09-20-2016, 03:43 AM
(09-19-2016, 09:58 PM)SargeMaximus Wrote:(09-19-2016, 08:56 PM)ShanghaiKiwi Wrote:(09-18-2016, 11:34 AM)Shannon Wrote: My name doesn't work in nickname or shortened versions. It comes off as being disrespectful, and I don't take kindly to that.
Yeah my name 'Brad' sounds (to the Chinese ear) a lot like 'bread' so I get a lot of people calling me 面包 (mianbao) and I'm just like, no, it wasn't funny the first 10,000 times I heard it, and nothing has changed since then. Show some respect. Totally out of tolerance for that one. So I'm with Shannon on this one, don't mess with the name.
I hear you guys.
My name has been the brunt of many jokes till I finally found a way to stop it (basically, don't pay attention to people who do it anymore ). But for much of high school, the only attention I'd get was to bring up the old inside joke about my name. Not cool at all.
I agree with Sarge. If you can, ignore it. Also as Shannon mentioned, most people do not intend to upset when they shorten a name. It may be a habit from where they come. In most West African countries, for example, different tribes have different languages, and they have names based on each ones own language. Because of this, it is common to find people from the same country who can't pronounce the name of a fellow citizen. So, a name like Ikemefuna becomes Ikem, or Olubowale becomes Wale (the rapper). These are just easy examples.
On paper, the names may seem easy to pronounce but remember they are not English names - tonation is VERY important. These names have meanings. You change the pitch and you give the name a complete different meaning - sometimes an offensive meaning. Try shortening or pronouncing a name like "Mumbamebiemenke" (yes, that's a first name).
Confront your problems. Walk away from BS. Seek wisdom to know the difference.