Identity Crisis and Linguistic Laughter Unveiled

Ever find yourself chuckling over the phrase "feeling dandy" and then spiraling into a philosophical musing about the oddities of the English language? We sure have, and this episode is stuffed with such linguistic curiosities and the strange, comical paths they lead us down. Turn up the volume for our reflections on the emotional circus of productivity, procrastination, and the technological lifelines that promise to keep our chaotic lives on track. We're having a laugh over the weirdest of idioms and sharing a yearning for a language sage to school us on the peculiar history of our vernacular.

But it's not all giggles and side-eyes at bizarre expressions; we're taking a deep look into the mirror of our names and identities. Imagine finding out your middle name isn't quite what you thought—talk about an identity crisis! We're sharing these personal tales and dissecting the cultural threads that stitch our names to our very selves. From the tales tied to the names we're given, to the narratives we weave when bestowing names upon our children, we unravel the enigma of how these labels contribute to the fabric of who we are. Join us, sans experts, on this introspective adventure, punctuated with chuckles and the occasional "Wait, what?" moment.

Chapters

• 0:45 Discussing Names and Identity
• 10:02 The Significance of Names and Identity
• 26:11 Reflections on Names and Identity

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:45

Good afternoon, good afternoon. How's the average day. Yeah, do you know what I'm buying in, dandy? To be honest, I know, dandy, where's that? For a while I wonder where that? Oh no, we're always going down that rabbit all the way back. Where does that come from? Where does that come from? Yeah, no, I think I'm feeling relatively Good.

Speaker 1: 1:07

I think you think, well, I'm trying to think if I don't and I don't, and I'm just trying to think if I'm just saying that I do, when actually I don't. Here's a complete sign of overthinking. I think I do, but I'm not sure. I'm just thinking, yeah, no, too much. No, I feel good, let's just get to the bottom. I feel good, it's fine, I feel good, it's fine. See, right earlier we were saying why is it? You say a word and then automatically it springs a chain, see, and you just did that. It does, doesn't it? Yeah, I wonder how we tuned so we can come up with the words that people say oh, yeah, let's do this. Okay, we need to do that somewhere. I can't think about that and think about what goes on as well. Oh God, no, can't do two things at once in my head. That brain explode. Emoji. It would Absolutely.

Speaker 1: 2:19

Look, we've struggled as it is to try and get. Actually, I think we've been really good today. Yeah, actually, we've been very productive today, which is a mix of change for us. Very good for us. But you see, we've put a time on it, didn't we? We did, and that's what we don't usually do. No, usually it's like well, we've got all day, so we've got all day to talk, and then the last 10 minutes is like shit, should we do some work? Shit, we haven't done that. Oh, we've nothing that off our to-do list. Yeah, we've done well this week.

Speaker 1: 2:51

Actually, I reckon we've been on a bit of a niche. We've got a lot of boxes we have. We're actually good on us, I know. And look, get us. We're even that bloody organised. We've come up with like a system where we can have a do it to-do list online. Oh, no, I'm so excited, got an app, got to do app To do app. I think it's a bloody good idea. We're hoping it'll keep a pair of us online, wouldn't it?

Speaker 1: 3:22

Yeah, well, I write things on 10 bits of paper and then lose them. Yeah, so do I, which is useless, I know. And then I go off and in tangent and do loads of things and you're like what are you doing? What are you doing? What have you done? Tell me all about it. And I'm like, oh, which is great, I'm not poo-pooing it.

Speaker 1: 3:43

That won't come from poo-pooing it. Yeah, I suppose it's a polite way of saying what. Is it a polite way of saying poo-pooing, poop-pooing. You're not poo-pooing, you're not shitting all over it, aren't you really poo-pooing? It's very odd, but that makes no sense. No, because you're not I'm not doing that. Shitting that on it, are you? No, I'm poo-pooing. Maybe I'm saying it wrong. No, no, no, it is poo-pooing, it is poo-pooing, I'm not poo-pooing that. Oh, I don't know. No, I don't know.

