7 Ways to screw your kids for life

[Michael]

The premise of this 'tongue-in-cheek' article is that parental good intentions more often than not leads to the raising of little monsters.

source (http://www.cracked.com/article/195_7-things-good-parents-do-that-screw-kids-up-life/)

I certainly agree with many of the points. Giving one's child a weird/unique name is definitely worthy of the top of the list. Endless undeserving compliments are another surefire way to raise a deadbeat kid.

Some of the linked studies are quite interesting. :)

[bug]

Really? Showing your kid educational videos/TV will actually hurt them? I've retained the knowledge of how to count to ten in Spanish from putting in my time with Sesame Street. (Come to think of it, that hasn't really gotten me too far. But that still seems surprising.) I wouldn't have thought putting them in school early cause them to be more likely to drop out either. Although it does seem a little cruel to cut short the days of carefree sandbox time, who'd have thought it would do any academic harm?

[Michael]

Really? Showing your kid educational videos/TV will actually hurt them? I've retained the knowledge of how to count to ten in Spanish from putting in my time with Sesame Street. (Come to think of it, that hasn't really gotten me too far. But that still seems surprising.) I wouldn't have thought putting them in school early cause them to be more likely to drop out either. Although it does seem a little cruel to cut short the days of carefree sandbox time, who'd have thought it would do any academic harm?

Yes, that "early school = high drop out rate" seems suspicious given that every study I've ever seen on the topic says that early kindergarten is more important/beneficial than most of one's high school.

But the unique names, unwarrented praise and the sports thing all seem quite plausible as harmful.

(Interesting tidbit about the sport-jocks admitting cheating at college at such a high rate. I'll have to follow that up because I've previously read that it was the business grads that had that honor - though I suppose that could be the same thing since so many of the sport-jocks at college go through commerce programs).

[Donkey]

What constitutes a weird/unique name? My name is certainly weird and unique by American standards, and it is even uncommon by Spanish standards (except in Colombia and Cuba, it seems). I guess it depends, though. My and my brothers names are such because of our heritage, and my kids will also have Spanish names. (Though they way things are going, they may have to be Spanish-Hungarian compromise names... Miklos Aurelio?!?)

[Lily]

What constitutes a weird/unique name?

Well. When I was doing my OB rotation in nursing school, a mother named her newborn daughter "Meconium." She thought it sounded pretty.

Ohhkaay. Poor kid.

[Greendruid]

Well. When I was doing my OB rotation in nursing school, a mother named her newborn daughter "Meconium." She thought it sounded pretty.

Ohhkaay. Poor kid.

WARNING: Michael, do not read this post!

Yeah, a friend of ours thought that "Cloaca (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cloaca)" would be a nice name for a girl when I was giving her a little bit of a chicken anatomy lesson. She wanted to know where eggs came from and I delighted in telling her since she is the squeamish type.

[Margot]

I always got shit for my name. I still have friends who call me "Maggot" and the "T" seems to thwart 90% of the population- including my professors ("Mar...Got? Margit?....Margo-h? Why do you have that T there if it is Margo?!").

[Americano]

Well. When I was doing my OB rotation in nursing school, a mother named her newborn daughter "Meconium." She thought it sounded pretty.

Ohhkaay. Poor kid.

I had to look it up. Yuck.

[Americano]

I wonder how many children from the hippy era have buried names such as Sunshine, Flower and other burdens. The rock&roll celebrity children from that era are still bearing names such as Moonbeam due to their semi-public status.

[Greendruid]

I wonder how many children from the hippy era have buried names such as Sunshine, Flower and other burdens. The rock&roll celebrity children from that era are still bearing names such as Moonbeam due to their semi-public status.

I have a friend named Morningstar Rainbow Shining. She wears it proudly and is a very outgoing, ethusiastic person - quite fitting really.

[Donkey]

I wonder how many children from the hippy era have buried names such as Sunshine, Flower and other burdens. The rock&roll celebrity children from that era are still bearing names such as Moonbeam due to their semi-public status.
One of my friend's hippy parents named him Forest Walker. As in, one who walks in forests.

Of course, "Forest Walker Davis" also just sounds like somebody who might be a klansman. :D

[Lily]

WARNING: Michael, do not read this post!

Yeah, a friend of ours thought that "Cloaca (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cloaca)" would be a nice name for a girl when I was giving her a little bit of a chicken anatomy lesson. She wanted to know where eggs came from and I delighted in telling her since she is the squeamish type.

Cloaca? Hahahah! That's almost as bad as Meconium.

By the way, that's how we sex alligators, too. :lol:

[Americano]

I have a friend named Morningstar Rainbow Shining. She wears it proudly and is a very outgoing, ethusiastic person - quite fitting really.

Good to hear she has pride in her name. I know a Revolution or Snowphish could have faced some career challenges in the narrow-minded world of commerce.

[The Drunk Girl]

I always got shit for my name. I still have friends who call me "Maggot" and the "T" seems to thwart 90% of the population- including my professors ("Mar...Got? Margit?....Margo-h? Why do you have that T there if it is Margo?!").

My last name gets butchered all the time. Evidently it is German, but it is not that hard of a last name to pronounce. What kills me is when people switch the the z and the n around when pronouncing or calling me by "Wasson" or "Wanger." There are no "s's" or "g's" or "o's" in my name! Seriously, folks it's not Hooked on Phonics we're dealing with, so quit making up names!

