BS: No funny jokes about people's names

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 06:47 AM

Sorry, next village along, Corscombe, not Rampisham.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 06:46 AM

Is this an unfortunate coupling? From the Rampisham, Dorset, parish register...

Charles SHITLER & Mary PLUMBER married 02-Apr 1752

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: frogprince
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 08:14 PM

I once sold a pair of shoes to a man with what I still consider to be the ultimate "yuppy" name: Fairchild Dubois the third.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 07:41 PM

Cue "Too Many Daves" - the Dr Seuss poem adapted by D.C. Fitzgerald and sung by him and/or Anne Feeney on her "If I Can't Dance..." recording to the tune of "The Rakes of Kildare".

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 07:10 PM

There's a Civil Servant in London who rejoices in the name of Locksley Trype. Honest!!

I'm ploughing through some family records again, and some of the names I came across 20 years ago are still funny now.

How about Erasmus Cox?
Amaziah and Jane Payne?
How about Ms Fanny Hunt?

Adonizah Zealley was a jolly sounding chap, but not as enthusiastic as Joel Rocket.

Eli Pester should have chosen a little more sensitively when he married Hester...

Keturah Bartlett How, Sunecai Genteelei, Penninah Charity Scard, Tirzah Fever and Speaze Tizzard should have been given the option of changing names, as should Zibich, Obidiah, Barzilla and Bathsheba Hodder.

Then there are the ones that are just so appropriate:~
Francis Goforth, vicar; Maudlin Dampney; Noah Gallop; Hipolett Mockett; Unity Abbot and Christian Gibbons.

Parthena Staple and Apsalome Whittle Wills are pretty out there, but the biscuity type prize really should go to Arabella Gerina Bachatina Megal Govin - that's all one person!

Honestly, these are all genuine names that I've gleaned out of parish records from Dorset, a rural county where coming from 30 miles away is considered foreign!

LTS - who got off remarkably lightly with her names!

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Little Hawk
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 03:56 PM

We have a local politician named Garfield Dunlop. Seriously! That is his real name, I swear it.

I normally call him "Barfly Dungheap". ;-)

But not to his face....

He actually seems to be an okay guy as far as I can tell. Pity he's a Conservative, though. Heh!

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 02:14 PM

i know of someone who lives close by and her first name is April and second name is May, and that's the truth. she is only a child, wait till she starts school.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 11:58 AM

Just so long as the speaker/writer doesn't imply that it's new and witty. It won't be.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Wolfgang
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 11:37 AM

We had a (very) conservative politician named Jäger, that is Hunter. When he started to campaign for capital punishment he was nicknamed by the liberal press head-hunter, of course.

I can't see anything wrong in jokes about politicians' names.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Sep 07 - 10:25 AM

When I teaching in Brum in the 1970's I had this class of 14 year olds in my first year as a teacher, who were a bit of a challenge.

I remember one day, the history teacher managed to get them quiet and sitting down - not a great deal of rock 'n roll as far as work concerned - but even so it was recognised as something of an achievement amongst his fellow professionals.

However he had no time to bask in his success, the Headmaster put his head round the door, and boomed out, I'd like a word immediately with Master Bates in my office!

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Metchosin
Date: 14 Sep 07 - 01:14 AM

Well its sad, but certain names, when young, do tend to make you a target, but there are exceptions. When I was in elementary school, everyone seemed to refer to each other by their last names, always with what seemed, an edge of contempt. Except for one of my fellow students, Dennis. Dennis always got called by his first name. His last name was Mycock.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Kent Davis
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 11:08 PM

And, proving once again that juvenile behavior isn't just for juveniles, we have MoveOn.org taking out an ad in the New York Times to share their original little witticism about General Petraeus's name.

Kent

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 13 Sep 07 - 01:46 AM

From Joe's belated unbirthday thread:

So did someone already make him un'offer he can't refuse? *groan* Couldn't resist!

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 10:56 AM

that's right they let him go, otherwise they would have had their chips.....

actually his crooked lawyer smuggled it in

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 09:00 AM

Perhaps my memory is wrong, but I thought Dillinger carved a "gun" from a potato, and dyed it with iodine, in order to escape from jail.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 08:31 AM

My surname's Whittle

When I moved to Nottinghamshire 30 years ago, people were always saying .... and do you whittle a lot? which roughly translated means - do you fret anxiously and complain continuously about not very important subjects.

