Retail Roundup - so many sucks, so little time

[ApolloSZ]

When you realize that you can change your name to nearly anything and no one gets freaked out about it, it makes it seem all that much sillier that changing it to "Alfred" makes people flip out.

This just reminds me of two awesome replies about names. Once by a comedian but I can't remember which (maybe George Carlin) - "Its your name. Yours. You decide it. It could be entirely composed of consonants, and you say "Its pronounced 'Smith'"."

And Monty Python of course -
"Its spelt 'Raymond Luxury-Yacht', but its pronounced 'Throatwarbler Mangrove'".

Sorry you had to deal with those .... 'fine specimens of stupidity', fellow NZer.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I'll always remember the guy years ago who asked my co-worker and me something about TVs, and when we couldn't answer he started sneering "You're the best advertising your competitors could ever want."

At that time, said competitors would've been Walmart, which apparently was beneath this guy because he came to the swamp, and most likely their people wouldn't have been any more knowledgeable about TVs than we were, and a couple mom-and-pop electronics stores which probably would've had more expertise within their staff, but were above his pay grade because he came to the swamp.

Also, if memory serves, this was around Super Bowl time, so chances are good that had he bought a TV. he would've returned it after the big game.

[Monterey Jack]

Anyway, a girl who worked there had a nametag that read "Sparkle". As in, that's what she wanted to go by.

Was she disrespectful to dirt?

[Ironclad Alibi]

Anyway, a girl who worked there had a nametag that read "Sparkle". As in, that's what she wanted to go by.

Unique, for sure, but hey, if her parents wanted to name her Sparkle, who am I to argue?

Was her last name Plenty? Sparkle Plenty

[wolfie]

Yes, my badge really does say Jim.

No, I didn't forget my own badge at home today/have to wear a spare/yes, this is mine.

Yes, my name is Jim.

I get that I don't really have a right to get upset with people who are genuinely curious about a "girl" named James. I get that. But what is WITH the pointed, in depth inquiries?

They're braindead, Jim. Have you considered introducing them to some classic Johnny Cash, specifically "A Boy Named Sue"?

Had a guy last job who wanted to be called "Troof", because, according to him, he always told those who needed to know, the troof. I called him by his legal first name. That guy lied so much, I couldn't in good faith call him that.

Should have called him "Pravda". After all, the name means "truth", but they spewed BS.

[BPFH]

This just reminds me of two awesome replies about names. Once by a comedian but I can't remember which (maybe George Carlin) - "Its your name. Yours. You decide it. It could be entirely composed of consonants, and you say "Its pronounced 'Smith'"."

I believe it went something along the lines of:
"What's your name?"
"Janofsky."
"How do you spell it?"
"S-M-I-T-H. They're all silent."

Or even Tom Lehrer:
"His name was Henry, but to show you what kind of an individualist he was, he spelled it H-E-N-3-R-Y. The 3 is silent, you see."

[mjr]

"A Boy Named Sue"?

Written by Shel Silverstein...along with it's follow up "The Father of A Boy Named Sue".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRhmHdwnhWQ

[Jay 2K Winger]

When I lived about an hour from where I do now, there was a drive-in restaurant known for delivering food on rollerskates, and a word that has to do with sound.

Anyway, a girl who worked there had a nametag that read "Sparkle". As in, that's what she wanted to go by.

Unique, for sure, but hey, if her parents wanted to name her Sparkle, who am I to argue?

My Mom knew someone whose name was Sparkle Diamond. Her family name was Diamond, and her parents had named her Sparkle.

[jedimaster91]

But I remember a while back posting something about people creeping on me calling me by the name on my badge over and over and how intrusive it felt!!

I don't like it when someone uses my name over and over like that either. It makes me extremely uncomfortable. I don't know you, you don't know me, and unless you're gonna tell my boss how awesome I am, you don't need to use my name like that.

Makes me wish I could use a nerdy pseudonym just to see who would get it.

[Agent Paperclip]

My name tag says Sam. It's short for Samantha and I've always gone by Sam since I was a kid. But once in a blue moon a customer would say, "Isn't 'Sam' a boys name?" and they always emphasize "Sam" and seem to have a catbutt face when they ask. I'm not sure about everywhere else but around here "Sam" has always been short for either Samantha or Samuel.

[Seanette]

"Sam" seems unisex to me.

[WishfulSpirit]

The only question I'd ask of a person with a stereotypical gender name who looked like the other gender, if I really needed to know, was "do you prefer "sir" or "ma'am." It does NOT AFFECT YOU what gender someone else is, people. I had a customer whose license said Robert. She was buying women's clothing, wearing nail polish and earrings. I called her "ma'am" and she was happy with that.

[RealUnimportant]

If and only if we were friends, I might quote Blackadder's "Jim?" line. But otherwise, your name is yours and it means nothing to me. I know plenty of people in similar situations, the only question I might ask is what prompted that choice - one friend has what is considered by some to be a very unusual name, but it's a family name which is why he chose it.

[Food Lady]

That would be a nice way to ask: "Is it a family name? Those are nice to have."

[CyberLurch]

I believe it went something along the lines of:
"What's your name?"
"Janofsky."
"How do you spell it?"
"S-M-I-T-H. They're all silent."

Or even Tom Lehrer:
"His name was Henry, but to show you what kind of an individualist he was, he spelled it H-E-N-3-R-Y. The 3 is silent, you see."

I am in awe that there are still people who remember Tom Lehrer.