Apology to UK Players

It was just brought to my attention in-game that my choice of first names carries thoroughly negative connotations in British slang.

After conferring with Live Help, I've petitioned the Lindens for the chance to change it.

I was ignorant of the word's unfortunate overtones, and meant no offense. If the Lindens are willing to grant the opportunity, I'll change it as soon as I'm able.

I apologize for any ill will created in the meantime.

-- <working on it> Boyoma

Oops! Just looked it up on Wikipedia, and that is a rather unfortunate name. Hope you can get it worked out.

I am English and I think the person who told you that was mistaken. Or perhaps it is an extremely localised slang. In all my life I've never heard the word used with such -ve connotation. As far as I know the worn nonce means "for the moment" or "for now" and is an Old English word. If it has been appropriated for such slang as you were told then it is a great shame.

but then again, I don't hang around prisons!

and the Wikipedia does say that but still I've never heard it used in my lifetime and I've been around for a while !

Nonce,

I read your Hotline posting.

It's utterly your affair, but I think you should consider keeping your first name.

The word has a well-established history in both classic Western literature and cryptographics, as you alluded to. I think for a virtual person among the Fast Folk it's a clever name, and I don't think you're really responsible for other peoples' trendy, ignorant misuse of words which are probably older than their family bloodlines.

Just my two.

== danny d.

Honestly, its not your fault, you didnt know, if they really have so much of a problem with it they can like put a piece of duct tape over your name on their comp screen.

Heh.

From the Concise Oxford Dictionary (Tenth Edition)


nonce(1) adj. denoting a word or expression coined for one occasion.

-PHRASES for the nonce for the present; temporarily.

-ORIGIN ME: from then anes 'the one (purpose)'

nonce(2) n. Brit. informal, a sexual deviant, especially a child molester.

-ORIGIN 1970s (orig. prison sl.): of unknown origin.




I have to say I've heard it in use, though not very often and always as derogatory towards someone. However this does not imply that as a Brit I'd be offended by your use of it as a name.

Cassell dictionary of slang (First Edition):

Nonce, n., [1970s+] sexual offender, spec. of young children. [? dialect nonce, a good for nothing, thus image of a 'nothing', a 'non person'; the Police Review [18 May 1984] suggests origin in Nancy Boy]

I've heard it as slang for paedophile I'm afraid.

However I still wouldn't change it unless you want to or think that you are going to get grief over it. I wouldn't hassle you over it - but of course some morons might.

Ok first off, I'm English.

Nobody from the UK would be offended by your name.

Just for the record its prison slang for a sex offender,its also a demeaning term used mainly in the south of England that can mean a grass(someone who informs to the police) a gay male, or just thrown at someone you dont like as a derogatory name, much like calling someone a bastard.

Dont worry man.

Sox, I appreciate your post, and everyone else's input.

I do like the name...unless it causes more trouble than it's worth, I think I'll keep it


-Nonce

Many years ago I designed a machine for work that would toss defective products from a line, into a bin.

I wanted to dub it "The Tosser." I knew what that meant in the UK, but I was surprised when none of my coworkers said anything about the proposed name.

Well sadly, my rationality prevailed (by a slim margin), and I gave it a different name.

A few months later the UK came in for an audit, and the new machine came up in a couple of conversations. I was trying so hard not to laugh I could barely speak.

That same day, a senior manager was heard telling the auditors "The booties (a type of shoe cover) don't fit in the bootie-hole"

Half of us at the table were dying trying not to laugh.

English to English translation errors can be fun!