What's with "English" names

[inside]

I currently deal with a large base of Asian customers. What's with Li Long calling himself Bruce Long? Why conform for whitey?

ugh...someone needs to show your large asian base your large ignorance...

[stephen_c]

if he wants to be bruce, let him be bruce.

[Wiltshire]

Originally Posted by inside

I currently deal with a large base of Asian customers. What's with Li Long calling himself Bruce Long? Why conform for whitey?

assimilation

integration.

What's wrong with conforming to the standards of a culture at your own will? Even in a culture with a respect for diversity, I'm sure a westernized name is better suited to some people then their initial names loyal to their heritage.

It's a personal choice; why judge if you haven't experienced it.

[mapleleaf4ever]

They've also done a study showing that people with English names end up getting hired more often than people with unfamiliar foreign names. It may not be a conscious decision on part of the employer but that's the way she goes.

[Clayton.]

Perhaps they just got tired of hearing their name pernounced wrong.

[SEAN!]

alot of chinese people have 4 names, a family name and tw chinese names given by their parents and an english name that they pick later. It was pretty common in Hong Kong for people to pick english names because HK used to be a british colony.

[C_squared]

personally i think names like "candy" and "kitty" are excellent english names.

[SEAN!]

Originally Posted by C_squared

personally i think names like "candy" and "kitty" are excellent english names.

i met a dude named amanda once

[yoko*]

I think your comment is pretty ignorant to the reality of the experience of having an ethnic name in Canada. It's not for you to judge someone's personal decision and to just throw everyone who has changed their name in one stereotypical category. Then again, it's one of those "you'd have to be in my shoes to get it" type of things, so I don't blame your ignorance.

With that said, I use my middle name in Toronto. I don't really care, because I don't have many people to explain my choice to out here. Most ties I had in the past are lost to me anyways. The only people who would really care to know, who know (and accept my decision) is my best friend, my parents and family. They know why I did it and wouldn't dare judge me for it, and that's why they are the most important people in my life.

On the other hand, an old ex-friend messaged me about my decision and was very unnecessarily critical, telling me that I shouldn't try to "assimilate" and that my japanese name is a beautiful one. I was ticked off beyond belief, because I felt that she had made a snap-judgement about my decision as though she had any right to.

Changing your name is a very personal decision and not all of us (And probably not most of us) take it lightly, and it's not yours or anyone's right to judge. We all have our different reasons, even if it's a change from an ethnic name to a more mainstream "anglicized" name or just from "jenny" to "janine". I think we all have a right to self-definition/determination.

[yoko*]

Oh, and I am pretty damn sure that none of us are "conforming for whitey". Sickening.

[miss.myra]

I go by my middle name which is far weirder and less common than my first name..does that mean you won't bother me telemarketing?

[miss.myra]

furthermore, why does it matter to you what people call themselves? I admire Mr. Lebowski for his 'the dude' moniker.

[SEAN!]

Originally Posted by miss.myra

I go by my middle name which is far weirder and less common than my first name..does that mean you won't bother me telemarketing?

myra mcintosh has a unique ring to it.

i remember you telling my your first name but i forgot what it was, both my names are pretty boring, i think im gonna start going by shompton professionally now.

[shogun rua]

there's nothing wong with ping pong

[inside]

oh wow. I didn't realize this would cause such controversy. Your all right. I do have no idea what it means to have an ethnic name and what it would mean to me. I guess I just find ethinc names more interesing, but yeah everyone has the right to be called what they want to be called.

ez

[shogun rua]

i think asians for some reason are less inclined to go with ethnic names. I see lots of brown people who still go by their traditional names.

[stephen_c]

Originally Posted by yoko*

-cut

With that said, I use my middle name in Toronto. I don't really care, because I don't have many people to explain my choice to out here. Most ties I had in the past are lost to me anyways. The only people who would really care to know, who know (and accept my decision) is my best friend, my parents and family. They know why I did it and wouldn't dare judge me for it, and that's why they are the most important people in my life.

On the other hand, an old ex-friend messaged me about my decision and was very unnecessarily critical, telling me that I shouldn't try to "assimilate" and that my japanese name is a beautiful one. I was ticked off beyond belief, because I felt that she had made a snap-judgement about my decision as though she had any right to.

Changing your name is a very personal decision and not all of us (And probably not most of us) take it lightly, and it's not yours or anyone's right to judge. We all have our different reasons, even if it's a change from an ethnic name to a more mainstream "anglicized" name or just from "jenny" to "janine". I think we all have a right to self-definition/determination.

good thing cuz beatles fans worldwide are still mad at u.

[yoko*]

Originally Posted by stephen_c

good thing cuz beatles fans worldwide are still mad at u.

You're not only hilarious, you're original too. Winner.

[C_squared]

Originally Posted by stephen_c

good thing cuz beatles fans worldwide are still mad at u.

wow, the inane brain droppings on the internet every day just cannot be unread.

[just.b.cous*]

Originally Posted by inside

oh wow. I didn't realize this would cause such controversy. Your all right. I do have no idea what it means to have an ethnic name and what it would mean to me. I guess I just find ethinc names more interesing, but yeah everyone has the right to be called what they want to be called.

ez

when I read your opening line in this thread everything you said here is pretty much what I thought you were getting at to begin with.. - I especially have to agree with ethnic names being more interesting too, so yeah, I would have also opened the thread with the same line "what's with English names?"... not intentionally meaning I have a problem with them just wondering why anyone would want 'plain' (in Canadian eyes) names like Bruce, John or Peter (not saying anything negative to anyone whose birth names are such... - my first name is one of those)...

[-evil-duerr-]

lol inside, quit trying to be shogun rua

[C_squared]

I think you meant to say:

Originally Posted by inside

What's with "EngRish" names

fyp

[stabmyhead]

Is this on the same level as whiteys getting Asian tattoos, drawing anime, and eating with chopsticks, OMG - WHY CONFORM TO AZN!?!

[-evil-duerr-]

^haha there's no such thing as those