Speaker 1: 4:17

Do you know what we need to do? We need to find something really clever that can give us the answers. We need Susie Dent from who's Susie Dent? She's the lady in Countdown, you know. That does dictionary corner. No, I don't watch it. I'm not that intelligent. Do you know what? I used to watch blockbusters and Countdown when my eldest, when he was little, I used to watch blockbusters. Actually, my mum used to watch Countdown. I used to watch when my eldest and he was little, but I don't use to, and you always have the met. Give us a peep, please, bob. No, I can't remember where I was going with that. No, oh yeah, susie Dent Right, she does a whole thing on language and the history of sayings and words. We need a Susie Dent to explain to us where we come up with all these random sayings and then we go where does that come from? I like that, yes. So are you the Susie Dent in our lives?

Speaker 1: 5:28

I always wanted to be called Susie. Why? Well, because Susie Quattro was a rock chick and I wanted to be a rock chick. So I thought if I was called Susie, I'd be a rock chick. I like that. Susie Quattro is called Very cool, she is yeah. So I wanted to be called Susie. Susie and the Banshees yeah. So it's only rock people called Susie. Isn't that interesting? How, yeah, how we think a name will change who we are.

Speaker 1: 6:10

Oh dear, this could be a difficult one, but it's true, I know. That's why I said it isn't it? It is, though, isn't it? So have you never liked being called Tracy? But I never really disliked it.

Speaker 1: 6:31

There was always a phase going through school, because there's always the Sharon and Tracy era. I want that, yeah. So wherever I went, they'd go. Where's Sharon? You're like, I've not heard that one before, yeah, but then that, no, no, it's never bothered me, but there was just.

Speaker 1: 6:52

I just always wanted to be killed called Suzie's head, because Suzie was a rock chick and Tracy was not a rock chick. There might be a rock chick out there called Tracy Well, I haven't found her yet, yeah, but that's interesting. Yeah, because you assume the identity of rock chicks that only called Suzie, yeah, and also thought that just because I was called Tracy, I couldn't be a rock chick, because I had an example Suzie, suzie what a much cooler name, wouldn't it? And Trace. But then I've never liked my name. Why I just don't like it. I don't know why. I don't know.

Speaker 1: 7:45

I wanted to be what did I want it to be? It was either I wanted to be something like Rihanna or Rihanna or something else. So why did you want to be Rihanna? I don't know. I don't know. It wasn't that, it was something else. I can't remember it's called that, but it was just. But was it a cooler name? Yeah, I just thought it was a more interesting name.

Speaker 1: 8:10

Lin's, such a boring name, sorry, mum. Well, you say that, right, but then I thought Suzie was a rock chick, but you've just told me Suzie is a bit of a library head. This is it. Suzie, then, is yeah, yes, she might be a rock chick in her part time. She might very well be a rock chick in her kitchen, so that she may well often go to metallic again, absolutely. But no, her day job is not out there. She is not a day job rock chick, no.

Speaker 1: 8:49

So my theory on being a Suzie and who I was was not quite correct then, was it? No, it's a load of bullshit really, wasn't it? Yeah, what's that saying that the Suzies are available? But that's interesting, isn't it? Why? Partly because, I think, we're not given our names, so we don't get a choice about our names, do we no? But that would be very difficult.

Speaker 1: 9:25

Because of what age could we decide what our name was? We'd probably come up with quite a few before we actually decided, being little people. Yes, this is it, isn't it? My four or a month old grandson's not going to be able to vocalise what his name wants to be currently, at the moment, is he? No, he just laughs and giggles at you at the moment. Yes, I've thought of this before. So I wonder what that makes us.

Speaker 1: 10:02

Like you said, you didn't like your name, no. So do we pin that to ourselves as well? Do we pin that name issue that we have to ourselves? Do you know what we're trying to think? So what age were you when you wanted to be Suzy? Because you wanted to be a rock chick. Probably about eight or nine. Okay, so that makes sense.

Speaker 1: 10:36

So identity starts forming from about six, six or seven, seven, doesn't it? Yeah? So when you're trying to form that identity, which you would be about eight or nine, suzy, rock chick. Yes, because we don't know any other way of forming our identity at that age, do we? No? And interesting how I thought the name would make me a rock chick. Do we know why I could be a rock chick as I was? No, because outwardly, all you're seeing is Suzy Quattro. That's who you want to be, yeah, isn't it? Yeah, interesting though, because I've never liked my name. That's interesting. It's got to be a reason why it's got to be a deep down, hidden in the dark, close. There has to be something why we disrupt your name, because I can't say I ever disliked mine. I just think it would disliked it.

