Lol. Nobody said (at least I didn't) that people with stupid names or nicknames or Dick names can't be successful. There are probably a million anecdotal examples of people who are. It has nothing to do with being successful. I find it almost funny that people are really arguing that BJ is just as professional of a name as William.
If someone feels they are putting their best face forward by being called Harry Butt, have at it. My opinion isn't right or wrong, it's just an opinion.
IF THAT IS YOUR NAME, WHAT IS YOUR OTHER OPTION? Jesus Christ, it isn't like you get to pick your name. (Maybe I'm a bit defensive because of my friend/colleague Harry).
Honestly, I'm guessing most adults wouldn't even get the BJ/blow job thing. That seems to be slang from our generation. But also, I think is bizarre that that's where an adult's mind would immediately go when confronted with a "Hello, my name is BJ Smith" situation.
In fact, considering how popular nicknames and double initials are among the blue blood/good ol' boys crowd, I wouldn't be surprised if having a name like "BJ" may actually be a tiny plus in recruiting for certain high-end jobs.
I predict that a hell of a lot more people will prefer to go by their initials in the future, with people naming their kids stupid fucking names like Tazely, Kinlyn, Caydan or whateverthefuck.
Lol. Nobody said (at least I didn't) that people with stupid names or nicknames or Dick names can't be successful. There are probably a million anecdotal examples of people who are. It has nothing to do with being successful. I find it almost funny that people are really arguing that BJ is just as professional of a name as William.
If someone feels they are putting their best face forward by being called Harry Butt, have at it. My opinion isn't right or wrong, it's just an opinion.
IF THAT IS YOUR NAME, WHAT IS YOUR OTHER OPTION? Jesus Christ, it isn't like you get to pick your name.
Honestly, I'm guessing most adults wouldn't even get the BJ/blow job thing. That seems to be slang from our generation. But also, I think is bizarre that that's where an adult's mind would immediately go when confronted with a "Hello, my name is BJ Smith" situation.
In fact, considering how popular nicknames and double initials are among the blue blood/good ol' boys crowd, I wouldn't be surprised if having a name like "BJ" may actually be a tiny plus in recruiting for certain high-end jobs.
Is the name on his birth certificate Harry? If so, yes, I agree, that's tough breaks. His parents are assholes, lol.
If his name is Harold, I don't know why on earth someone would choose to go by Harry with that last name. I don't know why someone of our generation would choose to be Dick over Richard or Rich. I don't know why someone with a perfectly normal name like William would prefer to be BJ when he could go by another version of his name.
In most cases, I don't think a name is going to make or break your career/life. But just as it's more professional to wear a neutral jacket and subdued jewelry in a professional setting than it is to wear loud colors and jewelry, I think I'd prefer to use a version of my name that is not going to make people think "hmm, that's a funny name" or "hmm I wonder what that stands for" or even in passing think about a blow job. I think using a formal name in formal situations is just as wise as wearing a formal outfit.
IF THAT IS YOUR NAME, WHAT IS YOUR OTHER OPTION? Â Jesus Christ, it isn't like you get to pick your name.
Honestly, I'm guessing most adults wouldn't even get the BJ/blow job thing. Â That seems to be slang from our generation. Â But also, I think is bizarre that that's where an adult's mind would immediately go when confronted with a "Hello, my name is BJ Smith" situation.
In fact, considering how popular nicknames and double initials are among the blue blood/good ol' boys crowd, I wouldn't be surprised if having a name like "BJ" may actually be a tiny plus in recruiting for certain high-end jobs.
Is the name on his birth certificate Harry? If so, yes, I agree, that's tough breaks. His parents are assholes, lol.
If his name is Harold, I don't know why on earth someone would choose to go by Harry with that last name. I don't know why someone of our generation would choose to be Dick over Richard or Rich. I don't know why someone with a perfectly normal name like William would prefer to be BJ when he could go by another version of his name.
In most cases, I don't think a name is going to make or break your career/life. But just as it's more professional to wear a neutral jacket and subdued jewelry in a professional setting than it is to wear loud colors and jewelry, I think I'd prefer to use a version of my name that is not going to make people think "hmm, that's a funny name" or "hmm I wonder what that stands for" or even in passing think about a blow job. I think using a formal name in formal situations is just as wise as wearing a formal outfit.
