From: jtgorman@nevada.edu (Heathers Administrator)
Subject: Re: Names
Organization: University of Nevada System, Computing Services
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 09:33:22 GMT

In article <STEVES.92Sep14085828@kuwait.gdfwc3> steves@gdfwc3 (Steve Strauss) writes:
>I never doubted that kids tease each other for reasons other than
>their name.  I just said that when I was growing up, kids teased those
>with unusual names just because they had unusual names.  Sure they
>also teased those with "normal" names, but in my experience it wasn't
>as much.  So why give the other kids extra ammunition?  This is just
>my opinion, which is what the original poster wanted (opinions).
>Maybe things have changed a lot since I was a kid.  Why not ask some
>*kids* what they would think of having a classmate with the name in
>question?

  Kids tease kids.  They still do.  (Well, I was a kid about 10 years
ago...)
  I wasn't really in trouble until about the 6th grade, and I got hell
until high school.  My full name is John Taggart Gorman Jr., and
the name I go by is Tagg, so I'll give you 3 guesses what they called
me, and the first two don't count.
  I was slightly traumatized, but I prefered the profane nickname to
being a "John" or "Junior" or any other bad combination of intials and
parts of words.  I don't blame my mom for naming me this - I blame my
dad.  :)  My mom was unconcious, so she had no vote.  My dad decided
that he would honor himself.  Taggart comes from my maternal
grandmother's madien name, which is decended from O'Taggart, a nice Irish
surname.  Strangely enough, I've met another Tag (from his intials) and
the above grandmother knew a lawyer from which I draw my current
spelling.  (I used to be Tagg, but I figured if I changed it to Tagg,
then the profane nickname wouldn't be valid.  Childhood logic.  Plus,
it's always fun to futher confuse someone who has figured out my name,
by saying, "With two g's, please!")
  I've gotten so used to people not catching my name that I after I
introduce myself, I immediately spell my name.  In fact, I sometimes
spell my name before I say it.  It's really fun at parties when you are
introduced to a drunk person who tries their best to understand what the
hell my name is, but doesn't have a chance...
  I tell you, being a "Junior" is even worse.  Please don't add a Jr.
to your child's name.  It just screws up too many things.  My academic
transcript has my name as "John T. Jr. Gorman", and I believe I have
a couple of other files with various other word orders.  The only good
thing about being a Jr. is when I "forget" the Jr. and "become" my dad.
I've never paid a parking ticket.  They always go to my dad!  :)
  I'm trying the impossible : I'm trying to make my name J. Taggart
Gorman, but how many forms have you seen with "First Intial, Middle
Name"?  Oh, I'll survive somehow.

  Other weird names :
   My cousin, Reagan, a girl.  (Born _before_ 1980.)
   My best friend, Barrie, a girl.  (When we go out to eat and they ask
     for a name, I say "Barrie".  They assume _my_ name is "Barry".  I get
     a kick out of it.  Barrie doesn't.  :)

  And do the world a favor : no more Jennifers, please!

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