link, b5, naming

[rivendellrose]

Crap. I'd really hoped we could do better than this - I love my state, and I had genuinely hoped we'd be smarter and kinder than this.

Anyway. Enough of politics.

We ended up skipping the bar last night, as Fey wasn't feeling well and I was tired from work, so instead ordered a pizza and watched some B5. It was so much fun actually watching the show with someone else who loves it, for a change. Especially since so far, I've been so very impressed by the 3rd season - they've really made amazing progress. The guest actors are actually good now, they seem to have hired someone who actually knows how to coordinate fighting stunts (thank goodness), and the plot is really hitting full steam. It's a beautiful thing to see.

Aaaaand I just got a reply from one of our software vendors, who has apparently decided that it would be a good move to start calling me Jenny. After recieving one email from me. I do not encourage this. There is a small pool of people in the world who are allowed to call me Jenny - if you can, you are either family (or know me through my family), or a friend from my highschool or earlier. I've made these exceptions because these people have known me too long to be expected to change what they call me. That's it.

More than that, it's rude to call someone by a dimunitive without permission - it's an implication of intimacy, or that you think the person isn't worth treating with adult respect. Now, had she asked, I would have told her that I will happily be called Jen by anybody. That's fine. A bit odd, given that we have only the most tenuous of business relationships, but still acceptable. I don't even mind the little old-lady-salespeople or southerners who call me "honey" or something. No problem. I know that's unconscious habit for a lot of people, and a trained way of putting somebody at ease with others. And it's certainly not this woman's fault that the dimunitive version of my name sends me right back to a ton of pre-pubescent and teenage angst. There's no way she could know. But seeing that name makes me think three things:

1. Do I know this woman? Is there any way she could know me?
2. Who the hell taught this woman that unsolicited intimate terms were the way to deal with business people?
3. Would this be happening if my name were obviously older or male?

Seriously, can you imagine getting an email from a Michael and in your reply automatically shortening it to Mikey? I can't. And I don't think she'd be able to, either. Argh.

Anyway. Getting back to work now. I just had to bitch about that.

Comments

[maho-kiwi.livejournal.com]

I can see shortening it to "Mike", because that's still mature and professional. Still a bit rude, if you decide to call them by something other than what they've given you. Adding the Y to someone's name does seem a little weird in that "I think you're a small" way >->;;

Also, from the Article
Attorneys defending the marriage law said the state has a legitimate interest in regulating relationships that produce children

...gay issues aside, I find that sentence alarmingly creepy. "A legitimate interest in regulating relationships that produce children".

...I don't really want the state regulating something like that. Makes it sound a bit like a breeding farm 0-o

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Sure. Same as I can see shortening Jennifer to Jen - usually people only do it in person, since the full name can be a bit unwieldy (wow, that looks wrong...), but Jenny? Totally makes me feel like a twelve year-old. I realize I'm just an office assistant, but this is a business. We are their customer. This is not cool.

I know, isn't that weird? Weird as in "eep," mind you, not weird as in strange. It's kind of like the whole "all women of childbearing ages should treat themselves as pre-pregnant" thing that came out a while ago. Did you see any of that? I am all for women's health, but the emphasis on doing it for your prospective children (read: women always have babies eventually and we need you healthy so you can raise Strong Healthy Soldiers and Workers for the State) was more than a bit creepy to my mind.

[ursula]

I can see the objection to the -y, but honestly I think Jenny is just a more common nickname than Jen, or at least more traditional. (If you play with the Baby Name Voyager:

http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html

a great way to waste hours & hours, you'll see that Jenny and Jennie make it into the top 1000 as names of their own, and ditto for Mike, but Mikey and Jen don't.)

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

It is more traditional, definitely. And I can understand shortening it, it was just kind of a shock. :P

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

Arghhhh. I hate that. It happened here in the office - I introduce myself as Katherine, one person called in asking for Katie, and suddenly, everyone in the office is calling me Katie. Because, you know, the name I was given when I couldn't pronounce Katherine is such a mature thing to be called in business. And even worse are the people who decide to call me Kathy or Kate. Arghh.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. Yeah, at least the people actually in my office are good about it. And considering it took two months before a sales rep tried it, I suppose I should be grateful...

