Challenging Perceptions - Copyright R.Weal 2006

Playing on the title of Whitney Houston’s song “My name is not Susan!” for this post. I’ll warn you up front it’s going to be a little bit of a rant.

The observant of you will know that I have never in my entire life ever referred to myself as “Ruthie” (suppressing the shudders) and more often than not told people off for calling me “Ruthie”. I’ve been called Wealie, Ruth, R, Generalwealie, The General, Rufuswealie and Rufus, yes, but never, ever, never “Ruthie” (gags)!

I don’t know why people feel need to call me “Ruthie” and lately it seems that more and more people are calling me it, especially on-line, where it seems that much more difficult to correct people without seeming to be rude or ungrateful.

Also, I must confess that I’ve never quite understood why people would want to make my name longer in the first place, not to mention making it into a horribly cutesy and queasy nickname at that. I mean, I can see why Deborah would become Debbie or Debs and how Robert could become Rob or Bob or Bert, but why lengthen a name? It’s a mystery to me that’s for sure.

Now when I think of “Ruthie” it brings to mind a sweet and twee little blond blue eyed girlie, in cotton candy pink knitted twin sets and lots of pearly white teeth, innocent and cute, a real goodie two shoes, with lots of pastels in her wardrobe. If you know me, then you know this is far from a good description for me and the total opposite of what I have ever wanted to be in life. Just look at the picture I’ve added in here, I think it underscores my point (grin). So you’ll understand now why when I hear or read “Ruthie” directed at me it makes me shudder and cringe.

Well, I think you’ve probably guessed by now that I do feel strongly that the nickname “Ruthie” doesn’t suit me and quite frankly don’t like it and wouldn’t call another Ruth “Ruthie” either, even if she did look like one! That said if she felt strongly about it I’d have to get over my prejudice as I do believe that we should always refer to people using names and nicknames that they are comfortable with and which reflect their personality.

As to the picture Challenging Perceptions is one of my experiments with photo manipulation using Photoshop. I have always firmly believed that true art works on many different levels and has deeper meaning and significance both to the artist and the consumer of the art. I’ve always liked to use my poetry, paintings and to certain extent my photography to pose questions, or to set a scene for a question to be asked. People react in very different ways and this picture was no exception.

Any way enough with the ranting, today I’m just sending out this final impassioned plea……