SZbNAhL's Similarly Sibilant (if unpronouncable) Random Banter #223

[halfeye]

Don't you love it when the pretty girls at work sounds really happy to see you and look delighted. I just hate enforced attitudes, it jessy makes it that much harder to work out how people feel about me, and I already have trouble. Like, I get it from a customer facing level, but if we didn't have to keep up it between ourselves I'd have a better idea of if anybody liked me.

If they absolutely hated you they'd let you know. So it's probably not that.

On that note, why do people insist on shortening names? I've never referred to myself by a diminutive, my name tag explicitly has my full name (although I rarely wear it, seeing as I work in the kitchen), and I've even specifically requested my full name before. But apparently three syllables is too much for people these days.

That's a mildly friendly thing, diminutives of names are mostly in a friendly tone, there are exceptions, but most of the time those exceptions are fairly obvious. Calling someone <full_name> is mostly formal, and depending on how formal the situation is, may be unfriendly (if the situation if very formal, then formal is neutral and informal may be odd, if it's informal then formal is usually unfriendly, but if the person is typically formal may be neutral).

[Thufir]

As of yesterday evening. I have now watched every televised Doctor Who story, from series 1 in 2005 to the 1996 TV movie including the missing episodes’ reconstructions.

Dang. That's substantialy more dedication than I've ever mustered. Even when I was intending to try and watch everything I was sticking to surviving episodes, and I ended up leaving that goal somewhat by the wayside until they did the twitch marathons and I managed to fill in a lot of the Classic era.

(fight me)

I'm not going to fight you on Nightmare in Silver but Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks? Seriously?

Extremis (seriously that episode deserved way better sequels)

YES. That three parter started out great and then the quality dropped like a stone.

Off the top of my head I think I'd agree with most of your choices for best episode of each Doctor.
Peter Capaldi is also my favourite Doctor if I have to choose but as far as 'not always the best scripts' I'd say that good peformances and themes elevating scripts of variable quality is just a general hallmark of Doctor Who, and has been since 1963.

[Tvtyrant]

Just wrapped up a phone interview for a job and I have to admit, I'm kind of nervous. Felt like some of the questions caught me flat-footed and I rambled a bit answering them. Ain't nothin' to do but wait, of course, but I've got a bad feeling that I might not be hearing back.

They probably know interviewing skill has little to do with real ability, I dount Issac Newton could jave interviewed for a starbucks job.

[LaZodiac]

Don't you love it when the pretty girls at work sounds really happy to see you and look delighted. I just hate enforced attitudes, it jessy makes it that much harder to work out how people feel about me, and I already have trouble. Like, I get it from a customer facing level, but if we didn't have to keep up it between ourselves I'd have a better idea of if anybody liked me.

On that note, why do people insist on shortening names? I've never referred to myself by a diminutive, my name tag explicitly has my full name (although I rarely wear it, seeing as I work in the kitchen), and I've even specifically requested my full name before. But apparently three syllables is too much for people these days.

If they're not using their Customer Voice on you, it means they do like you. Please note that liking you doesn't mean "wants to date you" it just means a co worker that doesn't make them want to die.

In a work place, due to society being broken, reducing names to single syllables so that work can get down quicker is a regular practice wherever it's possible. In a less cynical view of things, maybe they don't know how to say your name properly in the full sense?

[HalfTangible]

Don't you love it when the pretty girls at work sounds really happy to see you and look delighted. I just hate enforced attitudes, it jessy makes it that much harder to work out how people feel about me, and I already have trouble. Like, I get it from a customer facing level, but if we didn't have to keep up it between ourselves I'd have a better idea of if anybody liked me.

On that note, why do people insist on shortening names? I've never referred to myself by a diminutive, my name tag explicitly has my full name (although I rarely wear it, seeing as I work in the kitchen), and I've even specifically requested my full name before. But apparently three syllables is too much for people these days.

Because "Dave" is one syllable and "David" is two syllables.

[Anonymouswizard]

If they absolutely hated you they'd let you know. So it's probably not that.

