot of adults would probably think it without saying it to her face, but they'd say it behind her back. Not in as mean a way as child or teen bullies, more like a comment, but still.
Actually, for me, it's not the childhood bullies. It's that once Smilla is an adult, a lot of adults would probably think it without saying it to her face, but they'd say it behind her back. Not in as mean a way as child or teen bullies, more like a comment, but still.
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I just think it’s such a non-issue and kind of a cop-out as an answer, honestly. “Oh, there’s an alliterative nickname or pun you can make with this name, best not use it!” I’d hardly call “smelly” a taunt, and in all my years at school and all my encounters with bullies, no one has ever used someone’s name to bully them.
Also, smelly didn’t even occur to me. Like I said, I thought of Bismillah.
Also, smelly didn’t even occur to me. Like I said, I thought of Bismillah.
This message was edited 5/3/2018, 9:19 AM
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When my initial response to a name is, "Ooh, childhood bullies will instantly think of this punny taunt, so I wouldn't use it," what I usually mean upon further reflection is, "My brain instantly associates the name with this punny taunt, so I wouldn't use it." Maybe one is a cop-out and one is more honest, but they both bring me to the same conclusion: this name is not something I would use!
This message was edited 5/3/2018, 1:37 PM
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Honestly, I would rather read “it makes me think of smelly” than “they will be called smelly at school and therefore you shouldn’t use it.” I almost think the threat of your child being bullied is a way of unwittingly playing on a parent’s fears in order to talk them out of a name, just because the person who says it doesn’t like it. But I’m psychoanalysing here.
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I could easily see Smilla being called "smelly" happening when I went to school. *shrug*
I tend to agree with you that most times when someone brings up bullying I think it's a stretch, but with Smilla I did automatically think "smelly" too.
I tend to agree with you that most times when someone brings up bullying I think it's a stretch, but with Smilla I did automatically think "smelly" too.
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But we can't start telling other people the reasons they shouldn't dislike a name. I've always felt that "It's dated" is a cop-out, but when I was put on the spot recently and asked if I thought it isn't a valid reason, I had to admit that it is.
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I think it’s fair to say that something is a cop out. Obviously you can’t make someone like a name but this is an opinion board after all, opinions ON opinions count too... and, for example, I used to use “oh it’s sooo trendy” as a reason to dislike a name, then I realized that was kind of silly, and I don’t have that reflexive “it’s trendy/modern so it’s bad!” reaction anymore.
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Oh, sure, but I still don’t think it’s a very good answer, especially because name bullying doesn’t really happen but people still give it as a reason not to use the name.
This message was edited 5/3/2018, 4:22 PM
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When we give "name bullying" as a reason not to use a name, it's kinda like weasel words admitting that we ourselves would sneer at the name because we associate a word.
It's why I'd never remotely consider using Smilla, or renaming myself Smilla. No way! Would you?
It reminds me of the spoonerism "fart young smella"
It's why I'd never remotely consider using Smilla, or renaming myself Smilla. No way! Would you?
It reminds me of the spoonerism "fart young smella"
This message was edited 5/3/2018, 12:12 PM
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Well I’m not Scandinavian, but if I was, sure, I’d consider it. There are a lot of Scandi names I like but wouldn’t use because I don’t live there.
Can you please explain spoonerism and fart young smella? I think I’m missing something.
Can you please explain spoonerism and fart young smella? I think I’m missing something.
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A spoonerism when you take a phrase and switch the beginning letters around. “Fart young smella” is a spoonerism for “smart young fella.”
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Ah! Clearly I’ve been studying too hard because I was trying to unscramble it and just couldn’t!
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