o call her George. She replied with an emphatic, "NO!" When I asked why, she answered, "Because George isn't my name."

"EXACTLY!" I retorted.

It is insulting to have someone call you something else, and it should be insulting as well, to the person who just finished asking; sometimes I wonder if they have a brain at all! We're supposed to be adults now, they obviously haven't grown up.

My answer to those who persist in the tirade of inventing names, and calling others by another name other than my Christian name is, "I will simply not answer you.

You know, when a person asks your name, one might think that they truly want to know. And then again, one would believe that the answer given is actually what they want to be called! One should think that a person would actually know what their own name is. So why can't the person asking, understand this?

My name is Pamela.

It isn't Pam or Pammy, Paula, Bubba or anything else shortened or contorted.

The conversation usually goes like this: "Hello, what's your name?"

"My name is Pamela."

"Oh, well hello, Pam, nice to meet you."

"Uhh, no, my name is Pamela."

"Yes, that's what I said, Pam."

(As the blood curdles to my brain...)

"I'm sorry, you must have misunderstood me (as I gently grit my teeth), my name is Pamela, not Pam."

"Oh, well (laughing), I don't like Pamela, I'll just call you Pam."

"I'm sorry, but, Pamela is my name, NOT Pam."

"Well, you don't mind if I call you Pam, do you? Pamela is so formal-and it's so lonnng--What's wrong with Pam-why don't you like it?"

"Well, yes, I do mind; You see, I was named Pamela at birth; I don't like the name Pam and if my parents wanted me to be called Pam, they would have named me so."

Why is it that people seem to have the need to shorten or change another person's name? Had i wanted to be called by a nickname, i would have stated it.

I am NOT a picky person and I have a great sense of humour. But, I AM picky about my name, and I have an aversion to those who can't seem to realize the importance of being called by your rightful name (especially if one has just asked me)! One would think that after the 3rd or 4th time that they had been corrected, that they would get the gist; I guess not all of us catch on quickly.

As much as some hate being called something else, there are those that find it too bothersome to continue the relentless repetition of correcting their name to others who have now become just a mere irritant, instead of being their friend. But it's important enough to me to be persistent.

I do not respond to the name Pam (and neither do I hear you when calling from a crowd) because Pam is NOT my name!!

I once asked a girl who insisted on shortening my name, if she would like me to call her George. She replied with an emphatic, "NO!" When I asked why, she answered, "Because George isn't my name."

"EXACTLY!" I retorted.

It is insulting to have someone call you something else, and it should be insulting as well, to the person who just finished asking; sometimes I wonder if they have a brain at all! We're supposed to be adults now, they obviously haven't grown up.

My answer to those who persist in the tirade of inventing names, and calling others by another name other than my Christian name is, "I will simply not answer you.

Uhh, no, my name is Pamela."

"Yes, that's what I said, Pam."

(As the blood curdles to my brain...)

"I'm sorry, you must have misunderstood me (as I gently grit my teeth), my name is Pamela, not Pam."

"Oh, well (laughing), I don't like Pamela, I'll just call you Pam."

"I'm sorry, but, Pamela is my name, NOT Pam."

"Well, you don't mind if I call you Pam, do you? Pamela is so formal-and it's so lonnng--What's wrong with Pam-why don't you like it?"

"Well, yes, I do mind; You see, I was named Pamela at birth; I don't like the name Pam and if my parents wanted me to be called Pam, they would have named me so."

Why is it that people seem to have the need to shorten or change another person's name? Had i wanted to be called by a nickname, i would have stated it.

I am NOT a picky person and I have a great sense of humour. But, I AM picky about my name, and I have an aversion to those who can't seem to realize the importance of being called by your rightful name (especially if one has just asked me)! One would think that after the 3rd or 4th time that they had been corrected, that they would get the gist; I guess not all of us catch on quickly.

As much as some hate being called something else, there are those that find it too bothersome to continue the relentless repetition of correcting their name to others who have now become just a mere irritant, instead of being their friend. But it's important enough to me to be persistent.

