Whats your "personal name"

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

They seem quite long enough already - why not just not ask the question in the first place? When working for the NHS, we were told that the usual don't wish to say box wasn't an option. Being hauled into the office for the manager to inform me that I have to put in my precise ethnic details was unwelcome. But she decided to fill in the form herself in the end. Which skews official results, as it implies that everyone in the department was either English, Irish or Caribbean. Something I knew was not true.

meritaten

Equaliser123 wrote: »

Have to say that I also find that the Police appear particularly bad at this sort of thing.

The other day I went past South Wales Police HQ. The Welsh flag was flying. Next to a rainbow (gay) flag. Nothing whatsoever against the Police being gay-tolerant (as they should be tolerant of all sexual orientations, races, etc), but why fly a flipping flag to say so?

locally we interpret that to mean that
a - they are so thick they think its just a pretty flag
or
b - most of the force are gay and feel they must announce the fact by flying the flag
take your pick!

NattyVee

ariarnia wrote: »

I find it a little ludicrous that unless you tick a different box on the census you're automatically classed as CoE - now that's an outdated way of doing things.

Totally agree. There's far too much diversity to assume anything nowadays.

To those who feel put out saying first name/personal name/given name, there seems to be the assumption that non-Christians are as rare as lepers, and should be in labelled communities to save confusion.

I always laugh at this 'political correctness gone mad' idea; in my experience talking to fellow Brits (and a LOT of awkward conversations I did not want nor ask for), I feel this is the country where a little PC among the populace would be most welcome.

TurkishDelight

Equaliser123 wrote: »

Not the loss of tradition at all. Believing in God makes me particular sensitive to this sort of thing. Why should something which has always existed change because some unquoted, unknown person MAY take offence.

You can quote me if you like

I'm offended. Me, personally.

I'm white, british of a long line of britishness, and if we are being picky, a form of my religion has been here longer than Christianity.

You say you are "sensitive" to this sort of thing, well, so am I.

I'm not of your religion, so why should I be asked for something as if I was?

kitschkitty

I've always considered forename or first name perfectly acceptable and rarely come across anyone using the term christian name these days anyway. I've also seen surname referred to as family name - makes absolutely not difference to me anyway, there are just so many more important things to be bothering about!

Paul_Varjak

brokeinyorkshire wrote: »

My Sister once had a Union Jack towel hanging on her washing line and was ' asked ' to remove it as it was insulting certain people!!!!

As we are being politically correct and pedantic at the moment, you should be aware it is only referred to as a 'Union Jack' when it is on a ship or boat; otherwise it is called a 'Union Flag'. After all, we must not offend anyone with a Christian name of 'Jack', should we?

Freddie_Snowbits

I have a Christian Name, what is this rubbish! If you do not like the fact it is my name and it is my Christian name, then you have a problem, not me.

Besides, what is wrong with Freddie

Equaliser123

TurkishDelight wrote: »

You can quote me if you like

I'm offended. Me, personally.

I'm white, british of a long line of britishness, and if we are being picky, a form of my religion has been here longer than Christianity.

You say you are "sensitive" to this sort of thing, well, so am I.

I'm not of your religion, so why should I be asked for something as if I was?

I am sensitive to a ban of anything. You seem very easily offended IMHO.

rl290

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

I have a Christian Name, what is this rubbish! If you do not like the fact it is my name and it is my Christian name, then you have a problem, not me.

Besides, what is wrong with Freddie

You seem to have missed the point.... you are most welcome to talk about your Christian name, but would you ask other people for their "Christian name"? Even if they were wearing a turban or skullcap? Wouldn't you just ask for their "first name"?

As many (including I) have said, this really isn't a big point. The phrase "Christian name" is used so rarely now - every website, job application and data entry form I come across uses "first name" these days. It'll just get antiquated over time.

R

Apollonia

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

As we are being politically correct and pedantic at the moment, you should be aware it is only referred to as a 'Union Jack' when it is on a ship or boat; otherwise it is called a 'Union Flag'. After all, we must not offend anyone with a Christian name of 'Jack', should we?

Sorry, this is not true.

It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag".
Cdr Bruce Nicolls OBE RN (Retd)

For the full item go to:

http://www.flaginstitute.org/index.php?location=7.1