Posted by andyb on March 16, 2005 at 09:27:56 from 81.131.123.40 user beardbiter.
In Reply to: Re: Renaming "traditional" names posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on March 15, 2005 at 22:25:48:
I'm still struggling with the words 'force", "make" and"object". People can call themselves or the place they live anything they like. It's up to other people if they take any notice. Usually, it's politer to try and remember the new form when addressing the people concerned or letters to the place in question. Obviously, occupying powers often do force the populace to use the new name as a symbol of subjugation but as far as I'm aware, no-one on Tarboard is in that unhappy situation.
Otherwise the only cause for "objecting" to a name change I can see is if you are a taxpayer having to fund new sign posts etc. If you don't like a new name don't use it and run the risk of being misunderstood, thought rude, or have some other assumptions made about you. What's the problem?