I do not respond to the name Pam (and neither do I hear you when calling from a crowd) because Pam is NOT my name!!

I once asked a girl who insisted on shortening my name, if she would like me to call her George. She replied with an emphatic, "NO!" When I asked why, she answered, "Because George isn't my name."

"EXACTLY!" I retorted.

It is insulting to have someone call you something else, and it should be insulting as well, to the person who just finished asking; sometimes I wonder if they have a brain at all! We're supposed to be adults now, they obviously haven't grown up.

My answer to those who persist in the tirade of inventing names, and calling others by another name other than my Christian name is, "I will simply not answer you.

ame Pam and if my parents wanted me to be called Pam, they would have named me so."

Why is it that people seem to have the need to shorten or change another person's name? Had i wanted to be called by a nickname, i would have stated it.

I am NOT a picky person and I have a great sense of humour. But, I AM picky about my name, and I have an aversion to those who can't seem to realize the importance of being called by your rightful name (especially if one has just asked me)! One would think that after the 3rd or 4th time that they had been corrected, that they would get the gist; I guess not all of us catch on quickly.

As much as some hate being called something else, there are those that find it too bothersome to continue the relentless repetition of correcting their name to others who have now become just a mere irritant, instead of being their friend. But it's important enough to me to be persistent.

I do not respond to the name Pam (and neither do I hear you when calling from a crowd) because Pam is NOT my name!!

I once asked a girl who insisted on shortening my name, if she would like me to call her George. She replied with an emphatic, "NO!" When I asked why, she answered, "Because George isn't my name."

"EXACTLY!" I retorted.

It is insulting to have someone call you something else, and it should be insulting as well, to the person who just finished asking; sometimes I wonder if they have a brain at all! We're supposed to be adults now, they obviously haven't grown up.

My answer to those who persist in the tirade of inventing names, and calling others by another name other than my Christian name is, "I will simply not answer you.

at they would get the gist; I guess not all of us catch on quickly.

As much as some hate being called something else, there are those that find it too bothersome to continue the relentless repetition of correcting their name to others who have now become just a mere irritant, instead of being their friend. But it's important enough to me to be persistent.

I do not respond to the name Pam (and neither do I hear you when calling from a crowd) because Pam is NOT my name!!

I once asked a girl who insisted on shortening my name, if she would like me to call her George. She replied with an emphatic, "NO!" When I asked why, she answered, "Because George isn't my name."

"EXACTLY!" I retorted.

It is insulting to have someone call you something else, and it should be insulting as well, to the person who just finished asking; sometimes I wonder if they have a brain at all! We're supposed to be adults now, they obviously haven't grown up.

My answer to those who persist in the tirade of inventing names, and calling others by another name other than my Christian name is, "I will simply not answer you.

o call her George. She replied with an emphatic, "NO!" When I asked why, she answered, "Because George isn't my name."

"EXACTLY!" I retorted.

It is insulting to have someone call you something else, and it should be insulting as well, to the person who just finished asking; sometimes I wonder if they have a brain at all! We're supposed to be adults now, they obviously haven't grown up.

My answer to those who persist in the tirade of inventing names, and calling others by another name other than my Christian name is, "I will simply not answer you."

Pamela has 3 syllables, and isn't any longer than the names Monica or Deseree` or America. We don't shorten those names to: "Mon" or "Des" or "Am"-we call them by the names that were given us. Why does a person bother to ask another person what their name is if they aren't going to be bothered to call them by that name, respectfully? It simply baffles me!

As I am not the only one who continues to encounter this issue, I stand to serve as a representative for all those who are afraid, embarrassed, and/or are simply tired of battling this issue for themselves. Please understand that when someone bothers to introduce themselves to you, they are also requesting that you refer to them by the name in which they had originally presented themselves.

I am not being ugly nor am I trying to be ugly. I would just like to be called by my proper name & the name by which I asked to be called.

Is that too hard or too much to ask for? I didn't think so.

Pamela Honea