After recent field work and experience I've come to realise one crucial reality on this here situation:
That there is only a short period of time or window of opportunity within which you are able to correct a mistake-maker which occurs somewhere after their initial making of the mistake and before their continued application of the misconstrued name.
This arbitrary amount of time is crucial in the amendment of the mispronounced name, as once it has lapsed, it becomes utterly awkward and almost impossible to correct the mis-pronouncer.
Case in Point:
At the gym, somewhere in the 5 days a week I'm there and the 673.8 days I've been a member, somebody, somewhere mispronounced my name, leaving out the very necessary and conspicuous 'd' that appears in the latter portion of it. This one little mistake which went uncorrected and was heard by an entire class of gym-goers, has created a domino effect of misinformed acquaintances who now genuinely believe my name is D-less.
Now, now, now I implore you- do not take pity on me, no one is to blame here other than myself, as you see, it was I who stumbled, who hesitated, who did nothing.
That window of opportunity?
Shut.
Gone.
Never to be opened again. And now that the grace period has expired, it's too late to make corrections because they have been calling me this d-less version of my name for over a year, and now it seems if I were to correct someone it would both be futile (seeing SO many of them are making the mistake) and completely awkward and confronting- the two situations I do not deal very well with. The former because I am already sufficiently awkward enough and any increase in my levels of awkwardness would most likely cause me to spontaneously combust. The latter because I simply cannot handle it (a trait inherited by one Davy Sprocket).
So then, I ask you- do I get over it and correct them? Or do I get over it and embrace my name in all its d-lessness?
x
You get a t-shirt with your name plastered all over it.
Just as well your name was not missing a B & A & R (if it had all of those letters in it) - otherwise you would be bra-less at the gym and that might be something to talk about.
Love your work
xx
Welcome back! You have been missed my friend!!
That is so annoying when people basically re-name you. My name regularly gets butchered including by friends. One of my friends who knows better mispronounces my name to me and everyone he introduces me to. I do however make corrections on the spot so as to not further perpetuate the error.
Perhaps like Julie mentioned, you should get a t-shirt for the gym with your name plastered all over it. And make sure there is special emphasis on the "R".
Have a great week!! xo
Correct them. Make a joke out of it, but correct them.
WELCOME BACK BOO :)
Hello Stranger. Nice to see you again. I hate it when people butcher my name and I have been known to correct them. It is possible to do it without being a bitch about it.
Oh I feel welcomed back with such open arms!!
Empress! How's it going? Shirt is currently at the screen printers!
Annah Annah Annah! I will muster all the courage I have!
Mynx-how how how?? Please share with me your wisdom of the world!
xx
I've had that same problem! This guy I sat next to in one of my classes a couple years ago called me Tori once. I didn't want to be rude and correct him. But then he called me Tori the whole rest of the semester! By then it was just too late. And now he's in another one of my classes! And he still calls me Tori! It's horribly ironic.
Ahhh, I feel your pain. I have been there so, so many times. And it's truly awkward. I am just like you and can't stand embarrassing confrontation. I'm MUCH more likely to say nothing.
Thus making it MY fault that people call me by the wrong name. Utterly obnoxious...
Of me. And them!
Great post!
Because I am such a bitch I just correct them and make them feel hideously guilty for making the error in the first place! Because my name is so 'original' I often have to repeat it a dozen or so times when I meet someone anyway!! Anyway, love ya Corianda - is that your name??!!
Toni: Maybe he is trying to assert his misogynistic power over you by pretending that your name does not sound like "Tony" . I think you should sing "I Am Woman" to this chap and let him have it x
Alexa: Tis sad but tis the truth... thanks for the complement! Huge coming from you! x
Lottie: My advocate! I refuse to believe such heinous lies about you! Love you too muchacha!
Wow, I totally missed your post while flitting about the country. I can only echo the fine t-shirt suggestion...it's got some good passive agressive yet nonconfrontational correctional potential.
In other words "Visual Clue Club." Thwack.
You should still try to correct them if it makes you feel uncomfortable. But if you feel that they are mispronouncing your name on purpose, then that's different. Jokingly mispronounce their names then and see how they'll react. Haha. :)