Yes, but there's a world of difference between 'doesn't dislike' and 'wouldn't mind if I started a conversation in the staff room'.

That's a mildly friendly thing, diminutives of names are mostly in a friendly tone, there are exceptions, but most of the time those exceptions are fairly obvious. Calling someone <full_name> is mostly formal, and depending on how formal the situation is, may be unfriendly (if the situation if very formal, then formal is neutral and informal may be odd, if it's informal then formal is usually unfriendly, but if the person is typically formal may be neutral).

On other hand, when I do ask for my full name to be used it's somewhat rude, and I tend towards formal speech anyway (go speech impediment, the therapy is still influencing my words and accent to this day).

I have previously remarked that my full name being used is a sign of a close friend.

If they're not using their Customer Voice on you, it means they do like you. Please note that liking you doesn't mean "wants to date you" it just means a co worker that doesn't make them want to die.

I know that like =/= fancy (not that it matters, I feel like I'm the only single person at work anyway), but as I said 'I'm willing to chat' and 'you don't make me want grab a knife' are two very different things.

In a work place, due to society being broken, reducing names to single syllables so that work can get down quicker is a regular practice wherever it's possible. In a less cynical view of things, maybe they don't know how to say your name properly in the full sense?

Oh, sure, it's just grating because I've has to fight against this my entire life. About three people have permission to shorten my name, one of them due to trouble with the 'ct' sound at the end, and the fact that my preferences are casually disregarded in almost every situation makes me angry.

Some people go by diminutives. I don't. And yet apparently for something 'so minor' my preferences don't matter.

[SZbNAhL]

Just wrapped up a phone interview for a job and I have to admit, I'm kind of nervous. Felt like some of the questions caught me flat-footed and I rambled a bit answering them. Ain't nothin' to do but wait, of course, but I've got a bad feeling that I might not be hearing back.

As long as you answered the questions, you answered the questions. All the rambling means is that they could follow your thought process more easily. In fact, thinking back, I think I've been more successful in interviews where I've rambled than ones where I've given concise answers.

Don't you love it when the pretty girls at work sounds really happy to see you and look delighted. I just hate enforced attitudes, it jessy makes it that much harder to work out how people feel about me, and I already have trouble. Like, I get it from a customer facing level, but if we didn't have to keep up it between ourselves I'd have a better idea of if anybody liked me.

I know the feeling (almost like we both have a developmental disorder that limits our ability to understand non-verbal cues or something).

On that note, why do people insist on shortening names? I've never referred to myself by a diminutive, my name tag explicitly has my full name (although I rarely wear it, seeing as I work in the kitchen), and I've even specifically requested my full name before. But apparently three syllables is too much for people these days.

As a society we just seem to have decided to lengthen names in formal situations and shorten them in informal situations and there's nothing that can be done. In school I had a friend Dan with the opposite problem; he used to carry around a book of baby names to explain to teachers that Daniel was a completely different name. They never listened.

They probably know interviewing skill has little to do with real ability, I dount Issac Newton could jave interviewed for a starbucks job.

I doubt Newton would have been very good in a Starbucks job. He'd be ridiculously overqualified, his people skills were notoriously attrocious and his hands were often covered in mercury, which would be a health and safety nightmare.

[Tvtyrant]

As long as you answered the questions, you answered the questions. All the rambling means is that they could follow your thought process more easily. In fact, thinking back, I think I've been more successful in interviews where I've rambled than ones where I've given concise answers.



I know the feeling (almost like we both have a developmental disorder that limits our ability to understand non-verbal cues or something).



As a society we just seem to have decided to lengthen names in formal situations and shorten them in informal situations and there's nothing that can be done. In school I had a friend Dan with the opposite problem; he used to carry around a book of baby names to explain to teachers that Daniel was a completely different name. They never listened.



I doubt Newton would have been very good in a Starbucks job. He'd be ridiculously overqualified, his people skills were notoriously attrocious and his hands were often covered in mercury, which would be a health and safety nightmare.

