Nicholas,
Thanks so much for a great contribution. I've been contemplating the idea of volunteering with a DC-area immigrant advocacy organization, and your article is just the motivation I need. Also, it's great to read an article from an LGBTQ+ contributor. Of course, it's a non-issue--but at the same time visibility is everything, so thanks for contributing.
I definitely sympathize with Laura E. Kelly. Going through life with a surname that is also a first name can be a heavy burden that never goes away. When I introduce myself to people, I clearly enunciate my full name "Terry Scott" It's always a crap shoot, as 50% of the time people assume my first name is Scott. Perhaps 10% of the time, people think I have a compound first name "TerryScott" I long ago got over the annoyance, as life is too short. Now, when I order a coffee or a meal, and the server asks my name for the order, I just say "Scott". Way too many people mishear "Terry" and when my order is ready, will call out "Harry", "Hairy" "Larry" or lord knows what else. I follow stand up comic Matteo Lane on Instagram. He has a wonderful routine where he recounts giving the Starbucks barrista his name "Matteo" When his coffee was ready, they called out "Potato" and had written "Potato" on his cup. Some times you just have to roll with the flow. BTW, I recently retired from the federal government, where I was employed by five separate agencies over a 38 year career. In every agency, there were at least two other Terry Scotts (I never thought my name was that common, who knew)? The "decent" Terry Scotts would redirect emails intended for me that ended up in their mailboxes; I imagine there's a special place in hell for the "bozo" Terry Scotts who deleted the misdirected emails, rather than forward them to me.
Comments
Nicholas, Thanks so much for a great contribution. I've been contemplating the idea of volunteering with a DC-area immigrant advocacy organization, and your article is just the motivation I need. Also, it's great to read an article from an LGBTQ+ contributor. Of course, it's a non-issue--but at the same time visibility is everything, so thanks for contributing.
Post: Things I’ve Picked Up
Link to comment from March 8, 2024
I definitely sympathize with Laura E. Kelly. Going through life with a surname that is also a first name can be a heavy burden that never goes away. When I introduce myself to people, I clearly enunciate my full name "Terry Scott" It's always a crap shoot, as 50% of the time people assume my first name is Scott. Perhaps 10% of the time, people think I have a compound first name "TerryScott" I long ago got over the annoyance, as life is too short. Now, when I order a coffee or a meal, and the server asks my name for the order, I just say "Scott". Way too many people mishear "Terry" and when my order is ready, will call out "Harry", "Hairy" "Larry" or lord knows what else. I follow stand up comic Matteo Lane on Instagram. He has a wonderful routine where he recounts giving the Starbucks barrista his name "Matteo" When his coffee was ready, they called out "Potato" and had written "Potato" on his cup. Some times you just have to roll with the flow. BTW, I recently retired from the federal government, where I was employed by five separate agencies over a 38 year career. In every agency, there were at least two other Terry Scotts (I never thought my name was that common, who knew)? The "decent" Terry Scotts would redirect emails intended for me that ended up in their mailboxes; I imagine there's a special place in hell for the "bozo" Terry Scotts who deleted the misdirected emails, rather than forward them to me.
Post: What’s in a Name?
Link to comment from August 26, 2023