I agree. it is bad enough that they are pimping statium names (with Incontinental Airlines Arena, 3Cum Park, and so on).
Greedy SOB’s
The only thing that I hate worse about this, is why didn’t I think of it first.
DAMMIT!!!
Thank GOD for the Quebec civil code. Sure, it might be annoying if you want to name your kid Moon Unit (Unité Lunaire?) but it’s useful if the twit down the pike wants to name theirs Pepsi.
The seller’s name on Ebay: **bigbucks17 **
I think that says it all.
Oh, Gods, please no!
I work for Oscar Mayer which is owned by Kraft.
This is so not cool.
I hereby offer to change my SDMB screen name to any product from any sponsor, for the sum of $1million.
The main problem I have with this is, if they can’t afford to have this child, then why have him in the first place? It’s bad enough that they’re selling him out, but it’s even worse that they’re popping out these kids with no (good) planning. Is Internet World not paying this guy enough? Could he be so dumb that he’s planning his future based on fortune cookies? How can someone so stupid even get a job at Internet World? Do they normally hire complete morons? Soooo many questions.
BTW, did anyone notice the kid Josephine in the CNN picture? My goodness, what the hell are they feeding this poor kid (malted puff balls for breakfast with a gallon of her favorite ice-cream topped with sprinkles and a Snickers bar)? She’s gi-freakin-gantic for a 4-year-old! I say stop feeding her candy and soda and put that money towards a house. On another note, the beginning of the CNN article states, “Instead, the couple are looking for a corporate sponsor…” Shouldn’t they have used “is” after couple rather than “are”?
I nearly choked on my tea when I read that. Very funny.
[hijack] It’s the current vogue to treat a group-type noun (couple, band, tribe, etc.) as a plural noun. This is of course contrary to all my grammar lessons as a young boy. “Dave Matthews Band are playing at Wesoldournameto Ameridigidynatechnetco Stadium.” Ack! [\hijack]
As for those parents, they are vile capitalistic pimps, but at least they are getting some money out of it. Recently here in the Bay Area a girl was named Silver Ann Blackwell because her parents were Raiders fans. My fiancee knew two guys named Lemonjello and Oranjello, after a certain quavering, artificially fruit flavored meat byproduct endorsed by Bill Cosby.
Actually, I know a very good delicatessen/wine store called “Chas. E.” - perhpas you won’t even have to change ?
S. Norman
I think that it’s genious. Take the money and 6 months later have the name changed. Or simply call him by another name and never refer to his “real” name. Your name is whatever people call you. The official version is almost irrelevant really.
Even if they sign a piece of paper saying that they will never change the kid’s name, there’s nothing to stop the kid himself changing it by deed poll when he reaches the appropriate age.
Names are fluid things.
On a related point, we had a guy here a few years back change his name to “Sidney Harbour Bridge” for charity. Another one had the surname “Booth” and changed is forename to “Telephone” IIRC.
pan
I have nothing to add here, but a bad joke as good as this one needs to be recognized!
Trojan Ward
Stayfree Maxwell
Archer/Daniels/Midland Tarkington
Nonoxyl-9 Jefferson
1-800-DENTIST MacGillicuddy
Viagra Vaughn (actually, I like this one)
Oh yeah, I’ve heard of him: Oran Jello Simpson…
rjr8
Currently the kid’s sisters are calling him ‘zane’ because the parents have had no takers.
Yep, it looks like 2 people have managed to overestimate the stupidity of american corporations.
No, she certainly did not. This is a pernicious urban legend. (See http://www.snopes.com/spoons/fracture/names.htm ). I will write you and your fiancee a check for $100 each if you can provide any documentary evidence of this.
matt_mcl said:
Leaving aside the morality of selling naming rights to your child, why should the twit down the street not be permitted to name his child “Pepsi”?
Because, dammit, it just wouldn’t be the Real Thing.
pan
Sure, if you’re a smart person. But we’re obviously not dealing with someone whose elevator goes all the way to the top.
My guess is any monies would be immediately put into a big kegger, new trashy clothes for the wife, a home entertainment system, a big fat Dodge duelie with a sticker of Calvin peeing on a Ford symbol, and a year off work. Oh, plus $579 worth of Lotto tickets.
Nimrods.
I’m willing to throw in a quarter to name the kid “Unca Cecil.” Anyone with me?
I said that in another thread, Lisa! We should take up a collection to name the kid Unca Cecil Adams…