I think it is important to remember that women are people too. Small talk is a skill, and it is considerwd impolite not to engage in it. Since women have more pressure to be polite there will be more pressure to engage in small talk.

Think of it as practice, do your best to engage at the same level. If they like you they will invite you into more meaningful conversations.

Newton's financial abilities were impressive, maybe a position on banking would have been better.

[DataNinja]

Some people go by diminutives. I don't. And yet apparently for something 'so minor' my preferences don't matter.

Clearly the correct course of action is to change your name to something that is difficult to comfortably diminutivize.
In all seriousness, always sucks when your wishes are disregarded like that, and I'm sorry that it's happening.

[Anonymouswizard]

I know the feeling (almost like we both have a developmental disorder that limits our ability to understand non-verbal cues or something).

Oh don't worry, apparently I'm just not trying hard enough

Like, I get what people are saying, but people don't understand what it's like to have social anxiety and an inability to read body language. I rarely start conversations with people because I can't tell if they're put off by me, and apparently there's something that puts people off beginning conversations with me.

But people just assume I have the abilities of a normal person, because that's easier than acknowledging that people can have conditions that affect their ability to socialise or read people.

As a society we just seem to have decided to lengthen names in formal situations and shorten them in informal situations and there's nothing that can be done. In school I had a friend Dan with the opposite problem; he used to carry around a book of baby names to explain to teachers that Daniel was a completely different name. They never listened.

Yeah, I've seen that happen before. I always assumed that each student's name is on the register, bit sometimes I do wonder.

I think it is important to remember that women are people too.

Where did this come from? If it's directed at me, then I'm sorry I made the implication that they aren't.

Small talk is a skill, and it is considerwd impolite not to engage in it. Since women have more pressure to be polite there will be more pressure to engage in small talk.

Think of it as practice, do your best to engage at the same level. If they like you they will invite you into more meaningful conversations.

Oh don't worry. Nobody wants to engage in small talk with me, it's as if I emote funny or something.

Newton's financial abilities were impressive, maybe a position on banking would have been better.

I wonder if the Royal Mint would give him a good reference?

[Fyraltari]

most of the episodes I've seen were Pertwee (the first I saw) and Baker

Tom Baker, right? Not Colin Baker?

and I have hardly seen any post '89 episodes at all, and only a few when the new Doctor Who was all too briefly on broadcast television.

You should watch Heaven Sent, that's some of the best Doctor Who ever.

Also, I don't know why, but I feel like you would enjoy Seven a lot.

Agreed Genesis of the Daleks was some of the best television I've watched.

I really like the way Magician's Apprentice dealt with Davros and that Genesis call-back was amazing.
[QUOTE=Thufir;24139221]Dang. That's substantialy more dedication than I've ever mustered. Even when I was intending to try and watch everything I was sticking to surviving episodes, and I ended up leaving that goal somewhat by the wayside until they did the twitch marathons and I managed to fill in a lot of the Classic era.[//QUOTE]
Well I had the luck of finding this website
which convienently gathered all classic episodes with fan subtitles (which has its perks and its downsides as always).

I'm not going to fight you on Nightmare in Silver but Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks? Seriously?

Heh. I hesitated to include it but it didn't have anything that was really bad in it (unlike, say Fear Her or Love and Monsters also from Ten) and I really like the whole idea of individua daleks turing good one way or another. It's not really better than some epsodes I did not include (like The Lodger or The Crusade) but I wasn't really making an exhaustive list.

YES. That three parter started out great and then the quality dropped like a stone.

I know, right!? It built the Monks hugely and they couldn't live up to that.
I was particularly disappointed that

Spoiler

Show

They cured Twelve's blindness. That cheapens the ending of Oxygen and I thought it was great to have the Doctor cope with a disability especially one that was a direct consequence of him doing the right thing (sorta).

Off the top of my head I think I'd agree with most of your choices for best episode of each Doctor.
Peter Capaldi is also my favourite Doctor if I have to choose but as far as 'not always the best scripts' I'd say that good peformances and themes elevating scripts of variable quality is just a general hallmark of Doctor Who, and has been since 1963.

