On the other hand, if I had a funny name and I happened to google myself (as people do) I might be a bit peeved to find a thread full of strangers mocking me at the instigation of somebody who knows me personally.
And most regular posters here have posted enough personal information that their alias would be easily penetrable to someone who actually knows them moderately well IRL.
So, y’know, just keep in mind that by posting to that thread you may be doxxing *yourself *to your subject.
It sure didn’t seem so a few posts back:
mmm
If we are worried about zombie jokes chasing away newbies, then this would be even worse. If someone got here by googling his or her name would they be inclined to join?
I think we had a few dozen polls on that and decided no one really gives a flying fuck about it. IIRC some IRL person got his panties in a bunch and contacted the admin because when his kids googled his name the first hit was a SDMB thread that was unfavorable to the faptard. He didn’t want his kids to know he was a faptard.
I agree with the OP, mostly. I have been unable to participate in the unfortunate/funny real life names thread because most of my knowledge of funny names comes by virtue of my job, working in a hospital. If I even mentioned a name of a patient here, I would be in big trouble with my employer for failing to comply with HIPAA laws.
There is the privacy point of the op, which I think has some validity when connecting the name to other information, but there is also another way of looking at this -
Would you be comfortable and feel it is right to go up to one of these people in real life and make fun of their names?
I wouldn’t and would think that someone who did was an ass.
Is it suddenly okay because of a sense of anonymity and distance?
If it is rude to do in person it is both rude and cowardly to do from behind a mask at a distance.
Then move the thread to the Pit, where all things rude and cowardly are acceptable.
A valid point, but I think there is a difference between “At work in my hospital today I was looking after a patient called Hugh Jass” and “the funniest name I ever came across was a guy called Hugh Jass”. I don’t see how the second one could get you in trouble at work, if you haven’t disclosed your occupation nor where you heard the name, because no personal information is being disclosed. Everyone’s name (by itself) is public information - that’s kind of the point of having one.
I also think there is a difference between chuckling at the amusing juxtaposition of someone’s name, and actively teasing them about it. I agree the latter is rude, I think the former can be appropriate in context (though admittedly the owner of an obviously amusing name is going to have heard all the jokes before, so you’ll probably come across as a bore by pointing it out to them). If I had such a name I think I’d try to be the first to mention it and just own it, though admittedly I’m fairly outgoing and obviously others might feel differently.
My initial thought was to agree with the OP, but I looked at that thread, and
“I once met a man named Hugh Jass. That is a funny name” is a fairly benign statement, and surely Mr. Jass knows his name sounds funny.
Congratulations on failing to comprehend those posts and instead substituting your own ideas! Apparently, to you, you’ve achieved your goal!
And if you were trying to convey some sort of message, you’ve failed your goal. My suggestion-At this point you might try doing it differently, or just move on.
I feel like bar for starting an ATMB thread should be higher than “I’m a little perturbed”. Maybe full perturbation should be the standard here.
:eek: Let’s keep that kind of talk in The BBQ Pit, please-Underage children may be reading this thread.
C’mon now, everyone perturbates.
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Some even graduate from occasional perturbation to full on osculation.
Thank Og I wasn’t necessarily trying to communicate with you; no failure on my part here. My suggestion-At this point you might try doing it differently, or just move on.
OMG! You are absolutely right, I been pwned, and You Win The Internets!!.
O.k., moving on now.
Moderating
ATMB is for discussing the rules, not for sniping at other posters. Let’s drop the snark.
Colibri
I encounter plenty of creative names pretty much every day. I would never consider osting first *and *last name, no matter how many funnies it might generate.
First name only, though, I don’t see the harm.
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Ima Hogg was a real person. Contrary to public opinion, however, she did not have a sister named Ura.