Just call people what they want to be called

@NJChicaa (122751)
United States
May 11, 2025 5:12pm CST
I just can't with the MAGA hate for transgender individuals and their insistence on dead-naming them. Why can't people just address others by the name that they want to be called? The name that people know me as is not my legal first name. My parents gave me a first name and no one could agree which nickname to call me so I was a baby who responded to no name. My mother was like "just call her NJChicaa! You can't mess that up!" My parents never once called me by my first name even when they were all mad and trying to use my full name. The only people who use it are strangers and telemarketers. Ron DeSantis' Florida government is trying to punish teachers for using student names that don't match their registration name. I think I even saw that a teacher has been fired for respecting their student's wishes. Seriously? I have several students this year who want to be called something else and none of them are transgender. (well maybe 1 is but they don't talk to me so that is speculation on my part) I don't see what the issue is with calling someone by the name they prefer. That is just a basic matter of respect. A couple of years ago I saw someone that I've known for many years. He expressed interest in teaching but said he wouldn't be able to address a student by a different name. I whipped out my drivers license and showed it to him. I said "will you now be upset by still calling me NJChicaa?". That shut him up pretty fast. I saw a meme today about how the world will now call someone (the new pope) by their chosen name and look how easy it is to do. I thought that was perfect. People are fine with calling Robert Prevost "Pope Leo XIV" but they won't call someone "Sarah" or "Aidan". It costs no more energy to use someone's preferred name than it does to be offensive and rude.
8 people like this
7 responses
@RasmaSandra (84749)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18h
Totally agree with you. For laughs I refer to myself as the old bat in the attic and if anyone knew that and called me that I would not take offense I am what I am
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (122751)
• United States
18h
I have always been addressed as my middle name. I have no attachment or connection to my legal first name.
2 people like this
@marguicha (226407)
• Chile
16h
@NJChicaa Me neither.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (53291)
• Canada
18h
I get it. I have always gone by half of my first name-either Julia or Julie, when in fact it is Julia Anne. I still have another middle name-I think that they really tried to use up every girl's name that they could think of and hope that they didn't have any more girls. Well, they got their wish I guess.
2 people like this
@marguicha (226407)
• Chile
16h
I am called by the first half of my second given name. And my best friend is called Dixiana and not Dixie and I never called my husband by his legal given name. So why shouldn´t transgender people be named as they wish? The MAGA cult seems to have a weird thing with names.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (352924)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
People get their knickers in knots over the most stupid things. There must be millions of people who are known by names other than their 'proper' ones.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (188293)
• United States
4h
I have been called Linda and Lin. My husband always used to call me Lin. I don't ever remember him calling me honey or any other endearments.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (43682)
16h
We always called my youngest son by his middle name. His grandfather and an uncle had the same first name so it seemed more appropriate and easier. He’s an adult and has a choice but he prefers his middle name and it honestly suits him better.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35965)
• Canada
17h
I was called the name on my birth certificate on my first day of school. I didn't answer. No one ever told me that was my name Simple to call people what they want to be called.