Ain't that the truth.

[LaZodiac]

I know that like =/= fancy (not that it matters, I feel like I'm the only single person at work anyway), but as I said 'I'm willing to chat' and 'you don't make me want grab a knife' are two very different things.

Oh, sure, it's just grating because I've has to fight against this my entire life. About three people have permission to shorten my name, one of them due to trouble with the 'ct' sound at the end, and the fact that my preferences are casually disregarded in almost every situation makes me angry.

Some people go by diminutives. I don't. And yet apparently for something 'so minor' my preferences don't matter.

I'll be honest, "someone who tolerates you as a co-worker" was intended as a joke on my part. It's probable that your co-workers do like you, since I mean you all go through the same **** together and proximity just means you'll get to know each other well over time.

Yeah, they should definitely ask. I imagine most people doing it are only doing it so as to not offend you with their feeble attempts at pronouncing the 'ct' sound. I do absolutely get it, and you should tell them as such. Or at least ask as to why they shorten it, and mention you're uncomfortable with it.

[sktarq]

Clearly the correct course of action is to change your name to something that is difficult to comfortably diminutivize.
In all seriousness, always sucks when your wishes are disregarded like that, and I'm sorry that it's happening.

As someone with a short given name....doesn't help. People will ADD to your name if it is short. For example Tom will become Tommy. Or Tomahawk. Or Tombones. Or something equally daft....It may eventually drive you to take another name entirely that people seem to work with better (in my case my surname)....

Some people just have names that others decide don't fit them. And it kinda sucks.

[DataNinja]

As someone with a short given name....doesn't help. People will ADD to your name if it is short. For example Tom will become Tommy. Or Tomahawk. Or Tombones. Or something equally daft....It may eventually drive you to take another name entirely that people seem to work with better (in my case my surname)....

Some people just have names that others decide don't fit them. And it kinda sucks.

I know for me, my given name to be shortened would have had the front half chopped off (and the diminutive of that was associated with other names), so, that seems to have been a decent turnoff for people trying to nickname. Not that it would have stopped persistent people, but if you don't have a front bit that detaches nicely, I think you're more likely to have people full-name you.

[2D8HP]

Tom Baker, right? Not Colin Baker?

Yes.

You should watch Heaven Sent, that's some of the best Doctor Who ever

Thanks for the recommendation.

Also, I don't know why, but I feel like you would enjoy Seven a lot.

Blake's 7?

[sktarq]

I know for me, my given name to be shortened would have had the front half chopped off (and the diminutive of that was associated with other names), so, that seems to have been a decent turnoff for people trying to nickname. Not that it would have stopped persistent people, but if you don't have a front bit that detaches nicely, I think you're more likely to have people full-name you.

likely...but people are persistent...and nicknames may well have very little or nothing to do with one's actual name.
Cactus, Alien, Turbo, Lit, Brillow....All were nicknames various teachers had for me in high school. None have anything to do with my name...one rhymes with a modification of my surname that was popular for a hot thirty seconds.
So when I say it has as much to do if people think your name "fits" that's what I'm talking about....
hell Tarquin was the name my father wanted to give me...and some of my friends found out...and it became my nickname from some people...plus Tarko, Tark, etc from others. And that one kinda stuck...enough that I still use it for my names in online forums.
At least shortened names have some relation.

[DataNinja]

likely...but people are persistent...and nicknames may well have very little or nothing to do with one's actual name.
Cactus, Alien, Turbo, Lit, Brillow....All were nicknames various teachers had for me in high school. None have anything to do with my name...one rhymes with a modification of my surname that was popular for a hot thirty seconds.
So when I say it has as much to do if people think your name "fits" that's what I'm talking about....
hell Tarquin was the name my father wanted to give me...and some of my friends found out...and it became my nickname from some people...plus Tarko, Tark, etc from others. And that one kinda stuck...enough that I still use it for my names in online forums.
At least shortened names have some relation.