[lennaofmidearth.livejournal.com]

2. Who the hell taught this woman that unsolicited intimate terms were the way to deal with business people?

I don't know, but I think someone's teaching a course on it somewhere. You wouldn't believe the names and endearments I get. I think the most wtf? one I've had is, Mrs. Zach. He's my business partner, not my husband. Yeah, lots of people assume we're married, but they tend to ask first. It's funny now though because when I say no, I sometimes add in that I am dating his brother, depending on who I'm speaking with.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

*Laughs* That one makes a degree of sense, at least, although it kind of wigs me when people assume a relationship between two people just because they see them together or they work together or something. My dad and I had some poor photographer ask if we were engaged, one time. I felt kind of sorry for her; she looked so mortified when we corrected her.

Best one here at work - yesterday I got some idiot telemarketer who, despite my answering the phone "___ Corporation, how may I help you?" didn't seem to get that this was a business phone, and immediately assumed that I was our CTO (also the CEO's wife).

Me: "No, she's out on lunch."
Him: "Oh, this is a business?"
Me: *Headdesk*

[reve-lucide.livejournal.com]

Hey, at least you live in a state where gay marriage is being discussed, even though that discussion ended in a wrong and close-minded fashion. We don't even try to have that conversation in Utah. It's just not gonna happen.

As far as the Jenny thing goes, ICK. What on earth is that woman thinking? It reminds me of the way GeeDub gives condescending nicknames to everyone in his employ. It's all about diminishing your importance and enhancing hers. You should tell her to shove it. :P

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I know. I'm proud of us for talking about it, I'm just disturbed not only by the fact that it didn't go through, but the reasoning that was used. If they wanted to play the whole "not a decision for the judiciary" card, that'd be fine. I'd understand that. But this whole "marriage is for procreation" thing worries me. Because you know it's not men's reproduction that they're worried about. It's all right back to that icky "pre-pregnant" thing from a few months ago. :P

He does, doesn't he? And dear gods does that man have social issues... I couldn't believe the thing with the German chancellor last week. Poor woman. Can you imagine?!

[reve-lucide.livejournal.com]

Marriage is for procreation? Shit. I guess I'll have to get divorced then, because I don't plan on ever having children.

I mean, how asinine is that? I'd feel better about the whole thing if they would just say, "Listen, we're homophobes, okay? And that's why we're so against gay marriage." It's the deceit and the manipulation and the "That's really not what we care about here" that gets to me.

Oh my god, that poor woman. Did you see how disgusted she was? I mean, look at his face in this screencap.
http://www.taylormarsh.com/images2/02-mfb-5127751-bush-merkel-quer,templateId=renderScaled,property=Bild,width=370.jpg

The lights are on, but nobody's home. Sadly.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Exactly. And don't forget, you know, you and I are smack in the prime years of fertility - we should be taking fabulous care of our bodies, not for ourselves mind you (that would be selfish and arrogant and unfeminine!) but because we might get pregnant. And wouldn't it be awful if we were in bad health for the baby. After all, our nation needs good, strong, loyal, Christian workers and soldiers. And what better do we have to do than sit around planning for our lives as producers for the Motherland? *Dies of sarcasm*

Seriously, I wish our local paper's website wasn't down, so I could send you a worse article. The one I originally linked to was actually pretty tame, comparatively.

He looks like something out of a Boris Karloff movie... at least he would, if that weren't a horrible insult to poor Mr. Karloff. Ugh. He's such a creepy bastard.

[reve-lucide.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Seriously. "Pre-pregnant?" That sounds like something straight out of The Handmaid's Tale! I guess we should just all start taking pre-natal vitamins and stop drinking alcohol, because who knows when we might get pregnant? It could happen at any time!

By the way -- "Producers for the Motherland"? Hilarious.

