I had to check the date in that article Slapper. I couldn't believe that it was published in 2010 ...... it sounded more like a 30 or 40 year old article.

I was completely unaware that some people still use the term "christian name" instead of "first name".

Why the **** would anyone ask someone who might be muslim/jewish/atheist/whatever, what their "christian" name was ?

And coppers can't be patronising and call people "love" or give them a hug ? .....how outrageous to expect them to address members of the public as sir or madame.

Also I found the reference to "Evenin' all" hilarious.......I have never in my whole life, heard a copper use that expression.

Still, it wasn't that long ago when the Telegraph was still referring to Iran as "Persia" - I think they've stopped doing that now. Do you read the Telegraph often Slapper ?

Never read the Telegraph ernie, Guardian occasionally, but why read newspapers when you can get it for free on the net, and why read bad news anyway, still is asking for Christian names in today's enlightened pluralistic society now simply a 'turn of phrase'?

Why in earth would a copper who has just taken down 'Mr Abdullah' surname, then ask him, [i]"what's your Christian name ?"[/i]

.....unless he was either an idiot, or taking the piss.

FFS ernie, you not stuffed on all the worms?

ernie_lynch - Member

Why in earth would a copper who has just taken down 'Mr Abdullah' surname, then ask him, "what's your Christian name ?"

That's making an assumption is it not ernie, perhaps Mr.Abdullah converted? Perhaps he's a Bahai? Or the Church of Scientology or the Great Spaghetti Monster? Asking for a Christian name is like asking for a first name unless you wish to take offence, as the Campaign for Plain English say, who are these offended people then? I'm not a Christian but have no problem being asked for my Christian name.

Picture a country that's in the process if disappearing up its own backside......... 😯

tankslapper - Member
Never read the Telegraph ernie

Erm...you're reading it online are you not?

Love how the article starts with "[b]Police officers [/b]have been banned from asking for a person’s “Christian” name because it might offend people with other religious beliefs"

...then..."[b]Kent[/b] Police's prescriptive diversity rulebook also tells officers to refrain from using phrases such as “my dear” or “love”, when addressing women for fear it may cause “embarrassment or offence”. "

Oh so it's actually not the entire UK Police force then is it? 🙄

I do wish these papers could find something better to moan about, rather than hype up inconsequential stories like this.

what is you christan name and slave name boy?

[i]The Church of Scientology or the Great Spaghetti Monster[/i]

Are they not the same?

Why in earth would a copper who has just taken down 'Mr Abdullah' surname, then ask him, "what's your Christian name ?"

For the same reason we say "Can you do the hoovering please?" when you're using a Dyson.

i'd be offended if someone asked for my christian name, i'm an athiest

rOcKeTdOg - Member

i'd be offended if someone asked for my christian name, i'm an athiest

If you were a real atheist then you wouldn't be offended as the word simply wouldn't exist surely?! 😛

I dunno about offence, but it's just incorrect to ask a Muslim for his or her Christian name, is it not? Plus if they are not British they might easily not know WTF you are talking about.

[b]If you were a real atheist then you wouldn't be offended as the word simply wouldn't exist surely?!

[/b]

although i know of others misguided beliefs i can't be held responsible for them, so yes i could be offended, but i'd probably choose not too be (choice, there's a concept certain religions can't seem to grasp)

And I thought Aprils Fools day was tomorrow

I wouldn't be at all offended,. I'd simply say "I haven't got one" and let them work it out...

One veteran Kent police officer of 15 years, [b]who did not wish to be identified[/b], said: "Most of us are fully aware of how to treat people from different cultural backgrounds, but being told we can't even ask what their ‘Christian’ name is just plain ridiculous.
"That is what [b]we[/b] are brought up with - Christian name and surname - and to be honest if you had an officer ask for your personal name and family name it's just going to confuse people.
"It's just the latest in a long line of annoying [b]PC-related[/b] 😀 nonsense that we keep getting shoved down our throats."

Oh dear.

If someone asks me what my 'Christian' name is, I tell them I don't have one.

It's an archaic, blinkered and outdated thing to ask. What's wrong with asking someone their 'first' name?

It's Christian Ideological Correctness gone mad, I tell you...

i'd be offended if someone asked for my christian name, i'm an athiest

🙂

Plus if they are not British they might easily not know WTF you are talking about.

Surely this is an argument for the Police only asking questions if they can do so in the individuals mother tongue..... (oops sorry that may be offensive to the product of "light on their loafers" stylee parentage...)

It is political correctness being pushed to its absolute limits.

Is it? The person from the Plain English Campaign - surely using 'first name' instead of 'christian name' is actually a much more clear and plain use of the English language.

From Wiki:

Christian name
The term Christian name is often used as a general synonym for given name. Strictly speaking, the term applies to a name formally given to a child at an infant baptism or "christening".

So, only Christians have 'Christian' names then, technically. As it's perhaps wrong to assume everyone in the UK is Christian, I struggle to see where the issue is. Why not simply ask 'what is your first name?'. Is that too difficult?

Or is it all part of the Islamification of Britain?

