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Comment by theorique | Hacker News Reader

Because the government and the bureaucratic class know better than you do what you should name your child. How can you possibly question the benevolence of our leaders?

Sleep well, citizens. Consume. All is well.

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While it can be seen like this, it does stop the unnecessary act of going through childhood being called things like Moon Unit[1] or Prince Michael II. But then again, I suppose there is an argument that if you can make it through childhood with a name like this, your going to end up a pretty tough adult.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_Zappa

I feel the same way about people forced to go through life with the same name as two million other people. I think, "How sad it must be that you're just another Dan or Tenzin or Mohamed..." If only some greater power would step in and limit the number of repetitions of the same name. Let's say average name density can't exceed 1%. If parents can't be bothered to create a good name they shouldn't create a new life.

Presumably your first name is Admiral_19231

That's silly. If you're arguing for individualism, then children aren't property, so how is it any better to have parents naming their kids "Ima Hoare"?

Society has a duty to protect children from their parents if those parents are abusive.

I think it's a balance.

Stupid parents shouldn't name their kids "Ima Hoare"

Stupid governments shouldn't have a "permitted list" of 150 names and require an exception outside of that list.

Everyone should do the smart thing and not the stupid thing (also, I want a unicorn...)

I agree.

Sometimes society thinks that parents have children for society to get them. That's a nice package: you spend your health and money on children but you don't get to decide how to raise them: society does. That's your part in it then? Why bother at all? How does society expects to reproduce if they discourage parents from having children by making parents have all work and no play?

What say, if any, should society have when parents name their kids something offensive or demeaning, like "Ima Hoare"?

Where is this line which the society will never pass in their quest of telling parents what to do?

Just draw it now, please.

Perhaps English is not your first language. "Ima Hoare" means "I am a whore".

Do you believe in parents' unassailable right to name their children in this fashion?

You're speaking in generalities, and I'm asking for specifics. If you keep dodging the issue, I'll just assume you're trolling.

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