The Media made me do it, Episode II

[oloriel]

Oh, for fuck's...

Dear German Media,

No, it is not that absurd to name a child Sparrow. Aside from the fact that the kid also features a perfectly normal name, it's kind of silly of you to point out triumphantly that Sparrow means Spatz. So? Yes, in German "mein Spatz" is a common enough endearment, but this is not necessarily the case in the English-speaking world (or is it? Quick flist poll: How many of you were nicknamed "my sparrow" by parents or grandmothers?). Even if it is, a sparrow is still a normal term for a small bird.

But you caaaaan't name a boy for a bird, I hear you cry.

Yeah right, idiots. Because there are no Robins or Merlins - or, for those who speak no English and needed the explanation about what Sparrow means in the first place, Falks running around. And none of them are male. Nuh-uh.

So Robin's a perfectly normal male name, and Sparrow isn't?

Buy yourself a babybook and stop being idiots. I mean, why do you even care what other people name their kids? If you're so bothered about naming babies, make your own. For serious. I mean, an online acquaintance of mine named her offspring Emma Josephine Anoriel, but am I giving her any grief?

Srsly.

Not yours,
The mad linguist

- - -

Dear other German media,

So you're airing Firefly. The complete first season (hah!). Congratulations. I hope you are aware that you're about three to four years too late.
I can already hear it. Same way with Doctor Who. "See? Nobody is interested in this kind of thing. Nobody watched the series!"

No, you're just too late. Everybody in this country interested in the series has LONG SINCE bought the DVDs, the soundtrack, and the RPG.
AND the cunning hat.
Everybody interested in Firefly can watch it at any time they please - not at 10 past 10 in the evening on a Saturday, when even nerds have other things to do than watch TV.

Really clever.

Not yours either,
The occasional nerd girl


- - -

When I am too tired to write about, like, real life, all I do is rant. *nods*

Memes are upcoming.

Comments

[laurenia.livejournal.com]

I still think it looks weird to name a boy Sparrow, mostly because of the recent popularity of Pirates of the Caribbean. Sure, Luke and Leia are perfectly acceptable names too, but given in a certain time, it just produces weird associations.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

But with Captain Jack Sparrow in mind, wouldn't it be even weirder to name a girl Sparrow?

And it's not so much the weird associations that bother me - it's just the smug "THEY CAN'T DOOO THIS!". They obviously can. And between crappy names like Apple or Brooklyn, I think Sparrow is downright refreshing...

[laurenia.livejournal.com]

Yup, I don't think that name would be an improvement on a girl.
And true, it can't push "Bronx Mowgli Wentz", "Nesta Zuma Rock Rossdale" and "Pilot Inspector Lee" out of my personal top three of really crappy names.

Even though I have some doubt that Nichole Richie can tell a sparrow from a bald eagle. But that's probably beside the point ;)

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Not beside the point, but a different point ;)

And hey, at least this kid has a normal second name.