I’ve been having this stupid battle with the HR guy at work because he calls me Liz all the time even though I’ve told him repeatedly over a period of months that my name is Elizabeth and I do not like nicknames, particularly that nickname. It’s come to the point where I’m sure he’s deliberately doing it to annoy me, and in another circumstance I might complain about him to the HR guy. So you see my problem, yes?
Anyway, I’m saying all of this mainly because I’m torn about this story that came up in the news this week about another person named Elizabeth who was called Liz by some unwitting soul. Apparently the person who addressed House Representative Jim McDermott’s scheduler Elizabeth Becton with the unwanted nickname was berated by same in a series of 19 or so emails. I have a sampling of said emails here:
From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:05 PM
To: Becton, Elizabeth
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Liz,
just checking in on whether the Congressman is available next week. [REDACTED] can confirm a meeting time for you – she is available at [REDACTED].
Thank you!
Best,
XXX
________________________________
From: Becton, Elisabeth
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:07 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Importance: High
Who is Liz?
Libby Becton
Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Office of Congressman Jim McDermott
XXXX Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
XXX phone
XXX fax
________________________________
From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:07 PM
To: Becton, Betty
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Lisa, I thought you went by Liz – apologies if that is incorrect. Best, XXX
________________________________
From: Becton, Lizzie
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:08 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
I do not go by Liz. Where did you get your information?
________________________________
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:10 PM
To: Becton, Beth
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Zabet, I’m so sorry if I offended you! I thought you had gone by Liz at Potlatch, this was my mistake. Best, XXX
________________________________
From: Becton, Beef
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:11 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
NEVER. I hate that name.
________________________________
From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:13 PM
To: Becton, Liza
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Elsie, I’m so sorry if I offended you! I must have mis-heard. My mistake! Best, XX
________________________________
From: Becton, Bessie
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:20 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Importance: High
XXX:
If I wanted you to call me by any other name, I would have offered that to you. I think it’s rude when people don’t even ask permission and take all sorts of liberties with your name. This is a real sore spot with me. My name has a lot of “nicknames” which I don’t use. I use either my first name or my last name because I row with a lot of other women who share the same first name. Now, please do not ever call me by a nickname again.
As for your meeting request, who is the point of contact for this meeting? If it’s not you, then I need to know who because it’s very time-consuming to deal with a lot of people for one meeting.
Thanks,
________________________________
From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:23 PM
To: Becton, Stinking Lizaveta
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Buffy, I’m so sorry I offended you! My mistake!
XXX can confirm a meeting time for you – she is available at XXX XXXX.
Thank you!
Best, XXX
________________________________
[UNRELATED EMAILS REDACTED]
From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:33 PM
To: Becton, Isabel
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Of course! Again, I am sincerely sorry for offending you. I must have mis-heard and it was in no way my intention to make you upset. I always enjoy working with you and seeing you at the WSS events J
Best,
XXX
________________________________
From: Becton, Zeebz
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:37 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Sounds like you got played by someone who KNOWS I hate that name and that it’s a fast way to TICK me off. Who told you that I go by that name? They are not your friend…
________________________________
From: XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:38 PM
To: Becton, Babette
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Abby,
Again, I am sincerely sorry for offending you. I don’t want to cause trouble as I clearly must have mis-heard the person at Potlatch. It was in no way my intention to make you upset.
Best,
XXX
________________________________
From: Becton, Lizardbreath
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:41 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Importance: High
I REALLY want to know who told you to call me that.
________________________________
From:XXX
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 5:44 PM
To: Becton, Wizzy
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Hi Elikapeka,
Again, I am sincerely sorry for offending you. I don’t recall who I overheard. It was in no way my intention to make you upset.
Best,
XXX
________________________________
From: Becton, Ilsa
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 6:04 PM
To: XXX
Subject: RE: JPMC Meeting Request
Let me put it this way, they don’t know me and perhaps they were PRETENDING to know me better than they do and pretended that I go by Liz. They did YOU a disservice.
In the future, you should be VERY careful about such things. People like to brag about their connections in DC. It’s a past time for some. It’s also dangerous to eaves drop, as you have just found out.
Quit apologizing and never call me anything but Bettina again. Also, make sure you correct anyone who attempts to call me by any other name but Liesl. Are we clear on this? Like I said, it’s a hot button for me.
And please don’t call the office and not leave a message. My colleague told me you called while I was away at the Ladies’ room. I do sometimes leave my desk.
(I may have edited the names on the email exchange slightly.) Obviously, Ms. Becton flew off the handle in a completely inappropriate manner and has delusions of grandeur and is a total bitch and probably a very scary person to have as an enemy, especially since she’s on a crew team which means she has massive upper body strength in addition to her psychotic focus. But I still have to defend her here. There’s something about the nickname Liz that just rankles if you haven’t chosen it for yourself.
And calling but not leaving a message is kind of lame too.