On Names
A generation ago or so in England people used to address work colleagues and people they weren't close to by their surnames. The boss was Mr or (occasionally) Mrs so-and-so. When people became friends they moved to first name terms. In French they have two ways of saying 'you': the formal 'vous' and the familiar 'tu'. These have a similar effect as using first names in English.
Nowadays, of course, people address complete strangers on a first name basis. This gives the appearance of friendship without the reality. Names are used to provide a degree a familiarity. If you see a new type of bird for example, you may want to know its characteristics. So you look it up in books until finally you can identify it: it has a name. Immediately your questions are answered, simply giving it a name allows you to classify it and determine its properties. This has advantages and disadvantages.
Without this naming life, or at least understanding, would be severely limited.
It is an integral part of language. However, suppose the bird you found had
some differences from others of that species. If it has been identified then
there is really little incentive to identify these differences. Having named
it the work is done. For example, when people talk about visions and otherworldly
experiences, sceptics often simply say they are dreams. They have been labeled
so no further investigation is required. I've mentioned before about left and
right brained thinking. Labeling is a left-brain characteristic.
There is another aspect to naming as well. Many so-called 'primitive' people are wary about having their photograph taken as the photograph represents a part of them. This is sometime translated as being their soul. Voodoo uses this representation in the form of voodoo dolls to influence the person whom the doll represents. Your name has a similar effect as it allows someone to identify and concentrate on you. I will return to this theme later as there is a lot to this.
