|
Your Name is Wrong
One of the names I go by is the result of a system error.
In high school, the roster would cut off letters of long names. Instead of cutting off the last few overflow letters, it did its trimming from the beginning. So, I was often subjected to substitute teachers calling the roll and trying to figure out who in the classroom had a three letter verb for a name.
I actually adore the name it gave me. It’s the primary word I use to think of myself. But WHAT THE HECK? Why on earth did the system cut names that way? It makes no sense. Also, ALSO how can a name be too long? How was the correct length of a name determined?????
In 2010 Patrick Makenzie/patio11 wrote a fabulous article titled, “Falsehoods Programmers Believe About Names.” He lists wrong assumptions systems make about names. The list is fantastic. It both made me laugh and also yanked me into awareness of my own biases, including:
- People have exactly one full name which they go by.
- People’s names fit within a certain defined amount of space.
- People’s names do not change.
- People’s names change, but only at a certain enumerated set of events.
- People’s names are not written in all lower case letters. (If you are looking for a rabbit trail to follow, consider googling “How did ee cummings actually want his name written?”)
- People have last names, family names, or anything else which is shared by folks recognized as their relatives.
- People’s names do not show up in the dictionary of bad words.
- Two different systems containing data about the same person will use the same name for that person.
- People have names.
Working in congregational settings for the past 9 years, I have some additions.
Things That Are True About Your Congregants’ Names:
- It is ok for a single person to have more than one name tag and each one might say something totally different.
- Individual members of a family might have exactly zero names in common with one another.
- The name someone uses in ritual may be different from the name they want you to call them.
- A congregant may want a different name on their nametag than the name they use to receive mail.
- Someone’s name may be determined by a role they take in the community and make it easier for them to perform their role.
- Children sometimes change their name, seemingly suddenly to something seemingly silly. Their reasons are real, their new name is real.
- Including an honorific in a name can be revolutionary to the individual and the whole community.
- Having multiple names may be a matter of safety.
- Using a formal name can foster strong personal connections.
- All of an individual's names might not be for everyone to use.
- Most community engagement does not require knowing anyone’s legal name.
- Your congregant’s name might be a secret! (I actually encounter this fairly regularly among the 3-6 year-old crowd. Big into espionage that gang, and their cover stories can be a wild ride.)
McKenzie’s full article is definitely worth a read. It was originally published on his blog Kalzumeuz and can be found here https://www.kalzumeus.com/2010/06/17/falsehoods-programmers-believe-about-names/
I’m still over here thinking about names,
Tie Resendiz de Perez
An Invitation
Join me on May 29th to connect your congregation to Gathered Here!
This project is growing and our community is taking shape. Come learn the whats and whys and how to get your congregation involved.
RSVP Here: https://calendly.com/gatheredhere-tie/congregation-connections
|