4. There’s something up with people in my subculture and rejecting our names. I know so many people who chose their first or last names as adults. (Not talking about trans people.)
Feels like rootlessness trauma? Or like nerds refuse to memorize equations? Are they the same?
Conversation
5. I relate to this passage. To this day I get a funny sort of thrill—not entirely positive—when I hear my name or see it written.
My name does sort of allow me-the-algorithm to be in two places at once. This is powerful.
2
8
6. I won’t like the Orson Scott Card essay I’m stealing this idea from, but something science fiction tends to get wrong is that fancy new things often have the same names as their ancestor.
Smart phones are still called phones.
3
18
Partly to keep the arbitrariness at bay, naming conventions are good. My dad and 3 of of siblings all have light-themed names and it’s cool. For some reason the younger doesn’t, and IMO that’s too bad.
1
8
7. I think products, or really anything commercial, should all be uniquely googleable. I’m not sure whether it’s good or bad in the median case for people to be though.
Since my first name is misspelled, I’m easy to google and that’s been fine for me.
3
9
8. I am suspicious of pseudonyms, and I have never used one. I assume before too long everyone would find out it was me.
And if for some reason they didn’t, eventually writing analysis would reveal my identity anyway.
1
9
9. I feel very strongly about being called “mom” or “mommy” but NOT “mama”. Hard for me to explain.
Sometimes my kids have experimented with calling me “Divia”, which I don’t love but feels like their prerogative (in a way that “mama” doesn’t). It hasn’t stuck.
1
7
10. There is tension between avoiding jargon bc it’s annoying and overcomplicated, and using it so people see something with fresh eyes and don’t assume they already know it.
2
10
11. Everyone knows that words can be weapons in political conflict. This gives an advantage to those who can take their word choices as object and not be reactive about it.
Trying to think of an example that isn’t too loaded...
1
6
12. I cannot bring myself to call my older Indian relatives “auntie” and “uncle” because doing it feels like play acting. I am somewhat ashamed of this, though less than I used to be.
Usually I avoid addressing them at all... anyone else have this issue?
4
1
15
Replying to
That's it, I'm going to call you Divia Aunty from now on