Ah, that's fair enough. I've never had the mis/fortune of getting stuck with a nickname, or really had anyone around with non-indicative nicknames, so it didn't even really occur to me at all.

[Comrade]

likely...but people are persistent...and nicknames may well have very little or nothing to do with one's actual name.

Hell, they can have nothing to do with one's actual anything. My nickname in high school was 'Russian Boy'. I'm not Russian. Not any kind of Slavic, or eastern European, or anything. Still ended up with 'Russian Boy'.

Not that I minded all that much, or I wouldn't have let myself get called Russian Boy for four years. But I still have no clue where it came from.

[enderlord99]

I still have no clue where it came from.

Your name is literally "Comrade" which is a thing stereotypical Russians call each other a lot.

Granted, that's a screen name. Did you use it when you were in high school, and if so, is it possible some of your classmates found out?

[Fyraltari]

Yes.




Thanks for the recommendation.




Blake's 7?

Sylvester McCoy.

[Teddy]

In a work place, due to society being broken, reducing names to single syllables so that work can get down quicker is a regular practice wherever it's possible. In a less cynical view of things, maybe they don't know how to say your name properly in the full sense?

This is a super-cynical view on things. I habitually shorten names, not because I want to be succinct, but because it makes me feel like I'm friends with them. I do it less often with spoken names than written, probably because I'm more anxious face-to-face, and nicknames are regular online, but still, if people have a nickname, I'll use it, because it makes me feel at ease.

That said, not listening when you're told people don't want you to use a nickname is highly inconsiderate, although not everyone has good memories (raise a hand everyone who have a hard time remembering names). I've had a pair of friends make general statements that they do not want a nickname to be used, so I stay off those.

[Insane Jeenyus]

Hell, they can have nothing to do with one's actual anything. My nickname in high school was 'Russian Boy'. I'm not Russian. Not any kind of Slavic, or eastern European, or anything. Still ended up with 'Russian Boy'.

Not that I minded all that much, or I wouldn't have let myself get called Russian Boy for four years. But I still have no clue where it came from.

I was called Julio, yet I am of Indonesian blood, not the least bit Mexican. I WAS, however, the darkest skinned kid in the whole county when my family moved when I was 12.

[Anonymouswizard]

I think my cooking experiments have got out of hand. I just made myself hoisin turkey with tomatoes in vinegar reduction and rice.

It's not that anything's bad, it's just that the tomatoes would have worked better if I'd had access to balsamic vinegar instead of having to settle for white wine, and if they were served on a slice of toast as a starter, and the hoisin turkey needs a new vegetable dish (possibly a carrot or courgette salad). I might be reviving some of this if I ever host a dinner party.

[Tvtyrant]

I was called Julio, yet I am of Indonesian blood, not the least bit Mexican. I WAS, however, the darkest skinned kid in the whole county when my family moved when I was 12.

When I was in high school my "nickname" was Big Red (redacted), with a song made up about me.

In college it somehow became Warcraft in my speech and debate team, CJ among some of my friends. Then I accidentally got called Bob by someone, and a new member of the group thought C was for Cornelius. So I was Cornelius J Bob Jackson for absolutely no reason at all, any part of which was in interchangeable use and none of which was my name.

[sktarq]

I think my cooking experiments have got out of hand. I just made myself hoisin turkey with tomatoes in vinegar reduction and rice..... I might be reviving some of this if I ever host a dinner party.

toss some at individual friends when they come over.
accept when they ask for help cooking when they host dinner parties
since you are there you get to dramatically increase your social circle.

.
.
.
no I have never used stuffed beefheart to settle into new social groups I swear, whatever made you ask?

and I may think that carrot (being sweet) may not be the best pairing for a shared hosin sauce. Perhaps a more contrasting more bitter veg? Something Belgian (sprout or Endive) mixed in perhaps?

[LaZodiac]

I think my cooking experiments have got out of hand. I just made myself hoisin turkey with tomatoes in vinegar reduction and rice.