Speaker 1: 11:53

Maybe it's because you can't shorten it and I don't know whether it was a kid, I used to like names that you could shorten and you can't do anything with it. No, you can't. Lin's Lin, you know. You can shorten it in writing, yes, but you can't shorten it when you say it no, there's nothing you can do with it. No, no, to be honest, it's just, that's it. You can't do anything else with it. No, and everybody does shorten names.

Speaker 1: 12:28

Yes, were you aware of that? When you gave your children names? Yes, I gave them all names that they could shorten, that they could shorten, yeah, and they wanted to shorten your words. They both did. That makes sense. Yeah, so they have all got names that they can shorten and they all use the shortened versions of their names. How interesting is that? They don't ever go by their full names. That's it then. Isn't it Because I wanted to be able to shorten it? Yeah, you couldn't shorten your words. Why? Why would you be able to? I think it. I think it.

Speaker 1: 13:10

Maybe it is because it just means it's just something different. And I suppose with some names it's there's a different because we all joke about it, don't, don't we Like? Like, when your mum's cross with you, she always used it for all names. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So I wonder if something like that you interpret like there was never any difference. No With you, no, because your name's your name, yeah, whereas with other names, you know you go.

Speaker 1: 13:39

Hmm, my mum always used to like trace, yeah, otherwise I was traced. So did your mum call you traced? Then I can't remember. See, it's funny, isn't it? See, my mum, my nan, hated anybody shortening my mum's name. So my mum's name was Sheila, so she'd be she, yeah, so she, or PPS to call her Sheila, sometimes Sheila. My nan hated it, absolutely hated it, and my mum was never a lover, so it was her fault. She'd go around the name. Oh, my God. So she got mum, I know. And my mum again, my mum never really shortened her name. She was always known as Sheila. Oh, the only difference is part of her, but that was the programming, because your nan didn't like it, yeah, so your mum wasn't going to shorten it. No, she, because her mum didn't like it. No, the only she says she's got a cousin and her cousin's children used to call my mum Lala. So they're the only people that were. Because my mum could never say Sheila as a child. So she always used to say her name was Lala, so that's where that's come from.

Speaker 1: 14:59

Interesting, isn't it? Yeah, hmm, yeah, I think my mum used both, because I can remember saying Trace a lot. She called me or anything. She would always say Trace, actually, if I think about it. But she would call me Tracey as well, but I never thought of it, I didn't. I don't look back and think that my mum and dad ever went Tracey or Tracey in different ways, so my name was either Right Okay, that's why I haven't had don't really attach a good or bad sort of feeling. Okay, so that makes sense. Yeah, because it was. It was just whatever that there was. Whichever way they used, it was fine. I don't ever remember it, you know, being in an angry tone, or or Trace in a nice tone, so it was fine. Whatever, there you go, that's it, whereas mine would have been, because my name remained the same throughout all.

Speaker 1: 16:06

Hmm, isn't that interesting?

Speaker 1: 16:10

Yeah, it's really interesting. I've never, ever thought of it in that context before. To be honest, about how we look up, you know, we often talk about not not being able to choose your name. Yeah, it's something that you're given. You don't have a choice when we talk about choices, but I've never really gone any further with it.

Speaker 1: 16:28

I mean, I always find it fascinating to ask people where their names came from. Yeah, I always find that fascinating because there's a whole other story. Yes, there's always a story behind a name, isn't there? Yes, which I feel, I love. I think that's like really, yeah, really exciting, and like, for whatever reason it is, but, yeah, I like, I like the stories behind names and why, why, why were you, why was that name chosen for you?

Speaker 1: 17:00

And sometimes it's really random, sometimes it's really interesting, sometimes it's just like that, nowhere you know, yeah, that's it, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, it's funny, isn't it? Is there a little gravitas to a name? Actually, isn't there really, yeah, and it's really important because I don't know whether you did this, but when you're choosing a name, you don't just think of the name. You have to think of, like, the name that goes with it, because we've all got a surname, yeah. And then you have to think about if you put a middle name in there, and then you have to think about the initials when somebody writes down that name.

