Name Misuse

Let's take the example of a name-related challenge someone shared (having the most popular name for dogs) and tweak it to give you a glimpse of what it's been like for some kids named Alexa because of Amazon's use of that name:   

◼When you were a child, did the adults you'd meet at places like the store or doctor's office immediately pretend to throw a ball, saying "Maggie, go FETCH!" when they learned your name? 

When you went to see Santa Claus, instead of asking you what you wanted for Christmas, did he ask, "Have you been a good little dog, Maggie, not pulling on your leash, and doing exactly what your master tells you to?"

◼When your parents would call you on the playground or in a store, did people lookup in shock and amusement because they thought it was crazy or hilarious that anyone would name their child "Maggie", a name that's clearly just for dogs? 

◼Did people actually confront your parents and tell them that they were terrible people for giving you a dog name?

◼Was there a dog named Maggie in all of your classrooms at school because some group was paid to promote this as being good for children's educa1on? A dog who would start barking whenever the teacher called on you, interrup1ng the lesson and making the other kids laugh, to the point where your teachers started ignoring your raised hand because he or she preferred to keep order, and calling on you caused chaos? And did you have to hear your peers and teacher giving commands to Maggie, the dog, all during class, causing confusion for you because they kept saying your name?

◼When you went over to play at other kids' houses, did the majority of them also have a dog named Maggie? A dog who'd bark loudly whenever your friends addressed you, so that they'd be yelling "Maggie, shut up!" over and over? And even though this kept happening, they wouldn't want to take the dog out of the room because they liked playing with her, so their parents would tell you to go by the name "M" while you were over there as the "solu1on"? And, later on, did those parents complain to their own friends about what "a nightmare" it was to have you over at their house? 

◼At home, did the majority of your neighbors in your apartment building or on your street also have dogs named Maggie, so that you'd be forced to hear the noise pollu1on of people yelling orders (and verbal abuse) at your name, whenever you were there? 

◼Were people wri1ng angry letters to the editor about how annoying it was that a person named Maggie was even allowed to be on a TV or radio show, because every 1me the host called her by her name, "their Maggie" would hear it, start barking, and cause a ruckus? 

~@AfterAlexa

"My challenge to everyone. Replace the Alexa wake name with your daughter’s name for 90 days. See how you feel, see how your daughter feels.  Replace the wake name with your son’s name. Now, try replacing it with your mother’s name. Try your own name for 90 days.

Every time you hear the wake name Alexa in the car, on television, etc., be mindful of this and insert yours. After at least 90 days, then I ask you to give your opinion. Before that, it’s nearly impossible to understand. Also imagine that this will go on forever. See how that might impact your thoughts. Are you cringing when you hear your own name?" ~Mother of an Alexa