Slashdot Mirror
Kid Named After Everquest Character
eToychest writes "Sony Online Entertainment just sent notice that some poor baby has been named after a character in EverQuest. Apparently players really, really love this game. Case in point: player Tabitha Ayers gave birth to a baby girl January 6, 2005, and promptly named her Firiona Vie Ayers, in honor of EverQuest's famous spokes-elf. The path to geekdom for this child has aready been paved in 12-sided dice and character sheets." At this point I think it's safe to say that SOE is going to be the cause of the downfall of Civilization.
im surpised it took this long...
I used to know guy named Gimli-- honest! His parents were real big Tolkien fans in the 60s.
Among several careers, he worked as an EMT & a security guard in a big city-- he enjoyed the rough scene. Big guy...
"Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
As bad as naming your kid after a nearly unpronouncible elf-name from a stupid MMORPG is - the real tragedy here is, what kind of neglect is this poor child going to suffer since her parents are clearly so addicted to a stupid virtual reality world?
This kid better learn to change her own diaper and prepare her own baby bottles quickly.
Given the linked article about EQ2's /pizza command, it should be noted that Blizzard added a /pizza command in the latest patch of World of Warcraft.
It's an emote, and it just says "Player is hungry!" but it's a start...
Isn't this the same as the guy who named his child "2.0" instead of "Junior"? I can't really expect much more creativity... next people are going to name their kids "Apple" and "Moonunit".
How is this any different to naming a child after a film star or a musician, except it's in a different medium?
You DO realize that this is a "News for Nerds" site, right? I wonder how many people on this site have kids named Han and Kirk!
Ha! My little Jean-Luc can beat up your Kirk any time!
Mmkay, so at 13 this kid'll just rebel and turn cool.
Clever parents learn to fake out their kids, which is why I'm going to pretend to be a Republican from when my kids are btwn 10 and 18.
Anyone else remember Akklaim's marketing scheme a few years back?
Given how significant EQ has become (do you know anyone that doesn't know what EQ is?), I figured it was only a matter of time before someone did this. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't the first example of it, it's just the first one that has gotten publicity.
It won't be too long before someone gets named after a character in WarCraft lore, if it hasn't happened already. Thrall, Kael, Illidan, Tyrande, Jaina, and Grom are, to name a few, all good candidates (though I don't think anyone in their right mind would name a kid Arthas).
Intelligent responses welcome, flames will be met with marshmallows.
"But mommy, why did you name me Trogdor?"
At this point I think it's safe to say that SOE is going to be the cause of the downfall of Civilization.
Sid Meier is going to be pissed.
That should read "paved in 10-sided dice and character sheets" since I believe that's what the Everquest pen and paper games uses.
Just think of all the guys out there named Mario- Nintendo has doomed them to Nerdom!!
Firiona is not a bad name. I rather like the sound of it. In fact, it is a substantially better choice than, say, "Apple".
I always wanted to name my daughter Aeris, personally.
I just hope it doesn't mean she's destined to die by the hand of a 20-foot-long katana...
I'm planning on naming my son Guybrush Threepwood.
find . -name "noobs" -print | xargs rm -rf && echo "pwnd."
I'm pretty sure this has more to do with overly obsessive parents rather than everquest. Anyone with an unhealthy obession will tend to do stupid things, whether it be drugs, games, in the 60s, or the 2030s. Don't be so freaked out about the shit that's happening now, most of it happened 10-20 years ago when you didn't care enough to notice.
...she can't go to college until she's a level 25 high school student.
Bryan R.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, or $12.50 as seen on eBay.....
SOE has claimed copyright infringement. Sony lead attorney, R. U. Stiltskin, said that in compensation the mother must give up... her first born child!!!!
I used to think it was bad to be named after one of the Beatles. Maybe it's a good thing my parents aren't geeks.
Oh, and I can't believe no-one mentioned this (scroll down to 2nd news post). Not nearly as strange, I suppose.
Misery loves company. Online misery loves unsuspecting random strangers.
You know, I bet if this was a WoW character instead of an EverQuest character, the Slashdot blurb would have been more uplifting and a "testament to the greatness of the game."
I doubt this would have been posted at all if the submitter didn't give the negative connotation to the story.
Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
At this point I think it's safe to say that SOE is going to be the cause of the downfall of Civilization.
How about we just go ahead and extend that to MMORPGs in general, eh? No reason to single SOE out.
Rob
She can grow up and marry my sysadmin's son, Anakin.
I wonder how many people on this site have kids named Han and Kirk!
