Copyright Infringement?

[BrassFusion]

I'm not sure what this specifically has to do with gay people, but that's where the story was.

http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2007/04/03/7

Metallica may work as a name for a heavy metal band, but a Swedish couple is struggling to persuade authorities it's also suitable for a baby girl.

Sweden's tax agency rejected Michael and Karolina Tomaro's application to name their 6-month-old daughter after the legendary rock band.

[Msterbeau]

Another dumbest thing ever...

[sinmantyx]

Another dumbest thing ever...

Wanting to name your baby Metallica or having a government body have the authority to disapprove of it?

My own personal answer to that question is: yes.

[Msterbeau]

Wanting to name your baby Metallica or having a government body have the authority to disapprove of it?

My own personal answer to that question is: yes.

Exactly. :-)

[Scary Guy]

Hey if I want to name my kid Fucktard I think I should be able to do so "hey Fucktard come here". Again this is (one of the many many reasons) why I'm never having kids.

Besides I'd have to name her Black Sabbath, because they fucking rule and Metallica hasn't stopped sucking since the early 90's.

[BrassFusion]

thing is, i'm sure you WOULD be able to legally name your sprog "metallica" or even "fucktard" in OUR country.

[Scary Guy]

thing is, i'm sure you WOULD be able to legally name your sprog "metallica" or even "fucktard" in OUR country.

metallica yes, but fucktard I'm thinking not. Someone should probably go find that out.

[BrassFusion]

Who'd prevent someone from doing that? If Yngwie Malmstein can legally make "fucking" his middle name...

[TygerLili]

My high school math teacher swore that he once had a student named "shithead" when he taught in the ghetto.

Go ahead and name your kid whatever stupid, mean thing you want. After they legally change their name, they'll probably come back to murder you for all the teasing they went through as a kid/teenager.

[sinmantyx]

My high school math teacher swore that he once had a student named "shithead" when he taught in the ghetto.

That's a common example used in Teacher Education about uncommon names. Apparently, that particular name isn't completely unheard of, but it's not "shit" (as in poop) and "head" (as in your head)...I think it's Middle Eastern (not sure) but it's not even pronounced "shithead" and has nothing to do with poop on your head. I'm pretty sure it's a surname pronounced closer to "Sha-heed". One of my fellow faculty members actually brought it up to me several months ago, after finding the example to use in one of her classes...you know, to help future teachers not make the mistake your Math Teacher apparently is (and unfortunately is going the extra step of perpetuating a stereotype in his own ignorance).

I guess to make it easier on ourselves we could expect everyone with a name that could be pronounced wrong and/or mean something bizarre in English to change their surnames to suit everyone else.

No more Koks, Fuchers, etc. (poor Germans)...and no more Seamans (poor English)....no more Yangs (poor Chinese)...

I, myself am having a bit of time navigating baby names cause y'all can't handle half of the coolest first names from Norway...Dag, Snorri, etc...just doesn't work over here. So, no naming our kid after really cool famous Scandinavians.

I think there are extremely few parents who would name their kid something vile purposefully (and frankly, I think that's probably the least of the kid's worries if the parents care for the kid that little)...most of the time when we hear names we just can't quite handle---it's really our problem and prejudices. Depending on your culture, language, and social group; a different set of names is going to be appropriate.

[sinmantyx]

One of our Union organizers is pregnant as well and she told me that one of the possible names was "Delilah" and I have to admit, I looked at her like she was crazy.

So, I told her that where I am from that name is actually used as a noun synonymous with a manipulative and evil woman.

"Oh yeah, the Biblical one," she said. It was then when I realized that "the Biblical one" was certainly not prominent in her mind...and that her kid wouldn't be growing up in rural Minnesota.

I'm certainly against any sort of approved list, but I'm led to believe that we are actually one of the few countries that have no such laws about naming. I'm certainly happy about that. Considering the multi-cultural landscape of this country, I wouldn't think that such a list could be agreed upon reasonably well --- and we'd just be oppressing the minority instead of protecting children.

Of course, to deal with simple type-setting issues sometimes it makes sense to have a "legal name" and your real name. My grandmother's middle name on her birth certificate is not spelled correctly...it simply couldn't be. If I ever have a daughter, I'll be waiting for the day when I have to explain (bluntly) to a teacher or two that my daughter is not spelling her own middle name wrong and that the slashes over the o's are actually supposed to be there.

[sinmantyx]

PS: I've decided to try to do some research on "shithead"...just in case it's just as much an urban hoax, myth as "female" (and don't even try to convince me of that one). It's certainly true that many surnames have (unfortunately for the families) been morphed into "offense" words over the years. I'll post what I find out.

