Comments on The 3 R's Blog // Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness: Who's sayin' Hussein? Florinda Hussein Vasquez, th...

Literary Feline - Your husband's name isn't really...

2008-02-29T22:15:42.363-08:00

Literary Feline - Your husband's name isn't really Anjin? :-) I guess it's a good thing Tall Paul isn't sensitive about his name, or I'd be in some trouble.. But you're right about how people will pick on even ordinary names if they want to. Just ask my son, Christopher Pendley, who endured "Crispy" (Chris P.) and the ever-popular "Pissy Chrissy." (My cousin Chris got that one too, actually.)

Much of the time, as you say, it's not with cruel or malicious intent - just cluelessness or misguided humor. (The comments from people who've dined at your place - my dad would totally do that.) That doesn't make it any funnier or the receiving end, though.

I admit that working in a job where I come across ...

2008-02-29T20:14:05.105-08:00

I admit that working in a job where I come across a lot of names every day, I sometimes do wonder if the parents are aware of what their child may endure once they reach an age where other children will pick up on the unusualness of it. Truth be told though, even the most common and typical names are twisted and turned by those seeking to pick on someone else.

Jokes come my way all the time because of my name, but not so much the bullying (I experienced that too--but not in relation to name calling). People are always dining at my place or they feel the need to point out the obvious weather conditions outside. I sometimes let out a monotone, "Ha. Haven't heard that before" and keep walking or turn away. These people don't mean to be cruel, of course, and it's much different than the malicious bullying that you are talking about. Still, it is annoying. I wouldn't dare to that to anyone else.

My husband is very sensitive about his name. He does not tolerate any play on his name and sometimes if I say a word that rhymes with his name in a sentence with his name he cringes, even though my intent is completely innocent. It shouldn't have to be like that. His real name, by the way, is a common one--not really that unusual at all.

Julie P - I liked your contribution to the "Just c...

2008-02-29T08:33:17.773-08:00

Julie P - I liked your contribution to the "Just call me Hussein" meme - Graceland is one of my all-time-favorite albums.

That's one thing I've always wondered about...as adults, many of us recall being the underdog, but what about the kids who put us in that position? Where are there reminiscences? Maybe they're not talking much about it because they feel bad about it now. And there is a pecking order, too - sometimes the underdogs responded by turning on those even lower on the playground food chain.

I think an unusual name is often appreciated more as an adult. Then again, I come across some kids' names, imagine the hell they catch over them from other kids, and think their parents must be clueless, forgetful, or just plain mean.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I'm adding your blog to my subscription list!

I'm 100% with you on the Flo thing.It's funny beca...

2008-02-29T05:41:54.895-08:00

I'm 100% with you on the Flo thing.

It's funny because I always *wished* for an unusual name, tired of being lumped, clumped and mocked as "just one of the Julies."

And I think you're right...everyone recalls being picked on, somewhere out there are the pickers (and it just might be us sometimes LOL).

Bravo!

Working Girl - I always have to add my name to spe...

2008-02-28T20:12:01.170-08:00

Working Girl - I always have to add my name to spell-check, or else it would make me "Florida" too. I used to live there, but that's as close as it gets.

It was my grandmother's name, and I take no credit for it. :-)

I love your name. It's beautiful.As for "Flo" ---...

2008-02-28T18:43:12.593-08:00

I love your name. It's beautiful.

As for "Flo" ---would it help to know that to me it connotes a stylish Frenchwoman? That's because the first "Flo" (for Florence) I knew was when I lived in Paris and she was lovely indeed.

Picture it said with a short French "o."

But, never fear, to me you are always and forever Florinda (except when my spell check changes it to "Florida") and never ever "Flo."