It was puzzling at the time, mainly because it was invariably delivered as an enormous shaft of wit, and I didn't understand what they were talking about. Prior to coming to this area, whittling had meant carving a piece of wood with a knife - in the fashion of John Dillinger's wooden gun.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 08:04 AM

can't say I have noticed much.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: GUEST,machree01
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 07:58 AM

I know a woman who lives near me and you call her Teresa Green, every time when i hear her name i always think of louis Armstrongs version of What A Wonderful World, i see "trees of green" red roses to

and what about Mary had a little lamb and the mid-wife near died when she seen it.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 04:25 AM

With a name like mine, I wish I had a penny (UK _ yes - a penny) for every time I have had 'Grim Spew', or 'Mr Puke', and the speaker thinking that he or she was the first to say it.

Oh, how we laughed . . .

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 11:27 PM

Sins, we kids used to make breakfast for our mom, take it to her in bed, and sing "Lazy Mary will you get up, will you get up, will you get up, Lazy Mary will you get, will you get up in the morning!?" Mom never complained about it, thank goodness!

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Cluin
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 08:17 PM

My surname Deevey was often turned around on me. "Hey, Deevey's got V.D. Ha ha ha!"

To which my response was "Yeah, your mother gave it to me."

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: GUEST,Snoozer at work
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 11:56 AM

My surname is Engard, of Scandinavian origin (pronounced en'-guard). I hear "en garde!" a lot. But I don't recall ever hearing that while I was at school, just later in life, from the adults I meet. I try to just ignore it, but maybe roll my eyes a bit.

My first name is Susan. For 4 or 5 years I lived on Suzann Drive. To me, Susan and Suzann are completely different names, but whenever I gave my address to someone they seemed compelled to comment on the similarity.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Becca72
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 11:44 AM

I didn't have it nearly as bad as my elementary school friend, April Beaver...

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: GUEST,Neil
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 10:45 AM

I was never terribly upset over the various jokes on my name (Neil down and pray, etc.).I have ,however, learned to avoid hanging out with people named Bob.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 09:38 AM

Mary Mary Quite Contrary...Oh F**k off!

And
"You study Ancient Languages? (pause) It's all Greek to me (guffaw)!" Sigh!

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 07 Sep 07 - 08:39 AM

I know a lawyer named Donald Duck. Imagine the kidding he's had over the years!

But there's more. He's Donald Duck the Third! And I'm not sure, but I think I heard that his son is named Donald too. That family never learns, I guess.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: John Hardly
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 09:28 PM

Guy on another forum named Dick Sanders.

ouch.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: TheSnail
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 10:44 AM

In a supermarket I used to frequent the question used to come over the Tannoy "Will Miss Fortune come to the customer service desk?".

We may never know.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: skipy
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 08:13 AM

Guest:- I might have guessed that!
I've heard that 1000s of times!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 06:36 AM

"Rainbow" eh...get over it!









Somewhere, over the rainbow.....skies are.....Sorry Rainbow.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: JennieG
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 03:38 AM

A friend's surname is Rainbow - it's her married name - she is a little tired of people saying to her "you must be very bright".

The novelty wore off a long time ago. When she hears it these days she smiles through gritted teeth and says nothing!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 02:23 AM

Ebbie - you are right - but what the hell?????

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Genie
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 01:37 AM

Well, having known people with such names as Dick Cox, Kay Pasa, and Anita Bath, I can empathize with those whose names have inevitably been the butt of jokes at least through grade school.   And as my last name is a single "t" away from a common British slang term for a) one's backside or b) a total jerk, I guess I'm lucky to be a Yank.   

Fortunately, by adulthood most people have ceased to torment everyone whose name suggests an oh-so-clever pun.

Of course, the boor will always be with us. And some of them, sadly, have talk shows with wide listenerships. How much more juvenile can you get than someone named, say, something easily parodied as "Rough Limpballs" calls Ellen Degeneres "Ellen Degenerate?"
(I'd say "Ellen The Generous" is a closer pun.) And sometimes the bad puns on peoples names that I hear from such talk show hosts or would-be comics seem to have nothing to do with the reality.)*

Even in "political satire," I find the pun funny only if it somehow parodies or ridicules something that really is true about the person whose name is being lampooned.


