Australian journalist calls her baby ‘Methamphetamine Rules’ as a test of naming regulations
Australian journalist calls her baby ‘Methamphetamine Rules’ as a test of naming regulations
When ABC journalist Kirsten Drysdale gave birth to her third child, she decided to put the Births Deaths and Marriages register to the test
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“A name registered at birth remains on the NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages Register forever,” the spokesperson said. “Even if the name is formally changed.”
nice way to fuck your kid up for your 5 minutes of journalism fame there.....
If the name is formally changed, who cares? It's their stupid register that is fucked up forever.
Plus, while it would be awkward as a kid, I could totally rock that name now that I am older.
It'll come up every time you need official government documentation. Something like "Have you been known under other names?"
Getting married? It'll come up.
Need a police clearance for work? It'll come up.
Need a Working with Children check for work? It'll come up.
Getting a visa to work/travel overseas? It'll come up.Yes, it can be explained away. But I can see this costing the kid jobs, at the very least. Some employers might ask the candidate to explain this, Others might just not bother.
As an adult it would be the story everybody heard as I introduced myself, "my birth name was methamphetamine rules and I'm being 100% serious"
It would be a hell of an I've breaker "tell us one thing we might not know about you"... "Well my legal name is methamphetamine rules"
Might turn into a Streetlamp Le Moose situation.
You have a great point, they could have at least chosen a ridiculous name that wasn't quite as life ruining.
"Life ruining" is pretty extreme.
X Æ A-12 would like a word...
Potentially life ruining? Growing up with that name is likely to be traumatic. Finding a job or place to live is likely to be extra challenging. Etc. It's a burden being inflicted on them.
The original comment was saying that in NSW, that even after a " name change", the original name at birth remains on specifically 3 documents:
Birth certificate
Death Certificate
Marriage Certificate
I think the implication the commenter was trying to make was that even with name change, you can't completely scrub your old name away.
If the parent LEAVES the name as-is, then yes, it's a SUPER shitty thing to do. But in the article, it makes it clear that the family is already getting the name changed.
So, of the 3 documents, the death certificate can't by definition ruin the kids life. And, how often do you need to show someone your birth certificate?
I took trading to become a wedding officiant, and in my jurisdiction it is also the case that legal name changes don't affect birth or wedding certificates... and we learned that it is bizarrely common for people to be unaware of their own name as per birth certificate. An odd spelling or a pet name that stuck. Bradly vs Brad. Etc. It's crazy that many people have never actually seen their own birth certificate.
it would make a hell of a wedding day conversation if you forgot to bring it up earlier
If you can't handle me at my Methemphetamine Rules, you don't deserve me at my Connor Jefferson.
Finding a job or place to live is likely to be extra challenging
What are you on about?
People might not take an applicant with such a name seriously, or think of them as unhinged for using it.
Drysdale said she would not yet reveal what her baby’s new name is yet.
It won't be named that forever.
I was thinking of situations where you're required to use your legal name. I realize this is Australia and not the US so things probably work different than I expect.
As soon as you legally change your name, it becomes your legal name. The only places where you would need to state that original name might be on something like a passport / visa / or tax return.
They are already planning to change the child's name.
life complicating might be more apt
what is this nsw register used for? why would it matter if their name is legally changed? who would see it, apart for maybe people running police checks and credit reports?
Also, please everybody reading this, go and watch the show they reference, What The FAQ (WTFAQ) on ABC iView. It's fantastic!
And then go watch/listen to PEP.