Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Please use #2 pencils.

(In response to some questions about Ryan's post regarding me and nicknames, I thought I would sponsor this little quiz. Don't get nervous (or excited: I'm not giving anything away).)

Directions:

Please answer C for Correct way to use a nickname in Jessica's presence and I for Incorrect way to use a nickname in Jessica's presence.

Questions:

1. While walking through the hall at church, you see me and call out (reverently): "Hey, Jess, does your family want to come over tonight for some dessert?"

2. At Blogapalooza, you call me over and say: "Hey, Laurie, I'd like you to meet my good blog friend, Jess Romney."

3. While making a comment on my blog, you say: "Hang in there, Jess, we love you."

4. After meeting me for two seconds, you say: "It was really good to meet you two seconds ago, Jess."

5. In a conversation with another person, you say: "You know Jess Romney? Well, her blog is just hilarious."

6. While I am downstairs watching The Office, and Seth is climbing on the counters getting into the sprinkles, you call: "Jess, I need you! Quick!"

Answers:

1. Correct! If we are friends and you are passing me and think of inviting me over to share your chocolate cake with lots of frosting (which is my favorite) and you quickly shout out a shortening of my name, I think that's perfectly fine and endearing...even if you aren't offering me Sunday dessert.

2. Incorrect! If you are introducing me to someone, my name is not Jess. It is Jessica.

3. Correct! If we are good friends (or sisters in law) and you are feeling bad for me because I keep whining about my morning sickness, and you make me feel all loved and cozy by using a diminutive of my name, then you are correctly using the nickname.

4. Incorrect! If we've hardly known each other at all, let's not immediately revert to nicknames, mmkay?

5. Incorrect! While I appreciate the compliment on my blog, when talking about me to others, I like to be known by my full name.

6. Correct! If you are in a big hurry, by all means, shorten away.

I hope this clears up any nickname confusion. Do you have any nickname rules, for yourself or your kids?

50 comments:

Lauren in GA said...

I am happy to say that I only got one incorrect. One isn't bad, I guess :)

I really don't like it when people make up names for my kids that they think are funny, but are kind of mean spirited. In an old ward we lived in, a good friend's husband called my Adam, "Melon". Now, I admit that my sweet Adam was born with the same head circumference that he has today...but he has grown into his head quite nicely and it hurt my feelings when he referred to my son that way. I did get a kick out of my brothers calling my oldest E-man. (his name is Evan)...that was okay.

Do you mind it when people call your kids nicknames?

Anonymous said...

I don't think that I have ever called you Jess. But I, for some reason, feel guilty. Like I have maybe (even though I haven't). Takes me right back to the chastity talk in YW. I feel guilty because maybe I have, even though I haven't. Sorry for feeling like I called you Jess...but I didn't.

Lorena said...

Phew...I got them all correct...which you dear old (as in one month older than you) auntie should get those right, right?

I have called you Jess before, but only in a loving way, I'm sure you remember.

Elizabeth Caldwell said...

I am Elizabeth, I know it has 9 letters. I am sure that it would be easier for YOU to call me Beth, Liz, Liza, Betty or something else... but please dont.. LOL. My grandma called me Bethers, and that was ok... My sister called me Lizard Breath and my aunt called me Ducky (because my teeth were that bad)- that was NOT ok.

AND my son is John - not Johnny, not Jonathan, not Jack. If I had wanted him to have one of those names I would have put it on his birth certificate. I gave him a good strong biblical name - on purpose. My husband calls him John-O and my dad calls him Joanie... but I will just make Papa pay for his therapy...

If I have ever slipped and called you Jess I can assure you it was a typo.. I really dont like nicknames much...

Jake said...

First off...the Foyle's War first episode is called "The German Woman."

Second, I hope I don't slip up. I have a bad habit of shortening everyone's name. I mean it in a cozy and friendly way, though.

My name is weird--Gabi (rhymes with Bobby, not Abby). Most everyone calls me Gab (rhymes with blog!). You can ask my mom all about it when you meet her at blogapalooza.

Sarah Blue said...

There's not really a nickname for Sarah, so I never had to worry about that growing up. But I LOVE nicknames for Family use only! I have shortened versions of my children's names, but only our family can use them. To everyone else...They are to be called by their Full Name. :)

Mrs. Little Gray House said...

It really bugs me when people call me missy. Always has, ever since I was a little girl. And calling my girls "the twins" is equally yucky.

SydneyMin said...

