# when you come from a place with a pseudo-embarassing name... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 21, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009 "2005-08-21T18:48:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dbuzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de0a6/32.png) [@dbuzman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbuzman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/21 "2005-08-22T05:29:14Z")
I used to live in Home, Pa. “Where are you from”? “Home”. “Smartass”. “No, seriously the town is called Home”. That’s how alot of conversations used to go. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/22 "2005-08-22T05:36:26Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > Well, probably as a defense mechenism, the place is actually pronounced COOK-SOCKEE. Really? I’ve heard it pronounced a few times on TV shows like _Law and Order_ and _NYPD Blue_, and it’s always been pronounced cock-sacky. Of course, TV probably isn’t the best place to learn correct pronunciations. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/23 "2005-08-22T11:29:10Z")
Drove by a Londick Road, yesterday. Thought about getting a picture next to the sign. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/24 "2005-08-22T11:35:22Z")
The best I have are from Alberta, two towns close to eachother, Cochrane (cock-ren) Balzac (ball-zack) ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/25 "2005-08-22T11:44:21Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > I was born at Seymour Johnson AFB in North Carolina. > > You try telling people that, and see how many people believe that it’s a real name. Honestly. I spent many years in & around SJAFB myself. I had a debit/credit card with “Seymour Johnson Federal Credit Union” proudly stamped on the front. It raised a few eyebrows. A few miles down the road is Mount Olive, NC - you’d be surprised how far people will stretch a Popeye gag to get some innuendo out of that name. Then there was Backlick Road somewhere in northern VA. Beaver Island has two street signs: - BEAVER IS EAST - BEAVER IS WEST And, of course, Assabet, MA ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/26 "2005-08-22T11:49:05Z")
> [@dbuzman](#): > > I used to live in Home, Pa. “Where are you from”? “Home”. “Smartass”. “No, seriously the town is called Home”. That’s how alot of conversations used to go. Home? That’s four miles over the hill from me. Maybe we’ve met? There was a particularly disturbing episode of X-Files set in Home. It was filmed elsewhere, though- Home is all hills and valleys. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/27 "2005-08-22T11:57:44Z")
In Devon, UK there is **Pennycomequick**. I think it refers to money, but Hey I can interpret it how I wish in the confines of my imagination. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/28 "2005-08-22T12:12:07Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > Well, probably as a defense mechenism, the place is actually pronounced COOK-SOCKEE. No-no-no. It’s FRON-KEN-STEEN. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/29 "2005-08-22T12:17:25Z")
I live across the river from Norfolk, Virginia. You can imagine the jokes about nofuck vagina… Vagina Beach (or Bitch) is a little less common. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/30 "2005-08-22T13:40:26Z")
On Maryland’s Eastern Shore is the Assawoman Bay. (A quick google also tells me of a nearby Assawoman, VA). It always amused little boy OMD on beach vacation with his family. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/31 "2005-08-22T15:16:58Z")
My brother lives in New Holland PA, not a funny name but I drive through Blue Ball to get there. He told me that there is a problem in the town of Intercourse. The signs keep getting stolen. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/32 "2005-08-22T16:52:54Z")
Don’t forget Bumpass, Virginia! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/33 "2005-08-22T17:07:34Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Murfreesboro. > > Imagine the comversation– > > **Me: Im’m from Murfreesboro.** > _Them: Murphy’s Borough?_ > \*\*Me: No, M_U_R_F_R_E_E_S_B_O_R\*O. > \*\* > _Them: Where’s that?_ > **Tennessee.** > _Are you certain you spelled that right?_ > Spelling the name of the town I live in make me sound like an illiterate hillbilly. :mad: One time, I got: “You mean that’s an actual place? I thought that Strongbad just made it up!” (referencing [this](http://homestarrunner.com/sbemail91.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/34 "2005-08-22T18:21:10Z")
We were sorta lost in Lancaster Area Pennsylvania with our friend Chuck and his wife. Trying to avoid a long line of traffic on a one lane each direction road, he kept on taking what he felt was a short cut to get to the road he wanted. What he ended up doing THREE TIMES EXACTLY was loop us back around to the exact same spot where we left the line of traffic. I took tremendous pleasure in saying, " Y’know Chuck, I’ve been through Intercourse with you three times today.In the Car. And we never stopped moving!" General ribald humor ensued. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/35 "2005-08-22T18:47:05Z")
> [@Northern Piper](#): > > I was at a convention last week and got chatting with a guy from Ireland. We both did the nametag-glance thing. He said: “you’re from … Regeeena?” I said “yes, but it’s pronounced ‘Regina’.’” (See my location tag.) He said, “hmm - wondered if that was how to pronounce it, but was afraid it sounded rather … suggestive.” > > Of course, we flatlanders never even think about it, but I’ve heard comments along those lines before. > > Anyone else come from a place with a suggestive name? Living in Moose Jaw, one lady came in to work to tell us about her young niece who had learned where babies come from - a lady’s Regina! (Moose Jaw is about 50 minutes away from Regina, so kids in the area come by their confusion honestly.) ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/36 "2005-08-22T19:15:24Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I live not 20 miles from two towns called Intercourse and Blue Ball. If you go from Blue Ball through Intercourse, you’ll eventually come to Paradise. > > I shit you not. I would have thought you’d have to go through Climax to get there… This is drifting off topic but it just happened yesterday so I have to share. I had a customer named Schench. Exept she pronounced it Skank. Mrs. Doris Skank. You’d think with the spelling she’d have some leyway with the pronuciation. Do you suppose no one’s ever told her? ---
**Author:** ![marque\_elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@marque\_elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marque_elf)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/37 "2005-08-22T20:09:15Z")
As freshman are wont to do the first week of school, we opened every conversation with “Where are you from?” One answer came back “Athol, Ma.” pronouncing it with a long “a” sound. All of us in the dormroom burst out laughing. He looked at us like we’d all collectively lost our minds and demanded to know what was so funny. I told him that his town’s name was dangerously close to “asshole” pronounced with a lisp. He looked stunned and said that nobody had ever said that before. I asked whether rival high school football fans hadn’t figured out how to use the school’s name to mock it. He said that that had never happened. I was grievously disappointed by the creativity of Massachusetts high scool students. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/38 "2005-08-22T20:31:42Z")
Before I moved a few blocks up the road, I used to live a hair’s breadth from the intersection of Seaman Ave and Cumming St. in upper Manhattan. There’s a church on the corner. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/39 "2005-08-22T21:37:21Z")
There’s an intersection in Saskatoon where the streets Rusholme and P meet. Not embarrassing so much as just grade-school funny. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009/40 "2005-08-22T21:59:13Z")
On I-40 east towards Knoxville, there’s a sign for two towns my buddies and I loved. Rockwood and Harriman. Heh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-come-from-a-place-with-a-pseudo-embarassing-name/318009.md?page=3)