It's not that anything's bad, it's just that the tomatoes would have worked better if I'd had access to balsamic vinegar instead of having to settle for white wine, and if they were served on a slice of toast as a starter, and the hoisin turkey needs a new vegetable dish (possibly a carrot or courgette salad). I might be reviving some of this if I ever host a dinner party.

Like is said by others; this is a real good In to become more social a person. Cook food for friends, offer to run a staff BBQ party or whatever. Be the chef!

[Anonymouswizard]

toss some at individual friends when they come over.
accept when they ask for help cooking when they host dinner parties
since you are there you get to dramatically increase your social circle.

.
.
.
no I have never used stuffed beefheart to settle into new social groups I swear, whatever made you ask?

and I may think that carrot (being sweet) may not be the best pairing for a shared hosin sauce. Perhaps a more contrasting more bitter veg? Something Belgian (sprout or Endive) mixed in perhaps?

No, but when served on the side carrot dressed with vinegar and a few additions works incredibly well with East Asian dishes. Although hoisin might not work with it, hmmm....

Maybe, if I leave the turkey in a cranberry-based marinade for three hours, then fry it with fresh herbs (I'm thinking rosemary, and maybe a sprig of thyme), them serve it with new poratoes and greens (for some reason my first instinct is kale, but I think green beans might work better). Wouldn't really be able to serve it with a cranberry sauce if I did that, but a good marinade (maybe fresh cranberries, some white wine vinegar, a teaspoon of sugar, and some freshly ground pepper) and proper seasoning should remove the need for it.

A big problem I have is a lack of opportunities for help and friends who won't ask for my help cooking. Which is a shame, because I'm probably the most technically proficient chef among my circle of friends (being the only one who has ever flambéd, and being able to juggle about four pans which all require my attention at times).

Like is said by others; this is a real good In to become more social a person. Cook food for friends, offer to run a staff BBQ party or whatever. Be the chef!

Part of the problem is the lack of opportunities, which is a shame as I love cooking for others. I'm wondering if I could pull off getting a turkey dish into the staff Christmas party, it'll depend when it is and where I am over Christmas, and I'll need a good way to make 50+ portions that can be essentially eaten as finger food. Which means I either need to avoid sauce or go all the way to sticky...

Oh, I know that food is a great way to get people to like you, it's just a lack of opportunity (if there's a BBQ party or the like at work the chef does the cooking, and most of my friends don't host). I do, however, have an agreement with a friend that I'll cook her something English and vegetarian when she's better, so I need to work out a good substitute for beef/lamb in a cottage/shepherd's pie.

[Insane Jeenyus]

I think my cooking experiments have got out of hand. I just made myself hoisin turkey with tomatoes in vinegar reduction and rice.

It's not that anything's bad, it's just that the tomatoes would have worked better if I'd had access to balsamic vinegar instead of having to settle for white wine, and if they were served on a slice of toast as a starter, and the hoisin turkey needs a new vegetable dish (possibly a carrot or courgette salad). I might be reviving some of this if I ever host a dinner party.

if I could give you my 20 year old, aged in wood barrels Balsamic Vinegar through my laptop, I would.

[Tvtyrant]

I think you make your opportunities, by asking a group to come over for dinner. "Hey I am making dinner for some friends and I would love it if you would come."

[Anonymouswizard]

I think you make your opportunities, by asking a group to come over for dinner. "Hey I am making dinner for some friends and I would love it if you would come."

I need to find more London bases friends, I've got a great dinner+games evening planned (duck, sealed before being boiled in fresh plum sauce, served alongside mashed potatoes, broccoli, and carrots, followed by stewed apples with custard, topped off by board games or roleplaying), but given the lack of ability to host people for the night I might have to switch to a dinner and games afternoon with a meal that requires less attention (Coq au Vin or Irish Stew, for example). Then I could add another person or two if I could find interested people.

I mean, I know the way to a (wo)man's heart is through their stomach, but I still have to meet said (wo)man before I can suggest a cheese and wine evening.

I'm getting better! Except for the days where I'm getting worse.