George just gets more and more embarrassing every day. I really do wonder what the rest of the world thinks about us "electing" him as our leader. Notice the "electing" part is in quotes. *sigh*

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, that's exactly what the official recommendation was... I seem to recall that most of the women on my friends-list responded by announcing their intention to go out and get a beer. One woman said it was almost enough to make her, a lifelong non-smoker, want to take up the habit just to be contrary.

The best post I saw on the subject (http://misia.livejournal.com/990721.html), and the same lovely woman's response to said article. (http://misia.livejournal.com/991067.html)

I like rhetoric - it's fun to mock. XD

That's the worry, isn't it? What on earth must they think of us, after two terms in a row...

[miss-arel.livejournal.com]

Season 3 is ♥. I'm hoping you won't finish the whole series before I get back up to Seattle! really glad you're enjoying it. (I know I've said that before, but it's a good series and it's really fun having someone to geek out with over it.) Also, Season 4 is made of much the same kind of win and awesome as season 3, so.

About the article... well. That kinda really sucks. >_< I mean, I can't say I'm really surprised, I can't see any major progress being made on the same-sex marriage front until the current administration is out of office (and ideally, when the GOP doesn't have a majority in both houses) but... still. It's disheartening, seeing something like that. :(

As for names, yeah, calling you Jenny after having just met you does seem pretty presumptuous. I've never really become too attached to Jessica, Jessie, Jessi, or Jess, so I don't really care which of them people call me, but yeah, I can definitely understand why it's pissing you off. ^^;

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

It is! Watched the one where Delenn is kidnapped by the Night Watch remnants, the one with Vir's fiancee, the one with King Arthur, and the one with Bester's girlfriend being cryogenically frozen and stolen away to be used as a Shadow weapon, all this evening. Wow. The only thing I can think to say is... umm.... yay I was right about Lennier? Not like it wasn't right there, but I'm still feeling proud for picking up on the "devotion just slightly beyond the call of duty, there, much?" thing. Wheee. He's so woobie and adorable.

And don't worry about me getting to the end before you get back. I'm just trying to catch up to you! I fully intend on saving season 5 until you're back here, so I can have someone to squee and freak out over it with. XD I'm not sure I can promise saving season 4, though... I see that 3 ends on Z'ha-dum or whatever, so that might be... a tough one to let go. Depends on how long it takes me to get the DVDs. But I'm definitely planning on buying Season 3 at the very least.

No, and, as one of the guys at work pointed out, social change is really what we need, not legislative change. Ah well.

It's the presumption, and the baggage. But when I emailed back with my usual sig, she went right back to using my full name, so... I think the point was taken without my having to raise a fuss. *grins*

[miss-arel.livejournal.com]

Heee. Yes. Much love for Season 3, when all of a sudden the series goes from 'good' to '...wow.' And it suddenly becomes apparent why the fans of this series are so devoted. XD

yay! As long as we can watch season 5 together, I'm happy. ^^ Definitely don't want you to put off season 4 on my account, since it's as good as season 3.

Heee. Yes. Much love for Season 3, when all of a sudden the series goes from 'good' to '...wow.' And it suddenly becomes apparent why the fans of this series are so devoted. XD

yay! As long as we can watch season 5 together, I'm happy. ^^ Definitely don't want you to put off season 4 on my account, since it's as good as season 3.

No, and, as one of the guys at work pointed out, social change is really what we need, not legislative change. Ah well.

Right. In order to change the minds of the lawmakers, first we need to change the minds of the people who put them in power. Which takes a long time and is a difficult process, but it does happen.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what it is. The love has been steadily growing since I first started, but now it's just snowballed out of control. Watching four episodes at a stretch probably isn't helping, mind you, but still. Serious overload of cute. And we will definitely watch 5 together. I'm not sure when I'll be getting 4, so maybe you'll even be back for that. Or maybe I can re-order them so we can go through again - I've been having to go so quickly, I wouldn't mind that in the slightest. XD

Right now, I'm just going nuts to find out more about the various cultures. (I'm such an anthro geek...) I love the little bits and pieces that come out, but it all makes me want to know more more more more more.

It is, and it does, but it's the necessary step.