Speaker 1: 17:41

Yeah, well, I thought all that, but then I am a bit of an overthinker. I mean, there are certain, probably, people like they've got initials and names, who put them Like bend over and stuff like that. And what's the first thing you say, what were their parents thinking? I mean, maybe they just had a good sense of humor or maybe they didn't think at all. But, ken, that's just me going into a whole bunch of thinking. But there is, isn't there?

Speaker 1: 18:09

You know, recently, like you're saying, with my grandson, isn't it? That they were thinking of names and stuff like that, and there were a couple of, like you know, that they wanted a middle name, but then his initials would have been knob. Wouldn't you just want to do it, honestly, not going to lie? There was part of me going, oh, that would be hilarious. And then I thought, no, you can't do that, that's not nice. And to be honest, my son felt a bit quite hilarious too.

Speaker 1: 18:47

But like you say, isn't it You've got to think of, I think, and like you say, I'm guessing a lot of people don't do they. But I think you know, and I was so right, I was just thinking then why should we think about that? Because really it shouldn't matter, should it? It shouldn't, it absolutely shouldn't. And people, you know, people give their kids real quirky names before, or you can't call them that, why can't you? But that's the thing I think now. I think in our day, if my initials would knob, I would have got bit the piss out of.

Speaker 1: 19:26

Let's be perfectly honest, I'm not sure it's as bad now, because names are so much more diverse now, aren't they? You know, you have just got your bog standard girls names and boys names. Now I find, see, the girls names are a lot more diverse than the boys names are. I think. Yeah, possibly, but yeah, like you say, there are a lot more. You know, nobody's questioning what you name your child. No, no, that's it which I think is great. I think that's amazing. You crack on, you crack the call, absolutely whatever you want. I think it's great. But isn't it funny how they live up to that identity? Well, I was just going to say.

Speaker 1: 20:12

And also, if you've got a real different name, I wonder if that frees you as a person. That makes you feel like you can be different. I wonder if it does. That would be interesting to find out. Yeah, because, like you say, that's the name you've been given. You've not given that choice. Does that automatically, like you say, give you that freedom to be because your name is different, that you're going to be different and you're going to be comfortable being different. Yeah, I wonder if it does. Or does it make you more like? You feel like you need to fit in a bit Because you feel different, because your name is different, interesting, so like, for example, what's her name? Can't remember her name? The one that called her Child Apple? Oh, I can't remember. I was only talking about this the other day.

Speaker 1: 21:15

So, like you say, does that make them more confident to be who they are, because they're automatically going to be aware that their name's different to the Emma's and whatever out there, or does it make you more self-conscious, interesting and maybe and that's an individual thing. But then don't you think, right, if you're the type of person that gives your child a different name, that's probably quite unique. Yes, that's true, I know we're all unique, we're all individual, but a lot of there are some people that are happy to step out being unique and individual and others that are a little bit stuck with the programming and feel like they need to conform. So if your parent is one of those that gives you a name that is unique and different, probably you're going to be brought up in an environment that is very acceptable. To be unique and be yourself yeah, you're going to be around those people. To be different yeah, you are. I'm guessing you're going to be around those people, aren't you? I would have thought that's your programming. To be okay with doing that, because that's a huge thing with identity is what we're brought into, isn't it? Gosh, yes, so programming. And then what society? I'm trying to think that it would not make us, but we're brought up, programmed, into believing certain things from circumstances and situations around us. And what we're brought up in, aren't we? Yeah, that's just giving us a pause for thought then. Yeah, never gone down that road before.

Speaker 1: 23:16

I've always had this fascination with names. Why are you called that? Where did that come from? The story? I just love stories, but never thought of it so deep with the identity thing. No, like I said, what we always say about it's a name you didn't choose, you weren't given. It's just your name. It's not who you are? No, it's not though, is it no? But also, there are a lot of things around that whole name that probably do pin a lot to your identity and your beliefs, from what is around you and why you've been given that name and, yeah, lots of things. Interesting it is, isn't it? And I wonder how everybody else's concept about their name, how they feel about their name, yeah, and why? Yeah, that's the next step, isn't it? It's like how do you feel about your name and then, why do you feel like that? So that, like you say, the reason why you must feel like it so for me not liking it must come up for some part where you're forming that identity, absolutely, what that name means for you, absolutely.

