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Thread: Nominative determinism

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    Nominative determinism

    Inspired/reminded by this:

    Quote Originally Posted by Twirly View Post
    The guy who owned the dinghy they hired was called John Boatman?!
    Wondering how many people know of others whose names seem apt - my dad is a doctor and has some fantastic examples of people whose conditions/illnesses are perfectly reflected in their names.

    As for me, my surname is Cheesman and I can't eat cheese* because I am dairy intolerant. Yes, really. I tried ordering a pizza with no cheese from Dominos once:

    Me: Hi, can I order a (whatever sort of) pizza please
    D: Yep that's fine, would you like any extra toppings?
    Me: No, but can I have it with no cheese please
    D: No cheese at all?
    Me: Yep that's right, no cheese at all
    D: OK no problem, one (whatever sort of) pizza with no cheese, and can I take the name please
    Me: It's Mr Cheesman
    *pause*
    D: (almost succeeding at not laughing down the phone, but not quite) Yes... ok... should be ready in *snort* about 15 minutes *snerk*


    Many more examples here.

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    Re: Nominative determinism

    Quote Originally Posted by CheesyRobMan View Post
    Inspired/reminded by this:

    The guy who owned the dinghy they hired was called John Boatman?!

    Wondering how many people know of others whose names seem apt - my dad is a doctor and has some fantastic examples of people whose conditions/illnesses are perfectly reflected in their names.

    .....funny pizza story

    That pizza story is v. funny!


    Yes - as for Mr. Boatman. Actually, in this case - the newspaper 'archive' was written by none other than................er...............Jive Lad.

    When I came to the guy hiring out the dinghy......I thought a bit of nominative determinism would be fun (well, actually it just came into my head to try and show it was a spoof). As was the 'white bearded coastguard' called Alf Badger (is anyone called that?).

    There was a spelling mistake (or two) - notably, the local councillor, who was meant to be D. Bailey (guess who?) - but ended being D.S. Baiey.

    I thought also, the headline gave it away (a bit crude on reflection).

    Did anyone really think it was from a real newspaper?

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    Re: Nominative determinism

    I knew an oral surgeon in Surrey called Gareth Sockett

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    Re: Nominative determinism

    Quote Originally Posted by JiveLad View Post
    notably, the local councillor, who was meant to be D. Bailey (guess who?) - but ended being D.S. Baiey.
    the mind boggles

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    Re: Nominative determinism

    Quote Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe View Post
    the mind boggles
    I bet Freud's isn't.
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Re: Nominative determinism

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    I bet Freud's isn't.
    Is that Lucian, Clement or Emma (or Fred) Freud?

    Sigmund's mind is (I think) now just dust...... - somewhere in Golder's Green.

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    Re: Nominative determinism

    Quote Originally Posted by JiveLad View Post
    Sigmund's mind is (I think) now just dust...... - somewhere in Golder's Green.
    As thus certainly not boggling!
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Re: Nominative determinism

    Quote Originally Posted by batnurse View Post
    I knew an oral surgeon in Surrey called Gareth Sockett
    The dentist round the corner from my gran was called A.P. Gummers

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    Re: Nominative determinism

    There is a great book called 'Quirkology' by Richard Wiseman Linky

    This book has a whole section on this, as well as many other strange and funny stories of when social scientists misbehave.

    One of the doctors at my local surgery is called Dr. Payne. I've never wanted to go and see him oddly enough.

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    Re: Nominative determinism

    The Bedfordshire H.Q. of the Royal Socistey for the prevention of cruelty to birds had, at one time, as I recall, 8 members of staff with bird surnames.

    I was later told, by Mr. Throstle (song thrush), that one of the local medieval landlords had given all of his peasants bird surnames.

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