changing a name

I see that Prianka is already blogging about the class, so we should occasionally check in there as well.

Speaking (as we did last week) of names, I notice that Prianka would like to be called "Ank," but that it isn't catching on. Isn't it interesting that the successful changing of one's name requires the permission and cooperation of one's community? As Mark pointed out, we generally don't get to pick our own names. This crucial aspect of our identity is beyond our direct control, barring drastic measures like abandoning one's community along with the old identity, as David Locke did, or as in a witness protection program. People in the end will call us whatever they like, although they're thankfully usually pretty respectful about it.