Speaker 1: 24:39

During that period yeah, yeah, interesting, just fascinating, absolutely fascinating my mum always said that she heard my name because my mum, my dad, was in a jazz band. Yeah, so when he was playing, my mum would be dancing, and that was in the time of like, when the American GIs were over here, and so, because that was on the stage, she'd danced with the American GIs and she said that's where she heard my name from an American GI, and that's where I've got an E, because they, the male name over there, they spell it with an E, right. So it was and actually, see, I find that story quite exciting. So your name, dr, an American GI, that's where she heard it from. So it was like I just thought that story. So maybe that's part of it as well, because she was, you know, because I obviously must have asked from quite a young age like, why am I called Tracy? Because I always knew that story, and maybe that's because I am like I've got quite a story ahead. So I find that quite exciting, that whole concept, you know. So maybe that's why I had a good feeling about my name.

Speaker 1: 26:12

Yeah, definitely, I don't know, whereas there was no story with my name. I don't even know why I'm called that. The only thing I know is it's spelt the way it's spelt because that's the Welsh way of spelling it and it was the least common way of spelling it. Yeah, because a lot of people like that, don't. They Try and choose the least common. Yeah, so that's why it's spelt like that. And my middle name my dad chose. Well, I have a Susie, because my middle name is Suzanne with a Z. So what am I talking about? Oh, I am a rock check. Oh, my God, it's been though.

Speaker 1: 26:54

So basically, you wanted to swap names, because I'm sure Susie Quatra isn't called Susie, is she? Oh, look, see, I've been Susie all this time and not even realised who I was. It's only taken us 60 freaking years to work that one out. Oh my God, how crazy is that. I was just going to say just swap your names round, you can call yourself Susie. I am sad of me too. I am Susie. I've got Susie in there now.

Speaker 1: 27:31

Hi, how bizarre is that? Not funny? Never even like. I've never occurred to you. Why have I never thought that before? I don't know. No, I don't know either. See, I told you earlier if I was brain, it would be dangerous. You would be Very ridiculous. You've never thought that before. No, because that's always been Susanne. But I'm sure Susie Quatra wasn't just Susie, is she? No, I don't know either.

Speaker 1: 28:06

So now you need to talk about why your dad called you Susanne. Well, I don't know. I don't know where that came from, but your dad chose that. Dad chose that. Yeah, see, my middle name is my dad's mum's middle. It was her name.

Speaker 1: 28:24

See, a lot of people get pulled into that whole family, don't they? Yes, they have family names as middle names. Yeah, I never wanted to do that. I didn't know, I didn't. The only time I put my foot down about a name was my husband wanted to call my middle son Eric, and I said no, except if you tell that story to my middle son, he's vastly disappointed of what my father they're a big group, eric.

Speaker 1: 28:58

Well, when I said that I'm not wanting to give family names, but actually my son is the oldest and he had found there's a whole story there which I think I've told you before right, my son's name. So he had family, two family middle names. Well, told him he had two family middle names, told him what his name was, and then it wasn't until years and years and I am talking like I think it was about 30 years later when the birth certificate came up for some reason and actually he only had one middle name. So you just lied to him forever For his whole life. My Lord, don't give me a tube. I don't know how or why that happens, but I said but you convinced yourself otherwise. Well, convinced him, but convinced myself that that was what he was called. But he wasn't. It's funny, yeah, but that took about 30 years for us all to realise. Not too long then. Oh my God, I've got to make a wonder on it sometimes. Yeah, to be honest, after today it's making me wonder, oh dear. Anyway, so you gave him a false identity. I did, absolutely.

Speaker 1: 30:56

It's actually really interesting about how much a name impacts somebody's identity and how we've just like you say, doesn't it? That's part of who you sort of? You have a story to that name on who you believe you are, love it, hate it, straight. It's strange, see, it's fascinating. This identity, Language Programming, god, what's going on about it? Pack it all together. That's such an impact on who we think we are. This is true, is it not? How many brains out there are now ticking? Can you hear it? Can you hear it in the distance? Everybody's thought they've gone. Why am I called that? Do I like my name? Yeah, why don't my life get white? Are there any other stories about how your name existed? It's funny.

