What's in a name? (et other ramblings)

[oloriel]

So (prompted by other people on my flist doing so) I've been trying to delineate my Create for Life project(s), and while doing so, I've finally realised what has been bugging me about the name all along.



You see, whenever something CfL-related showed up on my flist, my first impulse was to scroll on real fast because I was afraid that otherwise I'd get into a fight with someone or I'd end up de-friending someone. Which didn't really make sense, even to myself (yes, in this case it's appropriate, thank you), but I couldn't help feeling that way, until I looked a bit closer and saw that "Oh, it's Dawn (or Juno, or Oshun, or whoever) who posted it, so it's probably ok" (and sure enough it was). I knew that it was the name that was making me uncomfortable, but couldn't put a finger on it.

It's fairly obvious, though, now that I've realised it. The problem is that it evokes disagreeable associations, which (I believe) happens due to the facts that
a) I am not a native speaker of English and
b) I am not familiar with "Relay for Life" (which inspired the name).

You see, as a non-native speaker of English, when I see the phrase for life, I see that it shares 86% of letters and the full semantic meaning of "pro life" - you know, as in "anti-choice". Which is already enough to make me scroll past quickly unless I happen to be feeling up to lengthy heated arguments with idiots people I am bound to disagree with...

Combined with "create", which is (among other things, of course) associated with Creation In The Biblical Sense, and accordingly "creationism", an association that sort of comes easily once the "pro life" step has been made, since the people who promote the one are likely to also promote the other... my first association is thus "Augh get away from the crazy" before reason kicks in and goes "Dude. It's Dawn. (Or Juno. Or whoever.) Hello."

This probably wouldn't happen if I were used to seeing or hearing "Relay for Life" promoted regularly, as that follows the same rhythm and shares the vowel sounds and, due to its popularity (?), only envokes associations related to - itself. But I am not. So I have to remind myself that no, this is not some crazy fundie thing trying to rally for Yet Another Anti-Choice Demo or put up posters on the subway or somesuch, and no, it is also not about creationism, before I can read on.

Weird brain is weird.

Anyway, if anyone has had the same associations and has (so far) not managed to overcome them, rest assured that Create for Life has, in fact, nothing to do with anti-choice or anything of the sort. Only anti-cancer. That's supportable.


Anyway, I think I want to use both my ideas, one being garb-making (I've been intending to make Ranger-of-Ithilien stuff for the hubby for years, how 'bout getting at least some of that done now? And I still have that 15th century pleated gown to finish) and the other being art, because it feels like I haven't drawn/painted anything for ages*. Problem is, I can probably only fully use the Saturday, which I'll spend at zorn's creativity party anyway, because the weekend following the CfL weekend is *dundundun* the second finals weekend and you know, the ugly P-word. I've been wondering whether I could put up a post for (a limited number of) artwork requests where people can donate whatever they feel it's worth or whatever they can afford to their cancer-related charity of choice. Or register with the DKMS² or something - which is free, which might be interesting for those of us whose budget is already depleated after a year full of desasters and only one month before that holiday where everyone expects presents again. I realise that probably everyone likely to register has been registered there (or with some comparable organisation) already, anyway, but you never know, so I thought I'd bring it up.
[/tangent]
Anyway, my problem with that is that even when I leave the choice of sum with the bidders, I feel awkward about asking money for my artwork. Lack of self-confidence, hurrah.
And of course I wouldn't be able to actually get any artwork done before December so I have no idea whether that'd actually be allowed for CfL. Will have to do some more pondering, etc.

Yeah.

- - -
*I know I've done stuff during the SWG birthday month, but that still means I haven't done any artwork in three months. Which is ages.

²It cracks me up that it is called DKMS in the Americas, too. Yeah, I know, corporate identity and all that, but it still cracks me up. I'd imagine most Anglophones would have serious trouble pronouncing "Deutsche Knochenmarkspenderdatei"...

Comments

[satismagic.livejournal.com]

That chain of association would never have occured to me. It is quite logical, but still: o_O However, I also haven't had much contact with pro-life supporters.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

One of the phenomena of deviantArt appears to be that it seems to be full of "OMG MY FAITH IS SO SUPPRESSED I MUST SPREAD THE WORD" people*. That spoils some topics...

[fuchs.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! Actually, I've been scrolling like crazy because of the exact same associations, and I read this only because it was, like, wow, oloriel? On that train? Okay, *what* is this about.
I don't think I would ever have dared to find out otherwise. XD

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

HAH! Ich bin nicht allein!