It’s Not Rocket Science, It’s My Name

There is something oddly fascinating about watching someone reply directly to a post with my name clearly written at the top… and then spell it wrong.

It is there.
In front of them.
On the very thing they are responding to.

And yet.

I do not have an unusual name. It is not twelve letters long. It does not contain unexpected vowels or silent consonants. It is not a cryptic crossword clue.

It is simply Abbie.

Names matter. They are the most basic form of respect in communication. When someone takes the time to spell your name correctly, it signals attention, awareness, and courtesy. When they do not, particularly when the correct spelling is right in front of them, it signals something else entirely.

What makes it more jarring is context.

Most of the people misspelling my name are asking for help. They want guidance, technical clarification, problem solving, moderation decisions, or reassurance. They want my time. My experience. My effort.

And yet they cannot be bothered to type five letters correctly.

This is not about ego. It is about energy.

When you manage communities, resolve disputes, explain policies, and untangle complicated issues daily, the smallest signs of attentiveness begin to matter. Spelling someone’s name correctly is the lowest possible bar in professional courtesy. It costs nothing. It requires seconds.

I understand honest mistakes. We all mistype. Autocorrect has its own personality. That is human.

But repeated carelessness, especially in a professional environment, is not charming. It is not trivial. It quietly communicates that the person on the other side of the screen is not quite important enough to check.

If we want strong communities, mutual respect must go both ways. It starts with listening. It continues with tone. And yes, it includes spelling someone’s name correctly.

It is not rocket science.

It is just respect.

And I do notice.