Product Names

[Coder]

I am hesitant about buying product that have certain names. Examples:

• nero (CD/DVD burning software)
• IO Magic (magic has connotations with the occult)
  I think I probably shouldn’t worry about the term “magic”. After all, we buy our children magician sets etc. and there’s nothing wrong with that - true?

However I think the use of “nero” as a reference to “burning” in a product name is more serious.

Thoughts?

 

[Victorious]

I am hesitant about buying product that have certain names. Examples:

• nero (CD/DVD burning software)
• IO Magic (magic has connotations with the occult)
  I think I probably shouldn’t worry about the term “magic”. After all, we buy our children magician sets etc. and there’s nothing wrong with that - true?

However I think the use of “nero” as a reference to “burning” in a product name is more serious.

Thoughts?

I recommend asking St. Alphonsus Ligouri to intercede for you on this.

 

[Coder]

Hi,

I recommend asking St. Alphonsus Ligouri to intercede for you on this.

In the case of using the name “nero”, I’m not so sure it’s black and white. Are you saying there is no such thing as crossing a line and that all topics are appropriate for puns/humor? I think not. I am trying to refine my sense of where to draw the line and I am asking about it - I seek opinions and reasoning on the question itself. What is your reasoning on this?

 

[Coder]

Didn’t Nero blame Christians for the burning of Rome and persecute Christians. Was he responsible for the martyrdom of Peter?

I don’t see using his name as a good idea for a pun in a product related to DVD burning. For example, if someone named a product after the name of someone involved in tyranny in the last century, it would not be well received. Why should Nero be different - just because it was so long ago?

To me, it’s another example of the disrespect of Christianity that is prevalent in our society today - not dissimilar to the use of “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”.

 

[LilyM]

Don’t forget nero (if it’s lower case) is the Italian word for ‘black’, so the name may have nothing to do with the Emperor Nero.

And yes, Nero persecuted Christians but he persecuted other Romans just as much by all accounts. And don’t we keep all our days and months which are named after pagan Gods or emperors?

 

[Steadfast_love]

I got that program for free with my computer. It’s called:

nero burning ROM

Not a coincidence I think.

 

[Coder]

Hi Lily,

Don’t forget nero (if it’s lower case) is the Italian word for ‘black’, so the name may have nothing to do with the Emperor Nero.

Good to know, but in this case it’s used as a name for CD/DVD burning software, so the pun is clealy associated with Emperor Nero.

And don’t we keep all our days and months which are named after pagan Gods or emperors?

Interesting point. One difference is that these are probably carried over from centuries of tradition. Another difference is that in this case the pun is specifically about the “burning” so it is not quite the same as a general naming of something after a person. To me, to market a product with that name and specific association is insensitive (if not insulting) to Christians.

 

[Coder]

I got that program for free with my computer. It’s called:

nero burning ROM

Not a coincidence I think.

Yes, it’s not a coincidence. Nor am I saying I wouldn’t buy a computer because of that especially since they bundle so many things. E.g. I was not pleased to find Da Vinci Code theme and screen saver on my Gateway Computer. Yet another example of the insensitivity/disrespect towards Christianity in our society. I just deleted the theme and screen saver and I use the computer. Of course DVD software is not like a screen saver that you just delete. I hope you enjoy your computer.

However, if I am in a store and there’s Nero DVD Burner and other DVD Burning products on the shelf then I will choose another brand.

 

[kellie]

I am hesitant about buying product that have certain names. Examples:

• nero (CD/DVD burning software)
• IO Magic (magic has connotations with the occult)
  I think I probably shouldn’t worry about the term “magic”. After all, we buy our children magician sets etc. and there’s nothing wrong with that - true?

However I think the use of “nero” as a reference to “burning” in a product name is more serious.

Thoughts?

Wow

I bet you don’t like the Monty Python movie “Life of Brian” then hey?

 

[Steadfast_love]

I thought that nero burning ROM was a pro-Christian in joke. The way I figure it, Nero spent much of his career protesting that he did not burn down Rome so the humor is that in a simple pun (Rome = ROM) the Christian retort is prounounced in a cheeky sort of way.

I’m in favor of any joke that villifies Nero and I’ll patronize any business that captializes on it and I’ll even put in a good word for them on forums.catholic-questions.org.

