The Name Game

Ok, I guess I missed a memo somewhere. When did Bombay become Mumbai? Does Rudyard Kipling know about this? What about Gandhi? The same thing happened with Peking, er, uh, Beijing a few years ago. So is Peking Duck now Beijing Duck and is a Bombay Chest now a Mumbai Chest?

So here's my question.....who decides that we're saying it (and spelling it) wrong? And, after all these years, why bother? Apparently we've been calling it "Bombay" since the 16th century. So now we just figured out we've been wrong? Didn't we ask any of the locals how to say it in the 16th century? Somebody should be in charge of this stuff!

So what happens if we find another Mohican? Do we have to go back and change all those books to "The Next-To-The-Last of the Mohicans"? I tell you, it's mind-boggling!

While we're on the subject, when did "Body Shops" become "Collision Centers"? Or "Personnel" become "Human Resources"? Or "Data Processing" become "Information Technology"? It's just too hard to keep up. It's like trying to keep up with what Puff Daddy is calling himself this week. And (being in sales myself) why do we need so many names for "Salesperson"? Why there's Sales Representative, Account Representative, Account Executive, and the most revered title of all "Senior" Account Executive. I think you have to be over 55 to get that one - but you get a discount at the movies.

Being in the printing business, I'm thinking that the business card guys and the map printers might be behind this. After all, who stands to profit the most from all these changes when nothing really changes?

We might be onto something here....yet another conspiracy. Where's Geraldo when you need him?

Till next time........