# Judge Rejects "Obscene" Name Change - wtf? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 29, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666 "2008-06-29T17:36:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/81 "2013-05-03T01:04:49Z")
_whoosh_ ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/82 "2013-05-03T02:26:55Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > So no Weedlord Bonerhitlers? Oh, gracious. Mon pêre did a stint at Harvard, the Biz School natch, with one of the East Hampton Bonerhitlers. Now, I know you’re thinking "Oh, those Bonerhitler lawn parties were ever so diverting, what with the Joffrey performing on their pier, but that’d be Weedlord’s big bro, MessiahDoper. He was one of the Chappaquiddick Bonerhitlers. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/83 "2013-05-03T11:49:50Z")
> [@Frustrated\_Wonderer](#): > > In New Mexico, a judge rejected a mans wish by denying him his desired name. > > Granted, he wanted to be called “Fuck Censorship”, but was not allowed to do so, as the judge was of the opinion that such a name change was “obscene, offensive and would not comport with common decency.” > > Sure, this name is…well, stupid, but I think this case here is interesting when reffering to freedoms in the USA. “Hi. My name is “Fuck Censorship”, but don’r call me “Mr. Censorshhip”. You can just call me “Fuck”” ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/84 "2013-05-03T13:52:28Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > What’s most interesting about the New Zealand list is that many of the names on it are fairly common in the U.S. Just looking through the directory of my very large company, there are multiple people with the first names King, Queen, Prince, Baron, Justice and Justus, and 13 named Princess. Not to mention the various Duke’s and Sarge’s out there. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/85 "2013-05-03T14:11:30Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > It’s exactly what happened to my niece. Their parents wanted to call her the French equivalent of “Apple”. Which Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin did. One can see the French judge’s point: consider that any kid going through life named “Apple Martin” is going to get called “Appletini” from about age 12 until the end of her life. That, on top of never being able to escape Coldplay, is a horrible fate for any child. > [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > It was the [Yorkshire Bank](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2000/10/25/cmnatw25.xml), not the Nat West I used to bank with Natwest and it’s an understandable mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/86 "2013-05-03T14:19:54Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > “Hi. My name is “Fuck Censorship”, but don’r call me “Mr. Censorshhip”. You can just call me “Fuck”” My father is “Mr Censorship,” I’m “Fuck”. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/87 "2013-05-03T15:51:44Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > Not to mention the various Duke’s and Sarge’s out there. In one of his Lake Wobegone tales, Garrison Keillor wrote of a guy with the first name Senator (because his mom thought it sounded impressive). ---
**Author:** ![esmeralda2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@esmeralda2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/esmeralda2)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/88 "2013-05-03T20:48:50Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > From your own link, Sweden wouldn’t allow a baby to be named Metallica, Germany prohibits the names Adolf Hitler and Osama Bin Laden, and French parents must choose names from an approved list, to prevent teasing. > > And it’s the Americans who get offended way too easily? I agree with the judge. And I also agree that this is not just an American thing, that it isn’t just Americans who think there are certain names that are just unreasonable or problematic. This guy who wants to change his name to Fuck Censorship is a fool and should be protected from himself. Not only will he constantly offend others, he will cause constant problems for himself. No one, for example, will hire him. So he will out of work and a State dependent. No one will ever take him seriously for any serious endeavor. And, of course, he will offend people all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![esmeralda2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@esmeralda2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/esmeralda2)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/89 "2013-05-03T20:50:03Z")
> [@Carol\_Stream](#): > > From your own link, Sweden wouldn’t allow a baby to be named Metallica, Germany prohibits the names Adolf Hitler and Osama Bin Laden, and French parents must choose names from an approved list, to prevent teasing. > > And it’s the Americans who get offended way too easily? I agree with the judge. And I also agree that this is not just an American thing, that it isn’t just Americans who think there are certain names that are just unreasonable or problematic. This guy who wants to change his name to Fuck Censorship is a fool and should be protected from himself. Not only will he constantly offend others, he will cause constant problems for himself. No one, for example, will hire him. So he will be out of work and a State dependent. No one will ever take him seriously for any serious endeavor. And, of course, he will offend people all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/90 "2013-05-04T02:10:17Z")
You can say that again! ---
**Author:** ![sidhechaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sidhechaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidhechaos)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/91 "2013-05-04T10:29:08Z")
does anyone ever read the credits on movies and tv shows? there are some hysterical names listed, and some where you wonder if the parents were illiterate and needed help. (Rhoobee, wtf? what is wrong with Ruby, so people know you think your child is a gem instead of some kind of new Korean pop culture dance. here is an example of cracky credit names [http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/chorus\_of\_chaos/322428/50345/50345\_900.jpg](http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/chorus_of_chaos/322428/50345/50345_900.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2013, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/92 "2013-05-04T10:46:47Z")
> [@sidhechaos](#): > > does anyone ever read the credits on movies and tv shows? there are some hysterical names listed, and some where you wonder if the parents were illiterate and needed help. I’m guessing the majority of those are pseudonyms or made up names for humorous purposes. Often times it’s simply to be unusual so it is remembered. ---
**Author:** ![Uther\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Uther\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uther_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/93 "2013-05-05T01:18:23Z")
There should be no list of approved names, but the ability of parents to saddle their child with a silly name should be restricted. That really is a case where a “trial by one’s peers” would work - a dozen randomly picked jurors decide if a name sounds silly, denigrating or ridiculous. Then, when the child raches adulthood, it gets one name-change for free. They can pick any name they like, all administrative costs covered. As an adult, they should be free to make idiots of themselves. For all their name-changes _after_ that are liable to pay the administrative fees. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-rejects-obscene-name-change-wtf/454666/94 "2013-05-05T07:42:35Z")
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