My name is Sydney and I really don't mind if people call me Syd. It's kind of interesting to see which people feel comfortable enough to just shorten my name without asking or worrying about it. If they do ask, I just tell them it's up to them. Personally, I love nicknames because they tend to show endearment... which may be why they grate when someone you can't stand uses them! Interesting post, and yes, I've been lurking for a good while. Thanks for the laughs :)

Carie said...

I passed with flying colors. I totally get when shorten and when not to.

People generally call me boring old Carie - occasionaly people call me Care. I really like it when people call me Skinny (since my last name is Skinner)but it's usually just by accident. You know, Care-er Skinn-y instead of Carie Skinner.

day in the life of a prince said...

I never wanted Madellyn to be a "Maddie". We have done good so far, until this year when some of her friends started calling her "Maddie". It makes me CRAZY!! So I try really hard to say "Madellyn" loud and clear so hopefully they will get the clue!!

AnnEE said...

YES! I HATE being called Ann. I'm glad we're clearing this up before the Looza. The only time that one can call me Ann, is if they're really calling me An, as in, Heather, my sister, calls, "Hey, An, could you grab the....."

Otherwise NEVER call me Ann. I hate it. And, Lee is my last name, so when people call me Annalee, I want to punch them in the face.

I'm not talking about you, but you asked, and I'm answering.

Also, Jason HATES being called Jase, but he's too nice to correct people, so he cringes, and I laugh. I call him J, but am kind of weirded out when anyone else does. Long enough yet? You're pretty. I like you. in a really straight, platonic, way.

Mique (as in Mickey) said...

Clever little quiz Jessica Romney (how was that?).
Ok, so let me just chime in here. I have nickname issues as well. Seeing as though I have never gone by my full name (Micaela- I dare you to say it), one would think I would love nicknames. One would be wrong. I don't like it when people who don't know me call me Miq. I do like it when those I love call me Miq. But I wouldn't want to have a nickname of my nickname for things like introductions (did that make sense).
Point B- When naming my oldest- Jonathan- I told everyone that he would be Jonathan- not Jon. Not Johnny. Jonathan was named after my dh's little bro who died as a baby. But it wasn't my favorite name (at all). I have a crazy uncle Jon so that was a NO WAY for me. Instead his name was shortened to JJ (Jonathan James) or J. Jonathan is just a mouthfull. But I FUME when someone calls him Jon. Or puts it on his clothes at school (the nerve of his last teacher). It also says that they don't know him or me very well.
We tend to have a gazillion nicknames in both my dh and my family so naturally we have a gazillion amongst ourselves. But they are all pretty funny- and not necessarily name related (ie-Buddy Boo is our Andrew).
Wow- apparently I have big name issues. At least I am not alone.
And for the record I have a sister named Jessica who goes by Jess only to family and hates it when people call her Jessie.

Mique (as in Mickey) said...

For the record- I almost just erased my comment because I am thoroughly embarassed by the length of it. Sorry.

AnnEE said...

HAHAHA!! I hope you didn't think that I wrote that scathing comment directed at you. See, AnnEE Hazen was an easy name for people to know was a full name. Anne Lee? Screws me every time. So, yeah. AnnEE Lee. Like an Asian. Only not.

Kirbell said...

Jess...hmmm...I didn't even know it was an option! I've never heard anyone call you anything but Jessica. My two cents about nicknames: some people are just nickname nuts and have to call you by a nickname, whether it's an "official" one or they just make one up, whether it bothers you or not. Sometimes it's annoying, sometimes it's endearing. Maybe it depends on how much you love the person. ;-)

stephanie said...

I think we have had a conversation about this before and had similar sentiments. I had all the right answers to your quiz; except the perverse side of me wants to say "C" for #5 because you'd never know about it! For the record, my dear Kirbell(see above)always used a nickname for me and I never minded!

Lindsey said...

I will answer to just about anything including leslie (I get that a lot). My daughter just informed me that she will no longer like to be called Abby(there are too many of them) and now she would like to be called Abigail...

Linsey said...

My rule about names is call people what they introduce themselves to you as - easy enough, I thought, but SO many people don't do this.

My name does not have a natural nickname and so there are 3 people in the world who call me "Lins" - my Dad, my older sister, and my best friend of 26 years - NO ONE ELSE!

My kids DO NOT have nicknames - so um yeah, I have nickname rules I guess.

By the way, I have only ever heard you referred to as Jessica and would never have thought to call you Jess.

Christie said...

My biggest pet peeve is when someone calls me Chrissy. My name is CHRISTIE. I always think of Three's Company and do not want to be associated with bad 70s sitcom dum-dums who wear pigtails and sleep around. Mmm'kay?

I can so relate to you.

Stacy said...