I know someone named Harry with what you might call and unfortunate last name. It's not Butt, but it's not that far off.
I also know people with given names of Johnny, Tommy, Dan, Jenny, and Katie. Most of them are the children of immigrants, and their parents were trying to give them "American" names so they could fit in.
Sometimes you have to think beyond your own experience.
BJ would automatically make me think blow job because I have a juvenile sense of humor. However, I'd be able to work with someone named BJ without laughing or getting distracted because I'm an adult with self-control. This isn't hard, people.
If there is a "professional" giggling over the name BJ, Dick, Harry, or putting serious thought into a colleague's name, they should probably check their own level of professionalism and get back to work.
If you were a potential client for, lets say, a financial advisor, and you got a phone message from Harry Butts, BJ Smith, and Harold Williams, if all else was equal who would you likely chuckle at and who would you likely call back to give your business? (assuming you don't have time/interest in calling them all back).
People make snap judgements without a lot of thought or available information. They might not even realize why they're calling one person back over another, but whoever left the best impression in their 30 second voicemail is going to get the client. Part of that 30 second impression was the name of the person who called. If you have a choice between presenting yourself with a name that instills confidence (even without the person hearing the name realizing it or thinking about it in those terms) and a name that makes someone do a double take or laugh, why would you choose the latter?
If you were a potential client for, lets say, a financial advisor, and you got a phone message from Harry Butts, BJ Smith, and Harold Williams, if all else was equal who would you likely chuckle at and who would you likely call back to give your business? (assuming you don't have time/interest in calling them all back).
People make snap judgements without a lot of thought or available information. They might not even realize why they're calling one person back over another, but whoever left the best impression in their 30 second voicemail is going to get the client. Part of that 30 second impression was the name of the person who called. If you have a choice between presenting yourself with a name that instills confidence (even without the person hearing the name realizing it or thinking about it in those terms) and a name that makes someone do a double take or laugh, why would you choose the latter?
What? I've never considered someone's name as part of their first impression. In fact, I'm so horrible with names that I generally have to replay the voicemail in order to catch it. If Harry Ass is more qualified that James Thompson, then I'd hire Harry Ass. In fact, I find Harry more memorable and would probably hire him in hopes he's not a prude without a sense of humor.
And someone who judges me based on my name isn't exactiy someone I want to do business with, so no loss there. I like to keep business between adults.
As someone with a name that gets commented on (it's not BJ or Harry Ass, but it is a name people remark at) I can say with full confidence that the people who make cracks at my name are usually unprofessional and immature. If your first reaction upon meeting someone is making a joke about their name? Well, then you suck.
If you were a potential client for, lets say, a financial advisor, and you got a phone message from Harry Butts, BJ Smith, and Harold Williams, if all else was equal who would you likely chuckle at and who would you likely call back to give your business? (assuming you don't have time/interest in calling them all back).
People make snap judgements without a lot of thought or available information. They might not even realize why they're calling one person back over another, but whoever left the best impression in their 30 second voicemail is going to get the client. Part of that 30 second impression was the name of the person who called. If you have a choice between presenting yourself with a name that instills confidence (even without the person hearing the name realizing it or thinking about it in those terms) and a name that makes someone do a double take or laugh, why would you choose the latter?
What? I've never considered someone's name as part of their first impression. In fact, I'm so horrible with names that I generally have to replay the voicemail in order to catch it. If Harry Ass is more qualified that James Thompson, then I'd hire Harry Ass. In fact, I find Harry more memorable and would probably hire him in hopes he's not a prude without a sense of humor.
And someone who judges me based on my name isn't exactiy someone I want to do business with, so no loss there. I like to keep business between adults.
I hope you do choose someone based on their qualifications. But many people aren't that thorough.
I don't know about the name Harry Butts or BJ specifically, but there has been research that shows a name can affect how someone is perceived - I found this with a quick google search:
What? I've never considered someone's name as part of their first impression. In fact, I'm so horrible with names that I generally have to replay the voicemail in order to catch it. If Harry Ass is more qualified that James Thompson, then I'd hire Harry Ass. In fact, I find Harry more memorable and would probably hire him in hopes he's not a prude without a sense of humor.
