We have a story on the site today about a local woman who is running a Facebook contest to help her come up with a name for her soon-to-be-born baby.
My reaction: What’s wrong with that?
I suppose it’s unconventional. However, don’t most expectant parents beat the bushes for name ideas?
How is asking your online friends and acquaintances for suggestions any different from asking them in person, except that you can reach more people?
Thoughts?
Am I the only one who wonders what the big deal is?
Tags: Facebook
Meh. Now, are they actually obligated to use the name, if they don’t like it? What if Colbert gets a hold of this news item and has the Colbert Nation all vote for Stephen, Colbert or something else?
Steve: I assume the woman running the contest is the final judge of the winning entry, so to speak. So there’s no danger of online democracy breaking out.
I don’t see anything wrong with that. Are people actually complaining? My vote is for Colbert.
Tanya: The story has received one comment so far, calling the exercise “gay.” So yes, people are complaining. I’ll monitor the comments as the day unfolds.
calling the exercise “gay.” Not that there’s anything wrong with that
.
Today’s Seinfeld reference was brought to you by Gibraltar Weekend Market and Forrest City Surplus, where you can get cheap deals on stuff, the smell of burning rubber and grunge on your hands, all in one place.
Steve: The burning rubber is the tires at gary’s place that he torched to celebrate Earth Hour!
My reaction: who cares?
Not me for one.
John: Would you use Facebook to name a child? Speaking of which, how did Miss E get her name? I forget — is she named after a family member?
My first thought was that it was an unconventional way to name a baby, but I don’t see anything wrong with it as long as the parents get some say in the final decision. It would be cruel to name the baby something ridiculous just because it got the most votes on Facebook…along the lines of the weird names celebrities pick for their children. That’s something I’ll never understand, but I digress. I wouldn’t consider it strange if the parents did the same thing on a blog. Facebook is another similar medium. And if the person who suggested the winning name gets a photography session, it’s a win-win situation.
I agree, what’s the big deal? I think they’re smart – maybe not so much for the idea of finding a name but for the idea of promoting her business. Sounds like they’re getting lots and lots of free advertising to me!
laura: Would you ever use Facebook as a source of baby names?
ashlie: But is it any different from just saying to a friend “Hey, thanks for helping me come up with the name. Can I give you a free photo shoot to return the favour?”
The obvious question: What will the parents say when the child is old enough to ask “Mommy, where did my name come from?”
No, I don’t think it’s different at all, and I certainly don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. I was named after a character on a defunct soap opera though, so maybe I’m not the one to ask!
Since they are using Facebook, I nominate “Farmville Mafia Wars Top Friends” as the baby’s new name.
I wouldn’t use Facebook no. Not that there is anything wrong with that. But I am pretty sure I can find one myself.
Miss E’s name was just a name we both loved. From day one. However while the traditional spelling starts with an A, we switched to an E because my oldest brother named all three of his kids A names. And their daughter the shortened version of our daughter’s name.
We found out after that it’s a Portuguese version of the traditional spelling.
If you thought Earth Hour was glorious…. just wait for the May long weekend..the family takes part in the symbolic releasing of the 5 cent grocery bags as a payment to the summer gods so they will allow us to run our central ac non stop
ashlie: Really? Who were you named after? At least you weren’t named Tiffany or Krystal. Those were big soap-baby names at one point.
rory: Oh man, I’m LOL. That’s so funny. I’m not even going to try to top that.
John: Cool.
It’s a very pretty name for a lovely little girl.
gary: The summer gods must be appeased!
Would I consider using Facebook to name my children, if/when that happens? If I was absolutely stumped, I would. But there is no way that I’m having 5 children. I figure I should be able to come up with 1 or 2 names.
laura: I guess after four babies you get starved for inspiration. But do you think people put too much thought into coming up with a unique name? I’ve heard of kids with some weird names, their parents didn’t want to do the boring, “normal” names the rest of us have.