So when you think of “burning ROM” think of *nero burning ROM *for all your Catholic copyright infringement needs.

 

[nydas]

To me, it’s another example of the disrespect of Christianity that is prevalent in our society today - not dissimilar to the use of “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”.

Not dissimilar? Your joking… Right? First of all, Majority of this country is Christian, so there is very little disrespect for Christians in this country. At least not compared to Muslims, wiccans, or every other religion in the US.

And are you seriously complaining about people using Happy holidays instead of Merry X-Mas? Not everyone celebrates Christmas! So using happy holiday is very appropriate. It is more disrespectful to say merry Christmas to someone that dosent celebrate Christmas, then it is to say happy holidays to someone that does.

 

[Coder]

I’m in favor of any joke that villifies Nero…

I don’t see how it villifies him - the “burning” apect of the product is considered the main feature. Nor do I find whether it villifies or not to be important - I don’t seek to judge - my point is that some topics are not good subjects for puns/jokes.

 

[Coder]

It is more disrespectful to say merry Christmas to someone that dosent celebrate Christmas, then it is to say happy holidays to someone that does.

Interesting point but during the Christmas season the stores are selling products largely because of Christmas, so it is not fair to take the profits and then try to ignore the fact that it is the Christmas season that is the major source of the profits.

 

[Steadfast_love]

I don’t see how it villifies him - the “burning” apect of the product is considered the main feature.

It villifies him by placing the blame for burning Rome squarely his shoulders.

Coder:

Nor do I find whether it villifies or not to be important - I don’t seek to judge - my point is that some topics are not good subjects for puns/jokes.

I agree that jokes about Nero could be in poor taste, but I think he’s fertile ground for jokes. He was proud, immoral, powerful and evil. If we can’t make fun of people like that we should all just hang up our red-squeeker-noses forever.

[Added humor bonus: He’s not protected by the PC police.]

 

[havemercy]

I think you’re being slightly over-sentitive.

 

[Coder]

It villifies him by placing the blame for burning Rome squarely his shoulders.

I see you may have a point.

I agree that jokes about Nero could be in poor taste,

Yes, that’s more along the lines of what I am talking about. For example, we wouldn’t market products using names of people or groups involved in tyranny during the past century. Also I consider that Nero presecuted our fathers in faith.

You definitely have helped me to see that there is a different perspective and I thank you for that. I don’t think I’d want to see Nero’s name every time I burn a disk though but I guess one can just ignore it after a while.

 

[Rebecca_New]

Being sarcastic is becoming more and more admirable in our society today. To be polite and loving is almost admitting that you are old fashioned or not with it. It all is a result of not living our Christian Faith. Instead of being sensitive to each other we are becoming sarcastic because of hardening of our hearts-sarcastic in our responses-and laughing about it.

 

[Coder]

Instead of being sensitive to each other we are becoming sarcastic…and laughing about it.

Yes. You are really helping to clarify. I don’t like buying products when people market them in such a cavalier and smug fashion.

 

[whiteyacht]

Victorious;1620669:

I recommend asking St. Alphonsus Ligouri to intercede for you on this.

Hi,

In the case of using the name “nero”, I’m not so sure it’s black and white. Are you saying there is no such thing as crossing a line and that all topics are appropriate for puns/humor? I think not. I am trying to refine my sense of where to draw the line and I am asking about it - I seek opinions and reasoning on the question itself. What is your reasoning on this?

Their reasoning is that St. Alphonsus is often invoked by people who suffer from scrupulosity, and worrying about buying a product named after an ancient emperor is a symptom of a rather severe case of the scruples.

 

[Coder]

Hi,

…worrying about buying a product…

Where did I say I am “worried” about it? I don’t like buying products marketed in such a way. I didn’t say that at work I would quit my job if they made me use the software - nor would I hardly be worried about it. At the same time I certainly don’t appreciate product marketers making light of a serious topic.

Pope Benedict is aparrently opposed to Harry Potter books - I doubt you would say he has scruples.

Johnette Benkovic was just on “The Rock” show on EWTN saying that we really shouldn’t “trick or treat” because of its association with paganism/occult. Are you going to say she is scrupulous?

…worrying about buying a product named after an ancient emperor is a symptom of a rather severe case of the scruples.

Even an emperor who is responsible for the martyrdom of Peter?