Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site watdaisy.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!watdaisy!saquigley From: saquigley@watdaisy.UUCP (Sophie Quigley) Newsgroups: net.women,net.kids Subject: What's in a name Message-ID: <6495@watdaisy.UUCP> Date: Sat, 11-Feb-84 16:29:36 EST Article-I.D.: watdaisy.6495 Posted: Sat Feb 11 16:29:36 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 12-Feb-84 03:53:25 EST Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 23 I don't think that the argument "we shouldn't name children this way because that would be imposing our point of view on them" holds any water. Obviously, no matter what decision we take on how to name our children, we are imposing our point of view on them, whether it is to live with the status quo and give them their father's name, or whether it is to do something completely different. No matter what, we are not asking them for their point of view and have no way of doing so, so there is always a chance that they will not like our decision. I think the best we can do is give them some name which is consistent with our philosophy and our tastes, hope that they will be satisfied with the result, and help them change it if they aren't. I am just making this point as I have received letters accusing me of forcing my point of view on my children. I thought that it was pretty obvious that all parents end up forcing their point of wiew on their children, especially in the first years, as it is quite impossible in most cases to find out what their children's point of view is. Apparently some people think that they are bringing up their own children without imposing their ideas on them. Well, I think that's a piece of crap, as crappy as the idea that there is such a thing as an unbiased opinion. But that's another story.... Sophie Quigley watmath!saquigley