Woman Prompts Government Response After Naming Newborn ‘Methamphetamine Rules’
An Australian journalist recently caused quite a stir after legally naming her newborn son ‘Methamphetamine Rules’ as part of a story she was working on.
Kirsten Drysdale, a journalist from New South Wales, Australia, was researching a piece for the ABC show ‘WTFAQ’ about what baby names are legally permissible when she decided to take her experiment too far.
Drysdale submitted the outrageous name ‘Methamphetamine Rules’ to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, assuming it would be denied. Her plan was to then find out what default name would be given by the Registrar when her inappropriate submission was rejected.
Shockingly, the name ‘Methamphetamine Rules’ slipped through and was accepted. The Registrar later admitted their mistake, saying they have since strengthened their approval system to prevent something like this happening again.
When interviewed about the controversial name by A Current Affair host Allison Langdon, Drysdale defended her actions as being “in the name of journalism.” Langdon grilled her, asking if the epidural had “blocked her brain” and why she would do this to her baby.
Drysdale reiterated that she never expected the outrageous name to actually be approved and that it was meant as a curious experiment for her story. She maintained no lasting harm was done, as she never planned to actually name her child ‘Methamphetamine Rules.’
Outrage Over Journalist’s “Methamphetamine Rules” Baby Name Stunt
Still, the incident sparked intense public backlash and criticism. Many found Drysdale’s stunt to be appalling, potentially harmful to her child, and in poor taste. The Registrar’s office also faced scrutiny for allowing such an obviously problematic name through.
While Drysdale may have meant it as a joke, the real-life consequences and controversy provoked serious discussion around responsible journalism and ethics. The journalist’s misguided decision ended up having wide-ranging impacts she likely never anticipated.
The saga serves as a cautionary tale in thinking through the ramifications before pushing the envelope too far, even in the pursuit of a salacious story. Drysdale’s actions, while likely meant to be provocative, crossed a line for many. Moving forward, she and others in the media would be wise to heed the lessons from this messy situation.
Sometimes parents want to give their child a truly unique name so they stand out. This can be taken to the extreme though, saddling kids with names ripe for mockery.
Other times, questionable names come from parents trying to be clever or make a statement. Some celebrities have given their kids names like Apple, North West, or Blue Ivy. While memorable, these could lead to teasing.
Outrageous names can also occur when parents try using symbols or numerals, like @ or III. Or they pick words that shouldn’t be names, like Princess or Majesty.
Controversial names often reflect parental creativity or whimsy gone too far. Kids can end up paying the price for years.
A few famous examples include:
- Frank Zappa’s kids Moon Unit, Dweezil, and Diva Muffin
- Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s daughter Apple
- Penn Jillette naming his daughter Moxie CrimeFighter
- Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s daughter Sunday Rose
- Jermajesty Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson
- Tu Morrow, child of actor Rob Morrow
- Blue Ivy Carter, daughter of Beyonce and Jay-Z
While unique names can be empowering, inflicting one’s quirky sensibilities onto a child who can’t object often crosses a line. Kids saddled with odd names they hate struggle to be taken seriously. Most would likely advise parents to give careful thought when getting creative.
Tips for naming your baby
- Say the name out loud – Make sure it flows well and sounds pleasing when spoken. Avoid anything awkward or cumbersome.
- Consider nicknames – Think of any obvious nicknames that could come from the name and whether you’d be okay with those.
- Check meanings – Make sure you know the name’s origin and that the meaning is appropriate.
- Avoid unnecessary difficulty – Be cautious of hard to spell or pronounce names that could frustrate your child.
- Think of initials – Make sure the baby’s initials don’t spell something unintended or embarrassing.
- Imagine it on a resume – When your child is an adult, would the name seem professional?
- Consider popularity – Check name rankings to see if it’s rising or falling in popularity.
- Run it by others – Get some honest feedback from family and friends before deciding.
- Research legal requirements – Make sure there are no restrictions or banned names in your state.
- Use as a middle name – If you love an unusual name, making it the middle can be a good compromise.
Most importantly, give your child a name they will feel proud of and that will serve them well throughout life. With some careful thought, you can likely find a name that’s special yet still sets them up for future success.