I really don't care what people call me or my kids anymore - that's probably from 14 years of Cade giving everyone and their dogs a dang nickname (YOU know what I'm talking about!) So now it just doesn't bother me anymore! His nicknames for me are what he'd consider "terms of endearment". There's nothing endearing about "Bunkin' City". Yes, he called me "Bunkin' City" for about a year until I finally had words with him about it. Yeah, pretty disturbing.

Laurie said...

Just so you know, I got 100% on your quiz! Yeah for me.

As for nicknames, from my husband, I answer to Laurie or Lou (Laurie Lou stuck after a visit to Texas), and thankfully not Bruce any longer (I had lost my voice when that one started). My family calls me Laurie. But my real name is Laurel, so everyone from college and work usually only knows me as Laurel (which I appreciate now, but as a child I hated the kids asking "Where's Hardy?").

So here's what I hate about nicknames: People "cannot fathom it" that a girl has a nickname. (Like the Raelyn reference--"what's a fathomit?) It's like they're in a stupor when I explain my name situation. However, no one is shocked that a man named Richard may go as Dick, or a man named John goes by Jack.

So, I always swore that I would name my girls names that were their names. Turned out to be an unnecessary oath.

My boys do have nicknames, but they are the usual ones from their names and so nobody gets confused. Again, the boy nickname rule. And Jacob prefers to be Jacob, all on his own. But it bugs me when people call Nate "Nathan," since he's Nathaniel. I try to correct them, unless I'm never going to see them again.

Wow, sorry for the run-on comment.

Ryan said...

If this was a male blog with male commenters ... it would have got one comment if it was lucky and it would have been short. But that's kind of the point. Guys get used to crappy nicknames in high school. As a guy, if something like a name is going to set you off then you better get home schooled.

the wrath of khandrea said...

very funny.

i strictly prohibit nicknames... because all there really is for me is "andy", and since my name is pronounced ONdrea, not ANdrea, then it would be ONdy. which is not a cute nickname at all.

however, i rarely refer to any of my children by their given names.

i learned a lot about certain people in this post. informative.

Ilene said...

Did you catch me catching myself as we were getting off of the phone the other day, I said "See ya Jess....ica."

But I have made you yummy chocolate cake so I feel okay about that.

I had a friend's boyfriend call me "I" for awhile. That was NOT okay.

Margaret said...

Thanks for clearing that up...someday when I meet you I will be sure not to do a nickname faux pas with you!

Um...I don't like when people call me Maggot, Market, Hot Lips (MASH tv show anyone), and I'm not hot on Maggie either. Meg is fine. But Margaret is what I usually go by. Peace out.

jessica said...

Of course I got them all right...that was way to easy!

I loved this post because we have the same name, and I never thought about it before but I totally agree with when it is appropriate to call me be by my nickname vs. given name.

jessica said...

I have to note that when I first started my blog I should have just put down Jessica as my identity but I thought Aric would contribute more than he has...and I don't know how to go back and change it and now it's a little to late...so now to the whole blog world I shall be known as jess...oh well

Cami said...

I got 'em all right.
My in-laws called my son Daney when he was first born. I put a stop to that.
Nobody gets to call me 'Cam' except my husband, my mom and my good friend since kindergarten, Jamie.
Unfortunately, my husbands name has been introduced to the ward as 'Cam' and people are calling him that and it bugs me (does NOT offend me LOL). I love the name Cameron and use it half the time myself. Those are my only issues.
However, Cameron's cousin calls me Cametta and as I always wanted a less cutesy name, I like that just great. Other nicknames I've liked, but never stuck because just one person used them are Camelot and Cam da Lamb

Hollyween said...

I'm feeling paranoid that #4 applies to me when I may or may not have called you Jess. I'm pretty sure it didn't seem like we just met though so I'm going to be okay about it. I don't know about YOU. But me? Yeah. I'm fine.

I am NOT big on being called "Holl" unless it's by John or really good friends. But it really only bothered me a TON when I used to work and there was this sales guy who, every time he needed something would say, "Hey, Holl?" And it drove me crazy. He was notorious for shortening everyone's name.
I have a question: I have a friend who's husband's name is Ryan and I always call him Rhino even to his face. I realize it's not the nicest term, but I think everyone calls him Rhino. So now I'm curious. Does YOUR Ryan get called Rhino?

Lindsey said...

You know? I did go to volleyball for a few months last spring when Wade was small and in a swing. I am sure he would love running around the gym. I will give it a try again. :)

Tristan said...

