07 July 2004

Names again

Last year I wrote that "identities are always in some fashion relational, and not merely self-chosen. We are not solely responsible for deciding who we are; others inevitably have a share in this." While this is certainly true of general names for groups of people, personal names are obviously different. Here I am inclined to add one more item to my list of pet peeves: after I have introduced myself to someone as David, he or she unilaterally shortens this to "Dave," a name which I do not call myself and which those knowing me best would not call me either. Fortunately very few people actually do this.

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