Pet Peeve Rant (skip if you want)

[ickaimp]

I have to admit, I have a pet peeve about names.
As Abe no Semei told Hiromasa in the Onmyoji movie, names are the earliest form of magic placed on a human, tying the person to a word. As Abe no Semei’s actor points out in an interview later, changing a person’s name changes who they are in a fundamental way.

In superstition, if you give a deamon your name, you’ve just given them permission to do what they want with you. If you name a deamon, you now have power over them.

Names are special. Names have power.

Names will define who you are.

For over a third of my life, I have been called ‘Icka’. I am Icka over 85% of the time currently. It’s what I introduce myself as, it’s who I think of myself as, it’s what people call me. Icka’s the creative one, the instinctual one, who will leap without looking based on a gut feeling. (which is usually right too)

Before that, I was ‘Jess’. It’s the name I was raised with. It’s on my resume, it’s on one e-mail, it’s what I’m called while at work and it’s what my Folks calls me. Jess is the logical one, the quieter one, the bookworm who figures out the logistics of things before acting.

When I meet people face to face, I will generally be introduced/introduce myself as ‘Icka’. Some people have trouble dealing with a name with the ‘Ick’ sound in it, so I will occasionally offer them the use of ‘Jess’ instead.

At no time do I offer to be called by the combination of the both.

Being called that will either be met one of two ways. Either you will be ignored because I figure you are calling some random small child behind me. Or I will kick you in the shins. Either way, you will be faced with a very irritated and angry redhead.

There are exceptions, of course.
A: If you are one of my Parents AND I’m in trouble. If middle name is included, I’m running like hell cause I just facked up and –know- it.
B: If you are my sister Samantha. Because after being raised with her, I don’t feel like getting into a fist fight over it because she’s bigger than me, got a bigger temper than me, is half-Italian and fights dirty.
C: If you are my dead grandparents age and call me ‘sweetie’ or ‘dearie’ the other half the time because you can’t remember much of anyone’s name. If other endearments are not included, I will assume you are senile, smile, nod and treat you accordingly because it’s not nice to kick your elders in the shins.

Calling me by my full name without said exceptions above means that right off, we have gotten off on the wrong foot. I.E. Instant, total and complete loathing on my part. You have failed. It also means that you are most likely not trust worthy and not a person I will care to spend time with, much less become friendly because you are now lower than a cockroach that has just been trampled on.

‘Jessie’ is tolerated by people who’s cultures don’t end female names with a non-vowel. It’s actually okay because then it’s usually pronounced ‘Yessi’ or ‘Hessi’, which makes it a whole new word. ^^;; And hey, it’s neat to learn about other cultures.

And really, other nicknames are fine. My youngest sister refers to me as ‘Brat’. Dad greets me as ‘Troublemaker’. I’m called ‘Ik’ or ‘Iks’ on chat. Variations on ‘Squid’ occur. I don’t mind. Come up with something unique and creative.

Just Don’t. Call. Me. ♦♦♦♦♦♦ .

Thank you.

Comments

[shade-scribbler.livejournal.com]

Very true, names have power and I am sorry that someone obviously does not understand how important your use of the less conventional nick-name is. Sucks when people think they know better than you do about yourself.

You are very right though about the names having meaning. When iw as little my family called me "Julie" and I was only "Julia" when in trouble. Being of the age that I was trying to learn what those grammer rules were I guess I determined that you ad "ia" when mad because one day in the grocery store My mom wouldn't get me something I wanted, I became very angry and pronounced her to be "mommia!". Strangely I do prefer Julia now, and onlya few people call me Julie or Jules. I always tell people I'll respond to anything polite!