HA! That is funny! I have another friend named Jessica and she goes by Jess all the time! Even signs her name Jess. So I will always refer to you and Jessica. I kind of know how ya feel though. People always shorten my name from Tristan to Tris or Trist. Which doesn't bother me that much...just sometimes I guess. I am not picky about it though. However my husband knows I prefer to be called Tristan and would never shorten my name. :)

heidiram said...

My sis and I were JUST talking about the name thing the other day. As in . . . we see all these lovely ladies names written in blogland, but are there nicknames, special pronunciations, etc.?

Since my sister's name is Heather and apparently it's super duper hard to distinguish between two H names Heather and Heidi . . . I have always answered to both. I even worked for years with a Heather and I would get the same thing at work. People would just interchange our names and call me Heidi or Heather, depending on the mood or day I guess. Now there's a Heather at church and it's the same thing. I get called Heather or Heidi . . . depending on the day.

So for those that happen to meet me at Blogapalooza and accidentally call me Heather . . . I will most likely respond to it and not even notice you just called me the wrong name. The easiest way to tell us apart . . . Heather is the VERY pretty and funny one.

Annie said...

I'm an all nickname, all the time person since my given name is Anne but no one ever called me that. It's Annie.

When I hit my 20s suddenly one of my aunts started calling me Anne, as if I suddenly must have matured out of the only name I've ever known. But it didn't stick.

I don't get mad; I just feel like an imposter when I answer to Anne.

Anonymous said...

The answers to ALL of the questions are INCORRECT. Her name is "Jessica"--not any of those others "that shall not be named".

Not that I'm against nicknames. Jessica's brother Matthew can be Matt; Nathan can be Nate; Samuel can be Sam. Her sister Rebekah can even be Bekah (NEVER Becky).

But Jessica is Jessica. The only allowable nickname was "J".

Sincerely,
Jessica's mother

Anonymous said...

Cute post!! I still think we can be friends. I'm done organizing and so now I'll have to use up my time reading and blogging. ;) You do that right!?! ha ha

I can't wait until next week! Woohoo! Par-tay!

Hazen5 said...

I did pretty well with this quiz! After I meet you in person at the Party, can I call you Jess? J/K

Tammy said...

of course I knew the answers! :) Some commenters are quite amusing!

Paige said...

I totally got all of these right. We need to do a post about how we spend our lives constantly correcting people about Adrianne's name, and she never does.

Call me whatever you want, just don't call me late for dinner (or dessert).

Paige said...

LOVE your mom's comment. Love it.

Celia Fae said...

I think I'm going to announce my real name is Seal just so I can get 40 comments about it.

Wot have I done?

elizabeth scott said...

Jessica, I am so happy that my incorrect was correct. I might be reading this wrong but it sounds like as your friend I can be correct no matter how incorrect with chocolate cake and frosting or a kind heart. I think that you could include flowers and that would sum it up for all women everywhere! I am so excited to see you soon! You are always so much fun to talk too.

elizabeth scott said...

Jessica, I am so happy that my incorrect was correct. I might be reading this wrong but it sounds like as your friend I can be correct no matter how incorrect with chocolate cake and frosting or a kind heart. I think that you could include flowers and that would sum it up for all women everywhere! I am so excited to see you soon! You are always so much fun to talk too.

brooke romney said...

Okay. You are so funny. I'm a total nickname person, so I'm sure I've violated the rules, but maybe not since I'm family??? I will remember from now on though! Hope you get geeling better soon.

Erin said...

There is only one person in my life who shortens my name to a nickname. Because, let's be honest, "Er" just sounds kinda silly. She's my BFF times 15 years so I guess she's earned the right to call me whatever she wants though...;)

Pretty sure I've never called you Jess...I have a good friend named Jessica and she despises the shortening--but despises "Jessie" even more. :)

Jill said...

So is "Jessica" just the best and safest way to go!!?? I'll plan on that. See ya soon!

Anisa said...

I got them all correct!! I agree with you, there is a time and a place.

However, I think there is a major difference between a nickname and a shortened name. Jess is just a shortened name. If you were called "witchy poo" like my dad called me, that would be a nick name. My shortened version is just Nis.

Meghann said...

I scored 100%, thank you very much. I am proud to say, I DID wait to call you Jess until after I knew you.

Rachel B. said...

Love this! So funny. I've totally had the people that have known me for 2 seconds call me Rach. Not cool.

TexasTwinsTwice said...

haha--it's GOOD you put it in writing so us bloggers ever cross that line =).

crystal said...

My only 2 nickname rules:

1. When someone calls my "Crys" (Chris...whatever), I want to vomit in my mouth.

2. When someone calls Isabelle "Izzy," I want to PUNCH them in the mouth.