[miss-arel.livejournal.com]

Well, trust me, when you finish 3, you're probably gonna wanna start 4 ASAP. XD Just a guess.

By the way, I don't know how intereted you are in Spider-Man, or in superhero comics in general, but JMS has been writing Amazing Spider-Man since 2002, and I just ordered a bunch of the trades for cheap off Mile High Comics last night. So if you wanna read those once I get back up there, you're welcome to.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've got that feeling, too. :D Between Z'ha'dum and (yes, I read the little blurb in the DVD case) the whole thing with Anna coming back... I'm looking forward to that. Here, Sheridan - have some ANGST. Also, Delenn? ANGST. ...And poor Lennier sits off in a corner being ignored. *Hugs him*

Hmmm.... yeah, I might have to check that out. Spider-Man is definitely one of the superheroes that I like, and I'd be interested to see what JMS does with him. I'd also be interested in poking my nose into Joss' run on X-Men, at some point. In the interest of continuing my comics education, of course. ;)

[cordeliadelayne]

I think some people are just born without manners :D It took over a year before people at my work called me by the short form of my rl name, and that was only because I started signing emails with it. And I only sign emails like that to people I have some sort of work relationship with, otherwise it's my full name. I would never randomly shorten someone's name that I didn't know... or even if I did know them without permission first.

And as for B5 - I loved that when it first aired, so it's nice to see you enjoying it. I've only got Season 1 on DVD so far. I'm still blown away with how well stuff from the early episodes impacted on later seasons. Say what you will about JMS but he did at least have a plan.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Exactly. She seems like a decent enough person, just a little presumptuous and unaware of social niceties, perhaps. :P

He does indeed - I've never seen a long-term series that's done a better job with weaving things in. Every time I think we've seen the last of a person or idea, it just sneaks it's way back in when it's least expected! I love that kind of writing.

[reve-lucide.livejournal.com]

I've never seen a long-term series that's done a better job with weaving things in.

*cough* Farscape *cough*

Sorry, couldn't resist. XD

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I'll get to it, I promise! I'm sure as soon as I'm done with B5, I'll need something to fill the empty gap it'll leave in my schedule heart. ;)

[reve-lucide.livejournal.com]

Haha, I'm so pushy when it comes to fandom.

But seriously, if that's something you like about B5, then it's possible that you'll really like Farscape. I can't think of one single episode that isn't referenced again at some point, importantly or not. And the characters remember everything that happens to them as well, and there are always far-reaching consequences.

/rambly blah

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

We're all pushy about the things we love. And honestly, you're not the only one pushing Farscape on me, so I'm sure I'll get to it eventually. I just only have the attention span (and fandom-obsessive-nature) for one series at a time, that's all.

Storylines with far-reaching consequences are the best kind. Especially if they start out as something tiny and seemingly inconsequential. I love that kind of thing.

[reve-lucide.livejournal.com]

Me too ... I've seriously been unable to read/write Firefly or BSG fic. I'm too single-minded, and Farscape is entirely too encompassing to be thinking about other fandoms.

Storylines with far-reaching consequences are the best kind. Especially if they start out as something tiny and seemingly inconsequential. I love that kind of thing.

Hoo boy, is Farscape ever the show for YOU.

[theladyfeylene.livejournal.com]

Mooo. Okay, have left a couple of voice messages for Tiff, but haven't heard back, and I still have stuff at your place. So. What did you want to do?

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Done and done. Hope you have a good flight!!!

[narsilion.livejournal.com]

Crap indeed. I really was hoping for better.
I'm glad season 3 is so good, I'm very excited to see
an episode sometime.
Eeep, sorry about the name thing. Sounds like she's trying to either get one up on you, or trying to get way to chummy in a phony way.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

We'll have to try for that, then, before Season 3 goes back. I'm planning on buying it, but that'll take a few weeks.

A little of the latter, I think, and a little of her just being uber-enthusiastic. She quit it as soon as I replied back with my full name; not a word on the subject, but it got the idea across.

[(Anonymous)]

If you enjoy B5, you may find this interesting.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=7969

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Ooo. That is interesting, thank you!