Forums » RP Discussion » A Funny Conundrum...

So I need some help.

Y'see, I've got this character named Johnathan Typhus. And today after weeks of developing a more human persona for him, I realized that no one in their right mind would work for a man named after a disease.

I'm willing to ignore this when it comes to his being an Emperor, because he rules on a planet that has no idea what the disease known as 'typhus' is (to be honest, I doubt I recognized it either when I made this character years ago). But as a human executive of a big company elsewhere, which is named after him, this... could be a problem.

So now I'm stuck wondering something: should I leave his last name for his human 'guise as is and just wing-it (who knows, it could be amusing having folks point out his name's implications), or should I strive to find an actual last name (or just something that isn't 'typhus')?

"Typhus Enterprises: We have an epidemic of good customer service ratings! Our prices are infectiously low!"

I'll stop now. Personally, I don't think that this is such a big problem. Could make for an interesting talking point, and, when you think about it, I'm sure lots of words that mean something completely different in another language/culture have humorous or embarrassing connotations to us. My vote is to stick with it, but watch out for illness jokes.

I'd stick with it! Plenty of people have compromising last names and still are successful. And it's worth a giggle!

*chinstrokes* Hmm... maybe you two have a point. Hadn't really thought of it that way-- just seemed suddenly very off-putting to work under someone named after 'typhus', even if I didn't do it deliberately.

There is a composer named Edmund Butt.

Just... just saying.


I think Typhus is fine! :B

You could totally stick to the Dutch pronunciation of Tyfus.

This is an excellent idea Sanne! It also gives the character some heritage

I giggled incessantly.

... :B And I log on to a delightful chat explosion while I was in sleepland! Ilu guys.

@Ed-- I was not aware of that! Another good point to add to the good points of keepiness (I'd contribute, but all the ones I know are... inappropriate for this forum!)

@Sanne & Claine-- Ooh good point. "Tea-fuss", isn't that what it was, Sanne? I wouldn't put it past him to lie further about his heritage-- human!Typhus already claims Irish as part of his blood, and that one's generally a bit more doubtful than the others.

@Heimdall-- Stop that! This is a non-giggle-zone! You're a dragon-- roar with laughter!

... it's 10:35 AM, I can post kind of on-topic-but-silly if I wanna. >:T

I live near a road named Butte Creek. In the south, many people pronounce Creek as Crick. Therefore, I live near Butte Crick. People still take the road, and I imagine people will still work for a Typhus.

Thank you very much for the insight, Minerva, but I actually decided I was going to stick with it right around the time I made my previous post.

(Also interestingly enough, I... don't say crick! Not sure if anyone on Dad's side does; I guess it's sort of like 'tomAYto' vs 'tomAHto'.)