#Microblog Monday 237: Pro-Name Tag
Not sure what #MicroblogMondays is? Read the inaugural post which explains the idea and how you can participate too.
*******
I am pro-name tag. I prefer the kind that go around your neck vs. the ones that clip on, but other than that, I am pro-any-name-tag-all-the-time. 365 days per year.
It is embarrassing when you didn’t hear someone’s name and now too much time has passed to ask it again. It is equally embarrassing when you’ve forgotten someone’s name you should remember, and frustrating when you’re staring at someone and you know you know but you have no clue where you know them from.
And then there are all the other added benefits:
Nametags give people lots of space to be called what they’d actually like to be called. If the name that you’ve been given at birth feels like not the best fit, nametags would give you the opportunity to adjust as you please, minimal explanation required. (You can even include your preferred pronouns—there’s room!)
Are you also pro-name tag?
*******
Are you also doing #MicroblogMondays? Add your link below. The list will be open until Tuesday morning. Link to the post itself, not your blog URL. (Don’t know what that means? Please read the three rules on this post to understand the difference between a permalink to a post and a blog’s main URL.) Only personal blogs can be added to the list. I will remove any posts that are connected to businesses or are sponsored post.
8 comments
I like name tags at events, even if I feel really silly wearing one (does not quite follow, I know). Especially in situations where I don’t know anyone, it makes getting to know people a little bit easier.
I really like the point about people who have a preferred name/nickname other than their birth name.
Not for me, but for everyone else! 🙂
Actually, it wouldn’t help me – I’m at the point where I don’t really know people’s names but I know have seen them somewhere. So, unless that name tag lists your employer and every activity you or your family has ever attended, I will still have to spend my time trying to figure the context of how I know you. Retain your anonymity!
Meanwhile, people at work really enjoy telling me about the local drug addict who shares my name, so that’s fun. It makes for a nice change from the people who swear they know me, but actually don’t. Name tags would just give THOSE people the opportunity to tell me that’s not my name.
I like name tags at events, but definitely not 365 days a year. I like being incognito too, as impossible as that can be sometimes.
I have a gripe about them though. Everyone puts them on the left side of their chest, when they should go on the right. Because if you’re being shaking their hand (in introduction or simply a “hello”), then you can do a subtle glance down to the nametag at the same time if you need reminding. Whereas moving your head to the left side of the chest is a much more deliberate action, with no discretion involved. And that kind of blows your secret that though you’ve met them several times, you still can’t remember their name.
I usually pride myself on being good with names, except that recently we met someone at the airport, and I couldn’t remember their name though I knew I recognised them, till we got chatting and I remembered we’d all been friends about 30 years ago. Oops. A name tag then might have helped!
I like name tags, too. I serve on the board of my local Mothers of Multiples club, and we were recently discussing having name tags at all events (not just the larger ones) because we have so many new members and want to facilitate knowing one another’s names.
Very!
*raises hand enthusiastically* *while wearing “Lori” nametag*
Hmmmmmmmmmm,I don’t like eating a names but this made me realize their value… I liked the mannerisms at my 10-year reunion because it was your yearbook photo and your name then and name now, if different. Made it easy to find people.I guess it’s good for family reunions and things where you may not remember everyone… Reduces awkwardness. I still don’t like wearing them though!
My husband volunteers with the Samaritans. A couple of weeks ago we went to a social and he directed me to say to people, “Hello, my name’s Mary, and you are …? ” to save him the embarrassment of having to ask people he doesn’t work with very often, their names. So YES to name-tags!