i just bought my daughter a new puppy for her 9th birthday...
i let her name him, and i guess since she isnt very original she decided to name him "blacky" because of his dark fur.
how do i explain to her that this is completely inappropriate? some people would be EXTREMELY offended at that name, and the dog certainly does not deserve to be given a label like that.
dont get me wrong, my daughter isnt racist, she just isnt very sensitive to other peoples' feelings.
2006-09-15 02:55:30 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
as far as i know, the dog is even tempered and has never stolen anything or hurt anyone.
2006-09-15 03:01:25 · update #1
amber, you're going to have to think of a better answer than that to get 10 points... dialup earns them, i dont just give them away.
2006-09-15 06:38:39 · update #2
Don't you EVER steal from me again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
super JK!!!!!!!!
Tell your dad I got his condoms all cleaned, polished and ready to go. There are just a few little stains but they're all on the inside.
2006-09-15 06:43:16 · answer #1 · answered by Dialup, Avatar, Jones! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blacky is a common name for black dogs. I appreciate your concern, and I wish there were more people out there like you who considered how something might affect other people. However, I don't believe anyone would find that insulting. I truely believe that if you find such a person, he/she is looking for reasons to be insulted. Naming a black dog Blacky is no different than naming a white dog Snowflake, or a spotted dog Spot.
However, if it really bothers you and you can't shake the fear, Then go ahead and speak to your daughter. Explain that you just don't think that name is appropriate. I would have a few names on the list to offer her. I wouldn't explaing the political explantation to why you feel it's inappropriate because she probably wouldn't understand. If you choose to have her change his name, make her think it's her idea. Say how Blacky is such a common name. "I bet you can't think of a better one . . ." Thinks like that.
Good luck!
2006-09-15 11:42:23 · answer #2 · answered by Sera B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you feel uncomfortable leaving the dog's name as "Blacky", you might want to gently explain to your daughter that while you know she didn't mean it in a mean way, some people might take the name the wrong way. Then make some other name suggestions that are similar, but without the potential to offend (smokey, cocoa, licorice, etc)
2006-09-15 10:06:28 · answer #3 · answered by jojo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Would you be offended if I named a dog whitey, if it were white? It's just a pet's name, I had a black dog that I named blacky when I was a kid. I grew up in a school system with prodomently african-americans. As all kids do, I spoke about him. No one was offended. It's a pet name, not a racial slur. Don't try to be to polittically correct all of the time.
2006-09-15 10:02:39 · answer #4 · answered by 2ndammendmentsupporter 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's a dogs name no one that is mature would think that anything is wrong with that name. In a way its a traditional name for a dog. Should Caucasians be upset if someone named their all white kitten whitey... no. The name is fine. Stop thinking of the name as a derogatory term. It's just a sweet little girl picking the first name that she thinks fits her new puppy.
2006-09-15 10:00:56 · answer #5 · answered by cargrl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I named my dog Blacky when I was younger. Don't think like its a racist thing. She doesn't really understand the concept of that. She is only 9 years old. Don't read too much into this. Let her enjoy her puppy.
2006-09-15 11:29:49 · answer #6 · answered by Lady C 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're going too far in your attempt to be politically correct. If you find that name offensive, you'd be astounded at what some other people name their pets. If the pet has black fur, then it is not an inappropriate name. Is it completely inappropriate that black beans are called black beans? No. They're Black. Beans. It's not a lack of sensitivity. You instill racial stereotypes. Racism is learned. Politically correct is just as racist and promotes the cycle just as much as outright offensiveness.
2006-09-15 11:29:41 · answer #7 · answered by sovereign_carrie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with everyone that it doesnt really seem offensive.
that being said, you could:
go with the more honest approach - tell her there words when used in certain situations might hurt someones feelings, she acciendently picked one of them, maybe that can be the dogs middle name and pick a new first
or
Shes a girl. If shes a girly girl like mine is she might have not realized she could name the dog something ridicolous.
I have a cat named flower sunshine thanks to my daughter.
Encourage her about the possibltys in naming the dog rainbow, or princess or sparkles, or another girly name. Or some aspect of the doggies personality - slurpie, sleepy etc.
2006-09-15 10:08:15 · answer #8 · answered by desi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the people getting offended are the ones who have the problem, not your daughter. Sometimes I think being politically correct just goes too far. You're daughters just a little girl who named her dog based on the color of its fur...what's the big deal?
2006-09-15 09:59:27 · answer #9 · answered by Royalhinney 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm black and i dont think i would be offended if i saw her calling the dogs name out or anything...but if you really want her to change the dogs name here is a good website of dog names. Tell her that she can pick out a really cute name from this website.....hope this helps!!
2006-09-15 12:26:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's no need to change the name of the dog! Its a perfectly appropriate name for a dog that is black! RELAX! No one will be offended! I had a brown dog when I was nine and I called her Browny!
2006-09-15 10:01:50 · answer #11 · answered by Kellybelle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