Update:

I did a quick nation-wide search for anyone with the last name of Shithead. There is only one such entry: a Marie Shithead in Pheonix, AR. So, either she is the only Shithead that hasn't decided to change her name in the entire U.S. or other Shitheads have decided to avoid pranks by not being listed (no phone number was listed for her either).

There were 21 people listed with the last name of Fuck (which is German, I believe).

[sinmantyx]

Here is an interesting article.

I tend to think at some point, names will become less important in first impressions and presumptions. It will just take time.

One conclusion, was that children with Asian-sounding names were treated better.

So: If I love my child should I call him "Haru", buying into institutional racism; or name my kid something that reflects his family's personal sensibilities and heritage?

Way too fun.

Maybe I should call him Metallica, just because I can?....wait! That's a GIRL'S name. Another study by Figlio is that boys with names that are also commonly given to girls tend to misbehave more often. We can't have that.

[sinmantyx]

OK...I'm having too much fun. Here is what the Kabalarians think:

* Although the name Metallica creates an interest in the deeper aspects of life, we emphasize that it limits your versatility and scope, tuning you to technical details.

* This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses in the heart, lungs, bronchial area, and elimination system.

* The name of Metallica creates a very quiet, practical nature and a clever and inventive mind.

* Being analytical and naturally studious, you are interested in a factual understanding of the mysteries of life.

* Your methodical nature requires that you like to finish what you start without interruptions and also to have everything in its place and properly organized.

* An ability to concentrate could take you into computer programming or accountancy or any work requiring concentration and attention to detail.

* You have, also, a flair for creative expression with your hands.

* You take life seriously and can be easily and deeply hurt and go into moods which can be quite extreme at times, causing much turmoil and unhappiness.

[BrassFusion]

That article's bollocks... I've found that as a teacher there's little I can do to improve the performance of kids who just don't care and almost NOTHING I can do to stem the hard work of the ones that do (not that I try, lol... you get the idea). A teacher has to go to some real extremes of bias to single a kid out to the point that their opportunity is diminished compared to other kids in the class.

It's parenting that determines a child's success in larger part than any other factor. So maybe it's coincidence that some parents who name their daughters "Chandelieria" aren't so good about helping out with homework.

Or parents who name their little boy "Dakota Lane Snyder III" spoil the hell out of him until he feels like he can get away with whatever he wants.

[sinmantyx]

That article's bollocks... I've found that as a teacher there's little I can do to improve the performance of kids who just don't care and almost NOTHING I can do to stem the hard work of the ones that do (not that I try, lol... you get the idea). A teacher has to go to some real extremes of bias to single a kid out to the point that their opportunity is diminished compared to other kids in the class.

It's parenting that determines a child's success in larger part than any other factor. So maybe it's coincidence that some parents who name their daughters "Chandelieria" aren't so good about helping out with homework.

Or parents who name their little boy "Dakota Lane Snyder III" spoil the hell out of him until he feels like he can get away with whatever he wants.

He is an economist. He actually knows how to correct for stuff. He studied siblings over several years as well, to be able to make the most direct comparisons possible. If you don't think a teacher has a strong influence on how children (or adults for that matter) are encouraged; well, that's just not true. It's not the only factor, but it certainly is a factor. With these studies, you also have to realize that they try to find a large sample-space to make statements about general trends...the study is not making a judgment about you personally or me for that matter.

It's not that somehow teachers can magically reverse bad home situations, or should even be expected to somehow manipulate reluctant children into learning. However, studied under an objective lens teachers (myself included) can certainly contribute (usually unknowingly) to institutional racism and sexism because they (like everybody else - regardless of various demographic characteristics) have been socialized to behave in certain ways.

This is extremely evident with gender. More than one teacher has been absolutely horrified when his or her class has been video-taped and the nature of the classroom interactions objectively analyzed. It's not uncommon for extremely well-meaning teachers to give male students much more attention without even realizing it. We're human and what we do does have consequences.

I understand that when I read the names of the next class coming up and see "Princess" and five "Tiffany"s and eight "Ashley"s and a "LaTanya" that, despite myself, I make assumptions about them. That's NOT a good thing. I recognize this fact and do my best to overcome it.

This fits into the famous studies concerning names and resumes.

[Scary Guy]

Who'd prevent someone from doing that? If Yngwie Malmstein can legally make "fucking" his middle name...

Actually it's Johann

[BrassFusion]

well damn... it SHOULD be "fucking..."