Speaker 1: 32:09

I got my feelings, my mum's, I had something to do with an old girlfriend of my grandad's this boy. She's called Sheila. Well, there are times when I wonder about my middle name, because myself and my cousin, my dad, chose my middle name, her dad chose her middle name and we have the same middle name Suzanne. Got around a bit, didn't she? So I've often thought it's come from a person.

Speaker 1: 32:45

I know this sounds stupid. It's come from a person, whether that's a person they knew or whether it was like a celebrity person that they Suzanne, clearly had an impact Somewhere. I would have thought so and the fact that we were both chosen to have that middle name from brothers, which was quite interesting. I mean, there's about ten years, I'm not quite sure who's between us. You can never figure out who this Suzanne was. No, I never asked that. Maybe I never dared to ask Because I always knew the stories. But, yeah, if you've ever dared to ask me with a GI, well I suppose. But no, there we are. I was just thinking.

Speaker 1: 33:32

You remember doing what she needed to impress Stockings once she took your name and you've got your nylon. Exactly, my dad had always had his eye on her on stage, but I've seen. That's really interesting, isn't it, isn't it? Yeah, I'm sure I remember one man saying something about her name was from an ex-girlfriend of my grandad's. Mine is none of that's mine, but it's that interesting.

Speaker 1: 34:05

But then that's how you hear names, isn't it? Well, yeah, people, isn't it? Those people that make an impact or impression on your life? Yeah, or you, suddenly, I know, with my son it was like he was going to be called something else and then I heard this name and I'm like I, like that On the telly, so it's just what you? Yeah, none of mine are like None of my kids I've met before.

Speaker 1: 34:35

The only one that the one youngest is middle name is not after my husband's middle name, and that's just because I felt I ought to. But the other two, no, like I say, the exception was the Eric. It's like you're not calling any son of mine called Eric and that would have been after Eric Cantona. Oh really, oh yeah, oh, yes, that's what you wanted to do. I was like no, no, plus, it didn't go with the other name, just no, you were ruining my little business out of him being short. See there, you couldn't short. Can you short Eric? You can't short Err, err, ick.

Speaker 1: 35:23

People will shorten it to absolutely anything, won't they? And I think I remember all of you thinking about that. But See, my dad lengthened my name to Linkit, linkit. So Kit is short for Kathleen, which is my middle name, err, which was his mum's name. So he would always call me Linkit. Well, that's cool Like that. So he would lengthen it. So, yeah, my mum never called me that. He would always yeah, yeah, hence why my brother always calls me Kit. Ah, yeah, yeah, or he would swap it the other way round and call me Kit Eileen sometimes. But yeah, there was always a Kit there somewhere. My grand-granddad's house was called Aglin because she was called Agnes and he was called Leonard. I always remember that. I always can picture their door with the little sign Aglin. Aww, yeah, they were lovely. Yeah, bless. Yeah, see, it's great what you can do with it. I think we need to go to Kit.

Speaker 1: 36:28

I was changed by Deed Paul. I've already done that. Not my first name, see, at any point. When you changed your names, why did you not think of changing it to Susie? Yeah, I should have done it. Yeah, I might. Yeah, yeah, well, I didn't want to change my first name, I just wanted to change my last name. I didn't want to go to my maiden name because I've been known done that.

Speaker 1: 36:55

What are you thinking about? You could have gone to Tracy Susie Quattro. I could have done, Couldn't I? I didn't think of either. I couldn't name anything. Yet you made me so funny for a while. Why did you not name yourself Tracy Susie Quattro when you changed your name? Yeah, I should have done. Never thought of it.

Speaker 1: 37:20

You need another trip? Yeah, come on, I can't change it that many times? I'll run out of paper in a minute, and it's a bloody fact, changing on anything I can imagine. And it's bad enough when you get married. It's easy changing it. It's just changing it on the paper work. That's the shit, isn't it? Yeah, that's the difficult part. It's bad enough when you get married. So that's what I'm thinking. So should we leave these lovely books in about their names? Now? Yeah, yeah, oh, please tell us what you'd like to be called. Let us know, put some comments. We'd love to know what you would be. I'd love to know the stories. Yeah, so would I. Yeah, I think I'd have to do a little post on this, isn't it? I think so. Yeah, february's identity. We need to do that. This is a sofa subject, sofa subject. It is. That's it. Thank you so much for watching. We'll see you next time. Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye.