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Wow, I was reading through this….a LOT of debate on Cho C's name (sorry, Mei-xue).
Although I understand how it offends you, Mei, and racism and stereotypes bother me too (I try to stay away from them when writing from the perspective of a person of a race or religion that I am not part of) I agree with Admin that it is a CBer's right to name themselves whatever they like, whether they just want to be named that, or they like the sound of it, or they feel it represents them. I mean, unless it has a curse word in it or something inappropriate, like I said, a CBer should be called what they wish to be called.
-Owlgirl
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*hugs*
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How about this. Since everyone is all over the "one name clicks" thing, you guys can choose a name for me and I'll post under it for two weeks to prove I'll stick be happy without that "click". Be realistic, though. I'm not posting under "Big Idiot" or "I Hate Everything". Choose maybe something random, like "Water bottle" or a person, like "Severus Snape.
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How about Twilight Sparkle?
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No, we won't do that. What I mean by the "click" isn't LITERAL. For example, my name, Abigail. There are cooler, more fun, mysterious names out there, but I identify as Abigail. It would feel wrong if someone called my by a different name. I love being me, being Abigial, and if I was forced to change, I would be sad. It is the same for Cho. Your names, you say you don't and didn't feel the "click" Do you at least feel good about them, happy, and that they represent your identiy? Even so, a lot of people put a lot of stock in their names to carry their personality and represent who they are. Cho didn't feel right being called Eowyn, because that wasn't her identiy. She didn't choose a new name because she wanted to—It was because she was pressured to, and her feelings were being hurt about her name. She has every right to be known as who she wants to be, and that happens to be—Cho. Regardless of what it means, of J.K. Rowling's lack of approprietly researching Chinese names, regardless of everything, everyone has the right to be known as they want to be. Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Perhaps, but we know it as a rose, and it would sadden the world to have the name we cherish and know taken away. This is how it is with Cho. SHe is our friend, and she was Cho. I was confused and unhappy that Cho changed her name, but as it's her desicion, I didn't say anything. But, Mei, that time it wasn't her desicion. She DIDN'T really want to change her name that time. It was beacause of the pressure that she felt obliged to do so. It made you happy, but it made Cho sad. And it's HER name, and her happiness over her own name is more important than you liking hers. That's why the click is important. And maybe it's not a "click". Maybe it's a growing in of an identity. Maybe another name when I first started would have been okay, but now I don't want to be anything but Abigail. Maybe you'll find a name that clicks, or maybe you won't. Even if you can be happy without the "click", I know that I would be really unhappy if someone pressured me into posting under a different name, because I love Abi, and I love being her! The point is, it's Cho's desicion. You have given your input. She has made her choice. It is her choice alone, and now it's over. Please appreciate that.
Admins, what do you think?
The name "Cho Chang" was not a given name, but a borrowed/appropriated name from a book and is only a username. It was a name that she chose and that upsets Mei because of its racist origins. As a person of color, I would hope that you would respect that this is upsetting Mei and, as their friends, that you would try to support both Mei and Cho by coming to a compromise. We will not force anyone to change their usernames unless they are overtly profane.
But we do see what Mei means with subtle racism and cultural appropriation. JK Rowling used Chinese cultural elements with little knowledge of what these names mean, in essence offending a whole group of people. Taking things from a culture that is not your own (names, clothing, hair styes, food, traditions, stories, books etc.) to use it for your own benefit is called cultural appropriation. This is a highly upsetting practice used by dominant/majority groups (white people, men, Christian people, colonizers etc.) who don't fully understand the culture. As an example, you can see this with football teams using Native American (also known as first nation or indigenous) people as their mascots. Mei is trying to tell you what the name actually means and how this makes her feel. Mei is still hurt over this argument. We hope that you will respect one another and compromise.
~Admin
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I agree with Mei as well that it was rasict of J.K. Rowling to choose a name for a character but not to research its meaning, but I still think that it is important for Cho to be happy with her name, because it is her name. It might be better to be Eowyn or someone else, but it's also important to be happy with your identiy.
Please keep in mind that identity is a fluid and ever-changing thing. We would never ask you to do something that makes you uncomfortable, but we would like you to keep in mind that these are just usernames, something that can always be changed. ~Admin
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Oh! I just realized something! What you said Admin is exactly like in the Inheritance cycle with their secret names!
We're not sure what you mean. ~Admin
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C.C, how about this: I'll stay on the Chatterbox until August or June. While I'm on, you don't post under that name. When I leave in the summer, you can post under it. Deal?
J.K. Rowling should have been more… Sigh.
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You're leaving? Because of my name?
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Why are you planning to leave?
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C.C, how about this: I'll stay on the Chatterbox until August or June. While I'm on, you don't post under that name. When I leave in the summer, you can post under it. Deal?
J.K. Rowling should have been more… Sigh.
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It's in a long time. August! That's months away!
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My birthday month …
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Besides, we haven't even decided yet. This is only if you agree that you'll be Eowyn or something else until I leave. Then you can change it back.
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I'll think about it …
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Cho means Butterfly in Japanese
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I don't think we should be… Still dwelling on this. I feel like, Mei/Leaf of Love/Twilight Sparkle, you can't just ask someone to change your name because you don't feel comfortable. Like… I hated the year or two when some people called Taylor Swift T-Sweezy (sounded like she was dying from lunch cancer or something), but I didn't stop liking Taylor because of it. No one on this site was being racist, just using a name from someone who kinda was. I like Vikki's post on this. Cho isn't just an offensive name from a book or something that means a negative word in a different language (no disrespects to that language). It means butterfly in Japanese, and to me, it means a super cool CBer and my friend. Please Stop. Fighting.
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It must be a Chinese name, because Chang is a Chinese name…
I suppose you can't force anyone to do anything, but you may make yourself do something.
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Couldn't one of her parents be Japanese, and one of her parents be Chinese? I could be totally wrong here.
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Sav, I'm not trying to fight. I just want to reach an agreement which will leave both Twi and me happy. I'm afraid that an agreement where we're both happy can't be reached, though. *sobs*
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There is one agreement! It's the August one.
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But … but … I don't want to force anyone to leave because of me!
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Don't worry, it's not forcing anything. It's my idea, anyways.
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I don't want anyone to leave because of me!
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i don't mean to get in this fight but Chang in Japanese means smooth,free,or unrestrained
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Are you Japanese? Cool!
And just an FYI, in Chinese and Japanese, anything can be a first name but there are specific surnames for last names. I know tons of Chinese people with the last name Chang but no Japanese people with the last name Chang.
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SO SORRY! I made a mistake I meant Chinese! Plus Mei I just have name meaning website
P.S. I am not Japanese
P.S.S sorry
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