For the same reason we say "Can you do the hoovering please?" when you're using a Dyson.

😀

I quite like that analogy. It's not the right one, but I still like it!

what if you were Chinese (or prob lots of other nationalities/cultures) - your 1st name would be your surname

it's all so complicated

rOcKeTdOg - Member

i'd be offended if someone asked for my christian name, i'm an athiest

I'm not surprised they need specific rules if people are that easily offended
day to day social interaction must be an absolute nightmare for you - hang in there 🙄

It's vague traditionalist nostalgia gone mad, I tell you!

I can [b] choose [/b] who I Socially interact with so you're safe uplink 😉

Taking all the views expressed in this thread I think we should issue police forces such as the Met new guidelines:

'Do not say anything to anyone as it may be deemed offensive, even your uniform is likely to get up someone's nose so probably best to stay in the station and close the doors in fact stay at home.......oh sod it, take the rest of your life off, the people of Britain don't need coppers any more, they're big and responsible and multicultural now we're really obsolete'

This is likely to follow a High Court case along the following lines

Defendant: 'Well your honour the officer in question sort of smiled and said 'hello' to me, it was at this point I thought 'hang on that ****** is coming on to me, he's insulted me, my integrity, my family and that bloke I just met in Sainsburys called Bernard, GET HIM!''
Judge 'Oh yes I see how you could be offended, despicable behaviour, what have you to say for yourself you snivelling, Christian named, policeman?
Police officer '..............'

Lot of very easily offended people out there.......

😆 😆 😆

he's insulted me, my integrity, my family and that bloke I just met in Sainsburys called Bernard

😆

Excellent.

I don't have a christian name not having been baptised.

Its been first name / surname or family name for decades.

A total non story.

Kuco - Member

The Church of Scientology or the Great Spaghetti Monster

Are they not the same?

As a spaghettimonsterist I am deeply offended that you don't know the difference. Of course they're not the same. One was founded by scientists who wished to protest at the teaching of 'intelligent design' as a thinly veiled disguise for 'creationism' and the other was invented by a hack science fiction author for his own financial advantage and has several hollywood starts as members.

What's your fairy tale name might offend everyone, but it is the same thing....

I'd love to be asked what my fairy name was...I'd say "Walter" or "Quentin" or "tankslapper"

The last time I had the bizzies take my name, they definitely asked for my forename, I'd have put them right pretty quick if they'd asked for a christian name.
Maybe Scottish police are more sensible?

deadlydarcy - Member

I'd love to be asked what my fairy name was...I'd say "Walter" or "Quentin" or "tankslapper"

Spread the love deadly, spread the love 😆

I love a man who can take a joke 😉

On forms they ask for 'Title by which you wish to be known' I always want 'your imperial magnificence' but they never give that as an option

Does this mean the police will stop questioning my right to wear a balaclava in Post Offices?

tankslapper - Member

Lot of very easily offended people out there.......

Have you noticed mate ?

Some dickheads [i]actually[/i] get quite offended when it is suggested to them that "first name" is a better term to use than "Christian name".........they can kick up a right stink about it.

Quite unbelievable isn't it ?

Wadya think Slapper ?

dunno about easily offended, easy to wind up more like 😛

I work with a guy who refuses to have his first name entered into the Outlook Global address book of a massive British company because they wont change the description to "christian name" from first name. So he is in as none.

He is a proper weirdo though.

Does this mean the police will stop questioning my right to wear a balaclava in Post Offices?

Try a Burkha instead. 😀

[i]What's wrong with asking someone their 'first' name?[/i]

well my "first" name is Andrew. I don't use it, nor does anybody in my family when talking/referring to me. And it's common practice in the rest of my family to use one's "middle" name.
Mind you, if you knew what my uncle's 'first' name was, you'd understand 😉

What really pisses me off, though, is people that don't know me call me by my "first" name because that's what they [i]assume[/i] I'm known by. Don't assume, it leads to f*ck ups.

Especially those people that are trying to sell me something. "Mr Drummer to you please"

And it's common practice in the rest of my family to use one's "middle" name.

😕 "middle name" ?

......don't let Slapper hear you call it a "middle name" 😐

.,...it's called a [i]"second christian name"[/i] 8)

did I mention that I'm also "agnostic"?

although I was christened in a little CofE church near Leeds, I do not (currently) believe in a god or gods, or sons of gods. So while I technically do have 2 "christian" names, I don't refer to them as such.

They are "forenames" and a "surname" or "family name". Why can't we call them this?

Are we really debating this complete non-story?

of course, it's STW 😉

If it's refered to as "forename" why isn't your last name refered to as "aftname"

John

I too am afflicted with the same issue, I'm known by my middle not first name. Causes all sorts of confusion!

Sorry ernie not middle its 'non-denominational secondary name used as primary title by parents who thought it was somehow useful'

rocketdog: I suppose you couldn't necessarily have a family name if you were adopted?

Who would be a policeman sorry, woman oops! Police Officer Person type thing...........

I have a christian name, a middle name (quite poncey one too!) and a third one familiar to Catholics of my generation - a bleedin' Confirmation name!!