[EM] don't call people something that they ask not to be called

[bql at bolson.org]

This is silly. I agree that Mike O. (I hope I didn't leave out anything
important) is wrong in his misnaming of Mr. "James Green-Armytage". I
would guess that the desire to abbreviate comes in part from the
technology Mike is using to access this list. I've never seen his posts
use the sort of "reply with quote" that comes with this post later on.
Still, wrong and beligerantly wrong is not appropriate.

Coming from my background, 'jarmyta' is the obvious abbreviation, and you
can call me 'bolson'. Though, 'nkklrp' just doesn't roll of the tongue
well.

No one asked me.
-Brian Olson

On Wed, 26 May 2004, James Green-Armytage wrote:

> Mike,
> 	This is insulting. You have no right to rename me, for the purpose of
> this list or for any other purpose. I don't know if you realize how
> insulting that is, but it is insulting. My last name is Green-Armytage.
> You cannot abbreviate Green-Armytage with an A. Even if you could, since I
> have requested that you not do it, you should not do it. It's really not
> so complicated. I can't believe that it is so difficult for you to type
> out a single extra letter on your keyboard (i.e. G-A rather than A.) in
> order to avoid insulting me. Would you like it if I decided that you
> should be called Mike S. instead of Mike O.? No, you wouldn't, and anyway
> it would be stupid of me.
> 	Doing this the first time is no big deal. However, when I request that
> you not call me that, and you insist that I have no right to make such a
> request, you seem to be openly indicating that you have no respect for me.
> 	Please apologize.
>
> James Green-Armytage
>
>
> >	And oh, Mike, my name is James Green-Armytage. "Green" isn't my middle
> >name, but is rather a part of my surname. Hence "James A." is not an
> >appropriate abbreviation for my name.
> >I repliy:
> >Sure it is. The purpose of an abbreviation is to briefly identify. "James
> >A." does that just fine.
> >You continued:
> >If you feel the need to abbreviate
> >it,...
> >I reply:
> >It's either that or write out the entire name every time I refer to you
> >or
> >speak to you.
> >You continued:
> >...I suggest "James G-A". There's nothing at all wrong with the name
> >"James Armytage", except for the fact that it's not my name.
> >I reply:
> >James G.A. isn't your name either. An abbreviation for your name is
> >something that isn't your name, but is briefer.
> >The trouble with James G.A. is that we already have a James G. "James
> >G.A."
> >unnecessarily resembles "James G."
> >The only part of your initials that distinguishes you from James Gilmour
> >is
> >the Armytage part. Hence there's no reason to represent any other part in
> >the abbreviation, whose purpose is just to identify you, not to
> >accurately
> >name you.

Brian Olson
http://bolson.org/