# When (and if) you talk to yourself, do you refer to yourself by name? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 27, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475 "2011-12-27T01:25:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/21 "2011-12-27T14:58:40Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And, no, I don’t care that using someone’s name a lot supposedly puts them at ease. It’s still horribly awkward. Yeah I’d like to see the evidence for the claim that it puts people at ease. To me it is incredibly off-putting. It feels like I’m being attacked. (On the other hand, I’m not surprised if I’m different than others when it comes to this. Eye contact is supposed to be reassuring, but I find it threatening.) ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/22 "2011-12-27T15:17:04Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > To me it is incredibly off-putting. It feels like I’m being attacked. (On the other hand, I’m not surprised if I’m different than others when it comes to this. Eye contact is supposed to be reassuring, but I find it threatening.) You should move to Finland - we never use somebody’s name when talking directly to them, unless we need to specify to whom we are talking to in a bigger crowd. That is, if we talk at all. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/23 "2011-12-27T15:30:47Z")
I always call myself “dummy.” As in, “Ok, dummy, stop screwing around on the internet and do some work.” ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/24 "2011-12-27T16:49:17Z")
Depending on how irritated I am with myself. I either use my last name or ‘you stupid bitch’. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/25 "2011-12-27T17:49:31Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Yeah I’d like to see the evidence for the claim that it puts people at ease. > > To me it is incredibly off-putting. It feels like I’m being attacked. (On the other hand, I’m not surprised if I’m different than others when it comes to this. Eye contact is supposed to be reassuring, but I find it threatening.) It is so good to see that someone else in the universe thinks “naming” is threatening. I swear, it sets my back right up every time, and everyone always thinks they are being so nice and personable by reading it off namebadges (hateful invention) and then using it 3+times - ugh. Makes me want to physically back away. My name! If I want you to know it, I’ll damn well tell it to you myself (and no, I don’t wear my nametag at work), and even after I tell it to you, that’s not a reason to go using it in conversation WITH ME either - I know what it is! ETA - when talking to myself, I generally range from “dummy” up through general insults up to “miserable fuckwit.” I usually only address myself when I’ve done something flamingly stupid, so it works. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/26 "2011-12-27T19:31:20Z")
Interesting question. I’d never given it any thought before, but now realize that when I address myself by name (audibly or not), that name is always “Kid.” As in: “Well, Kid, you really screwed up.” . ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/27 "2011-12-27T19:33:03Z")
No, I do. I do talk to myself, but I don’t address myself. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/28 "2011-12-28T04:15:02Z")
Not often. I wouldn’t know what name to pick. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/29 "2011-12-28T04:29:42Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > I swear, it sets my back right up every time, and everyone always thinks they are being so nice and personable by reading it off namebadges (hateful invention) and then using it 3+times - ugh. Makes me want to physically back away. I don’t think it’s threatening, but I hate it as well. I’m not going to buy your service if you can force my name into the conversation a half a dozen times. I _would_ buy your service if you just fucking listened to what I was actually saying and would give me a reasonable price. I don’t know if I say my name or not. I never listen to anyone, even myself, so I’ll have to wait until the next time I screw up and see what I say. I mostly speak English to myself, except I find myself thinking more and more in Japanese. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/30 "2011-12-28T04:34:45Z")
I agree with the sentiment that I only do it when I’m disgusted or upset with myself. Example 1: “Pull yourself together Drew, you insane son of a bitch.” Example 2: “Drew, you’re such a fatass, you don’t need to eat that 3rd cupcake!” When I’m self encouraging I tend to use “I” Example 3: “I’m a good person, I’m a good person, I know I’m a good person. It wasn’t my fault. Oh god, oh god, what have I done. How will I wash out all this blood?” ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/31 "2011-12-28T04:37:19Z")
I know a guy who calls himself “Toby” when he really F’ed up, etc. He is pretty much a manly man and he doesn’t like country music. Toby is not any part of his real name and I find it very… ur… disturbing. ---
**Author:** ![missinformation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@missinformation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missinformation)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/32 "2011-12-28T04:46:11Z")
Talk to myself all the time, who better to talk to? Usually I refer to myself as stupid, idiot, dumbass, jerk… ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/33 "2011-12-28T05:56:25Z")
Not only do I call myself by name, but it’s a secret goofy nickname, the equivalent of “Chickie Chickenson.” I don’t know why. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/34 "2011-12-28T06:19:48Z")
My name is not Jack…but when I talk to myself, it’s as “Jack.” Usually criticism. “Whoa, Jack, what were you thinking?” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/35 "2011-12-28T06:23:45Z")
If I started to address myself by name, I might start to think that when I’m doing it, I’m not me. Because I’m addressing (name), not me, and so I can’t be (name), that has to be someone else. So I’m not really me. Then I’d be totally confused. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2011, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/36 "2011-12-28T08:38:48Z")
No, never. And when I go to trade shows, I put my badge somewhere in accessible so all those Dale Carnegie graduates can’t see my name and start repeating it at me. I really hate that. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/37 "2011-12-29T15:56:11Z")
I address myself by name or by epithet (usually “idiot”). ---
**Author:** ![bcr1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@bcr1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bcr1)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/38 "2011-12-30T05:09:11Z")
Ok, this is by far the most annoying habit that Ive picked up in grad school. I really dislike talking to myself, and calling myself by my name is really weird, this sometimes does happen, but rarely. Sometimes, I get mad at my brain and call it, her brain for example, which is equally disturbing, I do this mostly when I’m frustrated at my brain, like you know I’m being annoyed by it, ie. migraine. I picked up this nasty habit from my coworker who made it seem so normal, and it’s not. Now I can like silently whisper, but still, that’s like really odd. Kind of annoying, the thing is, how does one stop. My other colleague developed it too, and she enjoys it. It’s weird. Maybe socializing more will help get rid of it. I’ve never had this problem prior to grad school. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/39 "2011-12-30T07:07:14Z")
My internal dialogue only contains my name in moments of self-pity. Then I’m “poor Shannon.” Otherwise I mentally address myself as “you” or “we.” ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475/40 "2011-12-30T21:21:53Z")
I don’t always talk to myself, but when I do, I say “Dude, there are still some Dos Equis in the refrigerator!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-if-you-talk-to-yourself-do-you-refer-to-yourself-by-name/607475.md?page=3)