# My Name Is "Bill"! Use It! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 23, 2002, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264 "2002-08-23T17:19:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/1 "2002-08-23T17:19:38Z")
I work in a hospital. I work in the Cardiopulmonary Department ( I take care of your heart and lungs) which is sometimes known as **Respiratory Therapy**. We have a big turnover, but in our Rehab Unit we don’t. The nurses usually stay. There’s this one nurse who came to work for us a year ago, who insists on addressing me as **Respiratory** , even though I have introduced myself to her as “Bill” and asked her to just call if she ever needed anything on 7p-7a. **Her** name is Julia. Okay fine. If it were a **huge** hospital, I would understand, but we are a small-town hospital, and we all know each other by our first names, so what’s the frickin’ **problem** , Julia??? I thought it was cute at first, and when she called, **“Respiratory?”** after me as I was walking down the hall one night, I answered back, “Yes, **Nursing**?” She ignored it. One year. Several requests to get her to call me “Bill”. Nothing. What’s up widdat? Q ---
**Author:** ![tiggeril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tiggeril/32/7234_2.png) [@tiggeril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiggeril)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/2 "2002-08-23T17:28:42Z")
- licks Bill \* 😛 ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/3 "2002-08-23T18:22:36Z")
Stop answering. My first name is Rachel, pronounced RAYchel, not rawSHELL. I used to give teachers two weeks to learn it, and after that I stopped responding when called rawSHELL. Trust me, it works, especially if you keep on walking 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lothos2002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/df788c/32.png) [@lothos2002](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lothos2002)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/4 "2002-08-23T19:04:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Quasimodem \* > I thought it was cute at first, and when she called, **“Respiratory?”** after me as I was walking down the hall one night, I answered back, “Yes, **Nursing**?” > > Q \*\* I guess she is just using the thing you do the most as an appelative, therefore you should repply in kind: **"Respiratory?"** after you as you were walking down the hall one night, answer back, “Yes, **bitching**?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/5 "2002-08-23T20:12:14Z")
What **chique** said. I recall reading a similiar situation in a recent Reader’s Digest anecdote. When one long-time resident of an apartment building discovered he had been addressing another resident by the wrong name for some 20 years, the other resident replied, “You never heard me answer, did you?” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/6 "2002-08-24T00:19:42Z")
> [@](#): > > My first name is Rachel, pronounced RAYchel, not rawSHELL. I used to give teachers two weeks to learn it, and after that I stopped responding when called rawSHELL. Trust me, it works, especially if you keep on walking In most other circumstances, this would be a good idea, but he works in a hospital, and as rude as the nurse in question is, she might be trying to get his attention to help save someone’s life. Of course, if that’s not an issue for his particular line of hospital work, then I say ignore away. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/7 "2002-08-24T01:20:35Z")
“Respritory?” “Yes, Enema Bag Handler?” That’ll turn her head. ---
**Author:** ![Medea\_s\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/8 "2002-08-24T06:13:05Z")
I generally go with the not answering route, I like my name, its what I answer to. However, in a professional situation…have you tried mentioning it to her? “Julia, I would prefer if you called me Bill rather than Respiratory.” (Feel free to add “I am a person not a function.” after that if you’re as snark as I am.) Perhaps she is intimidated by you or has forgotten your name and is too embarassed to ask you for it again. (I do the latter, my ability to remember names stinks.) Or try shock therapy. Every time she tries to get your attention without using your name give a good buzz. Then ask if its her final answer. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/9 "2002-08-24T11:08:47Z")
He said in the OP that he’d made “several requests”. **Quasi** , just out of curiosity, under what circumstances did you make those requests? Did you have her full attention? Sometimes people just didn’t listen to you in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![dublos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f08c70/32.png) [@dublos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dublos)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/10 "2002-08-24T11:37:45Z")
**Quasimodem** Have you ever asked her _why_ she continues to call you _Respiratory_ rather than _Bill_? -Doug ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/11 "2002-08-24T16:44:58Z")
**Dublos** , No I guess I didn’t, but what does it take? **Rilchiam** , Just passing through and asking if there was anything she needed, like an O2 tank, “Ambu-Bag” or anything. “Oh, **Respiratory?** Could you bring us some more O2 tubing?” Yes. Ma’am, I sure can! And… **JackBatty** : I’m **still** shaking from laughter! Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/12 "2002-08-25T01:06:07Z")
I too work in a hospital, in Materials Management. If a nurse addressed me as “Materials” I don’t think she would get a response. Just like in every walk of life, Nursing has its saints and its assholes. I am fortunate that the hospital I am at has more of the first and less of the last. I do favors for the first. The last have to look up their own damned item numbers and produce a fully filled out, properly approved requisition if they want that bag of coffee or adult diapers. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/13 "2002-08-25T01:15:02Z")
At my job I’ve asked the nurses to refer to me by my title: Pontifex of Primary Care They seem to prefer another term: Krusty the Klown ---
**Author:** ![Cessandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cessandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cessandra)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/14 "2002-08-25T02:24:48Z")
Try this if you can’t ignore her. Everytime she says “Respiratory” you say “Bill.” Every single time. ---
**Author:** ![dublos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f08c70/32.png) [@dublos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dublos)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/15 "2002-08-25T14:42:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Quasimodem \* > \*\ ***Dublos** , > > No I guess I didn’t, but what does it take? > > \*\* Well, to me this qualifies as “If it bothers you that much, try and sit down with them and discover if there’s a reason for it.” Maybe there’s a reason for it, maybe it’s her way of flirting, maybe it’s just the way she thinks of all people… compartmentalizing them by their occupation. You’re just not going to find out unless you actually stop and ask. -Doug ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/16 "2002-08-25T14:47:07Z")
\ ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2002, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/17 "2002-08-25T22:50:44Z")
Yeah: does she call other people by their names? Maybe she’s just very cut-and-dried. Maybe she would call you “Bill” in a social situation, but in a work situation, what’s important about you is your professional capacity, not your personality. Under what circumstances does she have to get your attention? Is it pretty important, like, “Respiratory, patient is cyanotic!” If so, maybe it’s better for her to keep calling you what she’s used to calling you. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/18 "2002-08-26T18:51:57Z")
Don’t know the answer to your question, **Rilchiam** , but you may have a point. I’ll find out tomorrow night when I return to work. **My** point is that I am a very friendly and approachable person. Even the housekeepers know to call me “Bill”. I am **not** a function or a job description. Thanks for caring. Bill ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/19 "2002-08-26T19:16:57Z")
Maybe you take **Perspiratory’s** breath away. ---
**Author:** ![Racer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@Racer1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Racer1)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2002, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264/20 "2002-08-27T14:02:56Z")
A friend of mine once had a similar problem. A new girl at his workplace seemed unable to cope with more than one name and constantly referred to him as “Darren”. An honest mistake as a Darren did work with them, but hey, surely she could make the effort to remember a paltry two names. Anyway, he solved the problem by just calling her “Darren” back. After a few funny looks from customers (in whose presence he’d just called her a guy’s name) she learnt his name. My suggestion… Her: “Respiratory?” You: “Yes, Respiratory?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-bill-use-it/125264.md?page=2)