With respect to the former you are excluding asia right? Wasn't it really "Hans" though? If so you'll find that pretty popular in Denmark, you may have heard of "Hans Christian Andersen". He definitley predates Star Wars
With respect to the latter Kirk is a pretty normal US/European name. You may have seen a movie or two with Kirk Douglas. He predates Star Wars as well.
At this point I think it's safe to say that SOE is going to be the cause of the downfall of Civilization.
I think it might be more accurate to say:
"At this point I think it's safe to say that SOE is going to be the cause of the downfall of SOE."
The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky
... how the @#$% did he find time to stop raiding the planes to breed?
I wonder how many people on this site even have the opportunity to have kids.
IMHO, the only reason people see this name as "bad" is because it's linked to EQ. Had it not been so, and had they actually made it up themselves and not just copied it from elsewhere, people might think they were just being creative.
Still, and also IMHO, I for one would like people to start being more creative (but not stupidly so) in naming their children. I mean no offense, but don't we have enough people in the world with the same common names? I'm not saying they're bad, just overused. And yes, sadly, that includes my own name.
On a side note, I wonder if any cultures in the world do NOT have their own set of common names?
It's not Hans. It never was Hans. It never shall be Hans. DIE HANS!!!!!!
No, it was "Han." It has always been "Han" and it is usually MISspelled/read/spoken as "Hans" by non-fans for whatever reason. The only "S" in his name was at the head of his surname.
SoW plz!!!1
You have got to be kidding - two EQ losers procreated ! How in the heck did the parents find the two minutes to concieve? And now the child is marked with the sign of stupidity by being named after EQs Cover girl ?!? I guess Pizza Hut will cater the Baby shower. As you can tell , I love SOE and Eq ! /scarcasm
Can you see this poor girl explaining her stupid name for the rest of her life - and then be justify in the act of parental homicide.
It has always been "Han" and it is usually MISspelled/read/spoken as "Hans" by non-fans for whatever reason
;-)
You sure Lucas didn't change it in the "special" editions?
Also I think getting the name right/wrong is for qualification/disqualification for something beyond a fan.
My cousin named his child Samwise..
This is scary because: 1.) The poor kid's childhood has been ruined. 2.) These people are actually breeding!O.O But seriously...naming the child like that seems extremely shortsighted. At least give the kid a fighting chance at a normal life.
and captain kirk is NOT from star wars but star trek!
My name is Pepijn, which is Pippin's name in the Dutch translation of the Lord of the Rings. My dad was a big Tolkien fan.
I have no problem with that. It's a good name in and of itself, it doesn't matter where the inspiration came from. Same for this person. They happen to like the name, what does it matter that it came from a computer game? By the time the kid's old enough to be a potential bullying target no one's gonna remember where it came from anyway.
Didn't want to sound like an elitist fanboy. ;)
Then again, I don't think I CAN qualify as a fanboy anymore, since I refused to even see Ep2 (and extend that refusal to Ep3)
Correct.
Names don't have sufficient expressibility to fall under copyright law.
Trademark also won't allow one to usurp an extant name save in a very specific / limited role (an example of the extreme to which this can be taken is McDonald's in the US). Then, it falls under law for ``trade dress'' &c.
A friend of mine's patronymic was used in a certain recent fantasy series --- sent a nastygram by an overzealous (and ignorant) person in a law office alleging violation of their trademark he responded w/ copies of his incorporation certificate for his company (long before the novels were written), and his birth certificate (he's older than the author, and his family name is an old one in Wales). He then received two different responses, one apologising, the other threatening further action. He responded to the first, but included a copy of the latter.
He received personal phone calls from a principal in the law firm and the movie studio which had gotten the rights for the book, apologising, and thanking him for his forbearance, and asking what they could do to put a physical expression on the apology. They also stated that the person who'd sent the second letter was now sending out resume's instead.
He wound up w/ round trip tickets to England to the premier, and a chance to meet the author who was delighted by his name.
William
Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
Isn't this a infringement on SOE IP rights?
I mean.. really...
----- The internet has given everyone the ability to have their voice heard equally as loud.. even if they shouldn't be
She could have been named Fiorina instead.
beautiful daughter :) Just for the record though, I don't really play everquest anymore. The first everquest isn't even installed on my computer =p I play EQII now and it's not very often at all. I just liked the name and have since I first played Everquest. I am in no way a bad mother for naming my daughter after a fictional mmo character. But, thank you for the compliments made and I hope everyone has a nice day ^_^