I have a friend named Morningstar Rainbow Shining. She wears it proudly and is a very outgoing, ethusiastic person - quite fitting really.
I played basketball with a girl and her name is Amanda Sunshine. Her two sisters both have middle names of Starshine and Dawn. Dawn isn't too bad, but Sunshine and Starshine? :ummm: Funny thing too, one of the sisters named her son, Yancey. What a horrible name for a little boy to have.

[Michael]

Funny thing too, one of the sisters named her son, Yancey. What a horrible name for a little boy to have.
Indeed, that's exactly the kind of name that many have pointed out can cause serious trauma for some poor child.

That name rhymes with "Nancy" and "Pansy". The kindergarten set will have that worked out pretty damn quick.

[The Drunk Girl]

Indeed, that's exactly the kind of name that many have pointed out can cause serious trauma for some poor child.

That name rhymes with "Nancy" and "Pansy". The kindergarten set will have that worked out pretty damn quick.

I'm glad this is here, it might knock some sense into the TDG. He likes the name "Perciphony" (sp?) for a girl. I will firmly hold my foot down when that time comes. I just picture a girl being called "Percy" instead. Gross!

I prefer names like, Kathryn and Elizabeth or Henry and Nathan. :D

[Donkey]

Persephone? I think that's a pretty nice name, with a good story.

Although, I also think it has a lot to with how the kid is raised. One of my best girl friends is named Travis, and she rocks it.

[The Drunk Girl]

Persephone? I think that's a pretty nice name, with a good story.

Although, I also think it has a lot to with how the kid is raised. One of my best girl friends is named Travis, and she rocks it.

I can see that. But sometimes what is cool for one kid, isn't for another. I really like the name Klaus, but I wouldn't name my son that.

If my future kids happen to not like the name I give them, then I guess they can change it when they're old enough.

[Donkey]

I can see that. But sometimes what is cool for one kid, isn't for another. I really like the name Klaus, but I wouldn't name my son that.

If my future kids happen to not like the name I give them, then I guess they can change it when they're old enough.

Semi related, when I was young growing up in Michigan and Ohio, I was the only Camilo I knew, and I didn't even know of any famous ones (at the time). I was worried that Camilo would be such a weird name for an adult, even though it worked for me as a kid. :lol:

[Americano]

Semi related, when I was young growing up in Michigan and Ohio, I was the only Camilo I knew, and I didn't even know of any famous ones (at the time). I was worried that Camilo would be such a weird name for an adult, even though it worked for me as a kid. :lol:

From the little I know of you I don't think of you as a shrinking violet at any age. Especially regarding your family names.

I preceded the Age of Aquarius when given names were still primarily derived from family heritage. Family members at gatherings 'helping' the to be parents name their child. Lots of 'you can't name it after (pick relative) because (pick reason) in the usual mix of family politics and superstitions. Pre-ultrasound; male and female names were required for the process.

[Greendruid]

I can see that. But sometimes what is cool for one kid, isn't for another. I really like the name Klaus, but I wouldn't name my son that.

If my future kids happen to not like the name I give them, then I guess they can change it when they're old enough.

Persephone is an interesting choice. My only advice is that if one is about to engage in naming a child after a goddess, one should be prepared for the child to live up to that name. Persephone in particular has an awful lot on her plate, and certainly not all of it good.

[Michael]

Persephone is an interesting choice. My only advice is that if one is about to engage in naming a child after a goddess, one should be prepared for the child to live up to that name. Persephone in particular has an awful lot on her plate, and certainly not all of it good.

And people accuse me of being arrogant? Like, with a name like Michael, how can I not be? :ummm:

You can't get a more god-like, aggressive, powerful or warlike name in all of Christian culture.

[Greendruid]

And people accuse me of being arrogant? Like, with a name like Michael, how can I not be? :ummm:

You can't get a more god-like, aggressive, powerful or warlike name in all of Christian culture.

I try my best to ignore Christian culture and their associated deities :lol:

[The Drunk Girl]

And people accuse me of being arrogant? Like, with a name like Michael, how can I not be? :ummm:

You can't get a more god-like, aggressive, powerful or warlike name in all of Christian culture.

I'll just start referring to you as "Mike" and envision a dumb, meathead jock instead.

[Americano]

I'll just start referring to you as "Mike" and envision a dumb, meathead jock instead.

And then there's always Mikey or Mick...

[Michael]

I'll just start referring to you as "Mike" and envision a dumb, meathead jock instead.

And then there's always Mikey or Mick...

And then there is also something called the "banhammer"... or "Tachy Goes to Coventry" :lol:

[Donkey]

Is Mick short for Michael?

[Americano]

I think we're discovering Michael dislikes nicknames.

[Donkey]

I've gone most of my life without significant nicknames (except for the names my baby brothers invented, which stuck). It took until I got to college for people to start shortening my name to Milo.

[Zarquon]

I've gone most of my life without significant nicknames (except for the names my baby brothers invented, which stuck). It took until I got to college for people to start shortening my name to Milo.
don't have one either

[Americano]

don't have one either

No kid nicknames but I worked hard to achieve the moniker of 'ruthless' in my business career. Gotta have periodic blood in the halls to root out complacency.

[Michael]

Is Mick short for Michael?

In Britain it is.

Americans shorten Michael to "Mike". Brits shorten Michael to "Mick".

I have no tolerance for either abominiation. ;)

[Michael]

I think we're discovering Michael dislikes nicknames.
My first fist-fight was in 4th Grade against someone who insisted on singing "Michelle, my belle" at me.

He never made that mistake again.

[The Drunk Girl]

People always referred to me by my last name in middle school and high school. To this day when people see me from back then they still shout out my last name, and I always know I'm going to see someone I know. I don't have that problem now that I am in college, but I have to admit I kind of miss it.