I am working on an improved online directory for my school and I was angered by the way the current directory is set up. It is set up so that you can never tell what part of the name is the middle name and what part is the first name.

For example, if Billy Bob Thorton went to Haverford, he could appear in the directory in several ways depending on what name he chose to be called. He could be listed as:
1. Thorton, Billy Bob(wants to be called Billy Bob)
2. Thorton, Billy B.(wants to be called Billy)
3. Thorton, B. Bob(wants to be called Bob)
4. Thorton, B. B.(wants to be called something other than Billy or Bob)

In any case, it is impossible to know whether Bob is a middle name or part of the first name. It would be listed the same either way. I guess it does not really matter, but it makes my database of names in the improved directory potentially incorrect.

posted by kbrower at 4:26 pm & filed under Uncategorized |