*Yes, I realize that the "conservative" talk show hosts may think being gay is a sin, but Ellen D. is known as being in committed relationships of longer duration than those of many Hollywood celebs, not for being promiscuous or otherwise "degenerate."   And I've heard a lot of similarly inappropriate name-calling from radio and TV personalities trying to be funny.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 01:31 AM

Meek and Coward does have a certain ambiance, Trubrit. :)

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 01:23 AM

think you are right but it is easier to smile and accept it when you are an adult --- in all honesty sometimes when people comment on my name I am so indifferent to it that I'm not completely sure of what they are saying -- then I realize-- oh ok, we're back in that conversation......

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: GUEST,Bert on Kelly's machine.
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 01:16 AM

I (Bert Hansell) used to get annoyed when people called me Gretel. But I got over it. They get such simple enjoyment out of believing that they are original, that now I just grin.

Making fun of names is a kind of folklore isn't it.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 01:07 AM

My last name is Coward -- I took my husband's name when I married 30 years ago....(used to be Firth) in England Coward is not an unusual name at all (think Noel) but over here I am amazed by the number of people who comment on it - saying things like - what an awful name. My kids hated it when they were younger but I told them you could make fun of any name under the sun of you wanted to (viz -- oh - your last name is BROWN - oh how gross - brown is the color of poop.....etc etc......at least it made my kids smile.)

My business partner now is Deborah Meek so we are ---- Meek and Coward!!!!! Only a few cracks so far......

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 09:19 PM

My surname is Bontrager. In school on occasion I and my brothers were called 'Barn Dragger', 'Bone Dragger' (Yes. It was a kinder, gentler time!), and 'Trigger'. So far as I know, it never bothered either me or my brothers.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 09:00 PM

More double phallic than simply redundant as pointed out by Groucho Marx.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: curmudgeon
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:40 PM

Has it yet occured to anyone here that Peter O'Toole has a redundant name?

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:28 PM

Well I've told it before but I went to school with a girl named Sharon Peters. We were innocent enough in the 8th grade that we never noticed anything odd (it was a kinder, gentler time).   One day my friend's Dad heard her name and asked Mike and I, "Is that name or a bathroom game?"

Then we got it........and of course we,uh .................yeah.......... I feel kinda' bad about that..........***sigh***................

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:27 PM

Joy, that's priceless!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: curmudgeon
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:27 PM

Many years ago, a fellow teacher and his wife were gifted with a daughter. They had agonised over names to protect her from mean children and finally settled on "Allison."

When Paul returned to class after the birth, a student asked what he had named his daughter. When he told the girl the chosen name, she said, "oh, like Alicein Wonderland!"

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Joybell
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:24 PM

Mostly at Christmas for me and short-lived.

True-Love once had a friend called John. He got so sick of the toilet/bathroom jokes that he insisted everyone call him "Africa". So from then on everyone said, "Excuse me I have to go to the Africa"
Cheers and Joy

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 08:11 PM

My wife's late husband was named Jim Cock. When he moved from the UK to the US, he wisely changed his name to "Cox."

With a name like "Offer," I've received my share of abuse - expecially in my first couple years of high school. I'm proud of my name and wouldn't think of changing it - but it did hurt when a certain faction decided to make fun of my name every time they saw me.

My name is part of who I am - it tells my story, and the story of my ancestors. Yes, it's hurtful to play with someone's name.

I suppose my wife has a different perspective, and may not be as tied to the name she was born with. She was born Christine and changed to Christina, and some of her friends have had three major first name changes and a number of last name changes. My wife has kept her surname, Slowick, since birth - although it was Anglicized when her grandparents arrived at Ellis Island from Poland.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Peace
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 07:46 PM

I know some Finkelsteins who became Finks. But that was to do with border people at immigration.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 07:39 PM

Bee-Dubya-Ell, I hear what you say about de-Americanizing names.

As I said above, I was brought up in a family that called "Oesterreich" "OH-strich", and only much later learned how it was pronounced in German, and what it meant.

When I was still in high school, in '47 or '48, my brother ( 5 years older) and his young wife moved to Duluth, where he had found an excellent job. They found that there was another "Oesterreich" family there which was numerous, well-known, and respected there, who pronounced the name "AY-strike", which is within shouting distance of the proper German pronunciation. They decided there was no use fighting a well-known pronunciation, and changed their pronunciation to suit.

To this day, my brother's branch of the family are all AY-strikes, and mine and my children's are still OH-striches.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Peace
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 07:13 PM

Yeah. You got it!

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 07:02 PM

Yeah, change it to Ima Dumbass.

Subject: RE: BS: No funny jokes about people's names
From: Peace
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 06:50 PM

It's simple. If your name is Ima Dipshit, change it.