Monday, June 22, 2009
Politics You've Got Mail, Liz
Posted by Dominic Holden on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 11:06 AM
I'm sending this motorcycle license plate to Rep. Jim McDermott's Washington, D.C. office today for his office manager, Elizabeth Becton. You may recall that last week Politico released an email exchange Becton had with a PR firm assistant, trying to schedule a meeting, who accidentally called her—the nerve—Liz. Becton replied in the first of several chastising emails: "Who is Liz?" Despite a groveling apology, she continued with "never call me anything but Elizabeth again."
Oh, loosen up, Liz. Lizzie. Primordial Lizard. Grand Lizard. Lizard of Oz. Lizard of the Coast. Some of us folks in your district kinda like the name Liz. We even think you should go by it. Please accept this license plate from my dad's scooter (he bought it used with this license plate, which was obviously MADE FOR YOU!) and place it within view of your computer before you throw another Lizzy fit. I'm shipping it today.
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3
this post will probably get to her by word of mouth before she gets it. i hope you never need an audience with McDermott.
4
Heh, that's funny. If she has a sense of humor (and that's a big "if"), she should get a laugh out of this.
7
I think she's clearly not a Liz, but a Betty, or a Betsy, or even a Bitsy. Call her Bitsy, see if she comes.
8
Waste of time. Like all those folks who thought it would be a hoot to mail shoes to GW Bush before he left office. Do you really think she's even going to get that parcel? Hell, I bet ol' Lix won't even have a job by the time it gets there.
15
Her reaction was too much, and it's a bizarre coincidence that you have that plate, but call her what she wants to be called.
Many women have to deal with this constantly - I don't know any men who are called names they don't want to be called at work. It definitely seems like some sort of power trip over women in the workplace.
So, unless it's okay for Stranger writers to be referred to as Nicky, Dannie, Jon, and Topher, you're the one who needs to lighten up.
Many women have to deal with this constantly - I don't know any men who are called names they don't want to be called at work. It definitely seems like some sort of power trip over women in the workplace.
So, unless it's okay for Stranger writers to be referred to as Nicky, Dannie, Jon, and Topher, you're the one who needs to lighten up.
16
@15,
I know a number of Michaels who hate being called "Mike," but get called that on a regular basis anyway.
I know a number of Michaels who hate being called "Mike," but get called that on a regular basis anyway.
18
I generally call people by the name they would like to be called, but sometimes people can get too worked up. I see no problem calling a Susan Sue, Thomas as Tom or James as a Jim or Elizabeth as a Liz. Thanks for the the post, Dom.
20
I think the only acceptable descriptor for that woman's emails is batshitcrazy and unprofessional. However, as a woman named Elizabeth, I must say that it is infuriating when you say "Hi, I'm Elizabeth." and people respond "Hi, Liz." However, given the tenor of the exchange, a simple "I don't go by Liz, please call me Elizabeth." would have sufficed.
21
It's completely understandable for her to correct the first time but she went on and on about it after 6 apologies. The woman is batshit crazy. I wonder if you could get away with calling her Beth.
22
The "Marky Mark" phase of Mark Wahlberg's career arc has forever tainted those of us who share his name.
"HEY, WHERE'S YOUR FUNKY BUNCH?!?"
*Argh, grumble, mutter*
"HEY, WHERE'S YOUR FUNKY BUNCH?!?"
*Argh, grumble, mutter*
24
@18 - you probably don't think it's a big deal because Heather (assuming that's your real name) doesn't have a common short nickname that numerous people decide to use without invitation. If strangers frequently insisted on calling you Heath you might feel a bit different about it.
25
@24: People call me G out of jest -- usually co-workers I know well -- and I don't give a crap. But my name is mostly immune to nicknaming, so I guess I don't understand the depths of agony here.
@15: The boyfriend gets called Dave instead of David on many occasions. This gender angle is totally new to me.
@15: The boyfriend gets called Dave instead of David on many occasions. This gender angle is totally new to me.
26
@15: I imagine the very use of the nicknames she hates is to mock her crazy batshit paranoia ("Hey, what lengths of insanity can we drive her to now? Does her fury proportionately grow to the increasing silliness of the nickname?")
If she was calm and rational about it, I'm sure nobody would care and just call her "Elizabeth" without skipping a beat.
If she was calm and rational about it, I'm sure nobody would care and just call her "Elizabeth" without skipping a beat.
27
LMAO
and yes, that was quite a groveling multiple-apology that guy sent her, it gave me a headache when I read it
and yes, that was quite a groveling multiple-apology that guy sent her, it gave me a headache when I read it
28
Fuck that. In a professional setting, one should call a woman (or man) by her actual name, not some patronizing nickname, unless she gives permission to do otherwise. The d-bag deserved the smack down.
29
@28, did you actually read the batshit crazy succession of e-mails that fucking loon wrote back to him as repeatedly apologized??
30
@24 Actually some people do call me Heathe. Personally I like that they assume the familiarity. You are right that it probably happens less than something like Sue for Susan. But if someone requests the formal name than that is what I will call them.
31
Many men have problems with this as well...it's not just a woman thing.
for the record, I'm not one of those Mike/Michael's who has a tizzy about name usage but I've known some who were the tizzy-making kind.
for the record, I'm not one of those Mike/Michael's who has a tizzy about name usage but I've known some who were the tizzy-making kind.
32
My name is Edward. I get called anything from Ed to Eddie to Edgar (by stupid people trying to be funny) to other nonsensical names - there are a fair number of variants available. This happens in professional (law) AND social settings.
I get over it. I may politely ask people to call me what I want (or more commonly not to call me Eddie unless you are family), but I can assure you that, even after 30 years of this, I have never done anything remotely like that Liz woman. That's pretty ridiculous and she should find a profession that allows her to live a more solitary life.
I get over it. I may politely ask people to call me what I want (or more commonly not to call me Eddie unless you are family), but I can assure you that, even after 30 years of this, I have never done anything remotely like that Liz woman. That's pretty ridiculous and she should find a profession that allows her to live a more solitary life.
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