What's In A Name?

Everybody has a name, I have one, so do you. We all have at least a name. Some have more than others. There are conventions to how we get our names, and increasingly, various rules under law that dictate what can be considered a name, depending on the jurisdiction into which you were born. Further there are also additional conventions regarding how one might go about changing their name, if they so wish.

All these conventions have developed and changed under the influence of population density pressures as well as the perceived needs of the State to identify with certainty the individuals living within that State. Lastly, the religious views of various peoples have also had an impact on the development and shaping of Naming Conventions.

From the Tetroidian World View, names are important, they carry with them, power, a kind of elemental hold over their bearers. When you stand in a crowd and shout out the name of someone, you will see two reactions: 1) Who me? and 2) What's going on? It is the Who me? response where a person with that name is involuntarily compelled to turn and start mentally questioning the call.

As such, the true name of anyone is the name that hold such power over them, the name they give themselves wholly and fully to. Normally this is one's birth name. Yet we also often carry "false" names, Nicknames, shortened forms of our true name, something that others can more comfortably and easily use in day to day activities. Thus a mask that everyone choses to adopt as the "normal" handle for you.

Thus, to some of us, the protection of our true name is important from a fundamental, spiritual level. In giving our full true name to someone, we are entrusting them with power over us, and hope to trust they do not abuse that power. Thus, it is from a Tetroidian perspective one SHOULD NOT give out their true name, without concern or caution, to unknown others, because this trust factor cannot be verified.

When trust within any community cannot be validated or verified, then this leads to social discord, disfunction, and unrest. This is an unacceptable thing. Building community and social trust is elemental for all Tetroidian followers, as it is through community that we grow and develop personally and spiritually.