And someone who judges me based on my name isn't exactiy someone I want to do business with, so no loss there. I like to keep business between adults.
I hope you do choose someone based on their qualifications. But many people aren't that thorough.
I don't know about the name Harry Butts or BJ specifically, but there has been research that shows a name can affect how someone is perceived - I found this with a quick google search:
You are correct about name discrimination. It's usually poised as something that affects immigrants or black people, though. The more WASPy your name, the better.
But what that means is that you are totally at liberty to not name a future child BJ. You are not at liberty to demand that someone who works for your company not go by the name BJ. And can you imagine if he was either fired for refusing or found out he wasn't hired because of his NAME?
I don't dispute that there are names so out there that they would probably give me pause in a professional (or any) setting. Things like Crapbag or Princess Consuela Banana Hammock? Sure. "Hi I am Strawberry Shortcake McPhee. Can I do your taxes?" I might double check her experience and qualifications. But BJ, on a man or a woman, would not even register with me. My childhood Girl Scout troop leader (a woman) and a good friend from college (a man) are both named BJ, and I honestly never thought anything of it. Billy or Timmy or Katie or any other initial name would not register either.
And more importantly, perhaps short of someone literally being named "Fuck You Jones" or something, an employer has no business renaming its employees, which is what the poll was about. I am honestly shocked there are people who consider it reasonable or necessary to rename someone because their name is BJ.
I don't dispute that there are names so out there that they would probably give me pause in a professional (or any) setting. Things like Crapbag or Princess Consuela Banana Hammock? Sure. "Hi I am Strawberry Shortcake McPhee. Can I do your taxes?" I might double check her experience and qualifications. But BJ, on a man or a woman, would not even register with me. My childhood Girl Scout troop leader (a woman) and a good friend from college (a man) are both named BJ, and I honestly never thought anything of it. Billy or Timmy or Katie or any other initial name would not register either.
And more importantly, perhaps short of someone literally being named "Fuck You Jones" or something, an employer has no business renaming its employees, which is what the poll was about. I am honestly shocked there are people who consider it reasonable or necessary to rename someone because their name is BJ.
If anyone is considering a username change, please go with fuckyoujones.
I don't dispute that there are names so out there that they would probably give me pause in a professional (or any) setting. Things like Crapbag or Princess Consuela Banana Hammock? Sure. "Hi I am Strawberry Shortcake McPhee. Can I do your taxes?" I might double check her experience and qualifications. But BJ, on a man or a woman, would not even register with me. My childhood Girl Scout troop leader (a woman) and a good friend from college (a man) are both named BJ, and I honestly never thought anything of it. Billy or Timmy or Katie or any other initial name would not register either.
And more importantly, perhaps short of someone literally being named "Fuck You Jones" or something, an employer has no business renaming its employees, which is what the poll was about. I am honestly shocked there are people who consider it reasonable or necessary to rename someone because their name is BJ.
If anyone is considering a username change, please go with fuckyoujones.
But people would inevitably shorten it to FYJ, and everyone knows that initials are juvenile and unprofessional.
Totally ridiculous of company to think they can tell anyone what to call themselves.
I agree with PPs who said that some of the more casual names can be endearing and they can actually be a boon to someone's success.
Anecdotally, a lot of the really successful people that I have known are not "perfect professionals." They have some edge, some humanizing factor (a name is just one of many possible examples). Also, a name can cause you to remember someone, even if it's because it makes you want to snicker. There was a guy at my old company who immigrated and essentially chose his name to be Freddy <Profession>. This guy was a total rockstar in the company and extremely successful, but I remembered his name from the first time I heard it, before I knew he was worth remembering. I have also worked for a man named Howdy, which I put in the same category (I have no idea if that was his given name or a nickname).
Post by imojoebunny on Oct 30, 2014 20:14:42 GMT -5
There is this very MM place, BJ's warehouse. BJ is far from being named "blow job" straight up. People need to get a grip. I had a boss named Dick I loved. It was hard for me to call him that, but I did because that is the respectful thing to do.