And even if they use a nickname I don't like, that's their choice, and I'm sure we can both live with the consequences.
I once knew a Susan who would seethe if anyone called her Sue or Suzy. I would understand her objection if she was being called Crepe Suzette or Sewage or something, but to be so fanatical about your own name comes across as rigid and nazissistic.
Much more serious than fascism around one's own name, is the linguistic equivalent of invading Poland. I'm talking about people whose aim is actually to take over all of the dictionary and exterminate undesirable words. For example, I heard someone recently disapproving of the word "instruct" because "it's too prescriptive".
I have an acquaintance, a woman who, several decades ago, gave birth to a child and arranged to have it adopted. Here's a conversation I had with her:
ME: Where I work, we've decided to adopt a new policy of ..
HER: Stop right there. I don't like that word.
ME: What, you mean "policy"?
HER: No, the other one.
ME: "Adopt?"
HER: Now you've said it again! I don't like people using that word.
Now, I don't doubt for a minute that the early separation of mother and child can be emotionally traumatic for both parties, but I'm not sure the best solution is to demand everyone takes the scissors to their vocabulary.
