As someone who came from a much smaller church, I really appreciate the name tags. There is nothing more embarrassing than having to ask someone yet again what their name is, because we only pass in each other’s orbit that is the Journey solar system every so often.
I’m hoping this is only a temporary problem for me, but until then, let’s wear the silly name tags!!!
Does wearing name tags help build the community we are looking for?
Is it an expression of having “one hand out” to new people?
I don’t personally like wearing the name tag… but am convinced.. .it provides a good “hello nice to meet you” place at the name tag table… and it helps break the ice people feel when they are at a new church with new people.
What I really want to hear is from newer people from the Journey if the name tags helps or hinders their sense of connection?
but it isn’t.
the question was do you like wearing a name tag.
you’re convinced that it provides a good “hello nice to meet you” place but i would argue that more people avoid it like the plague and it provides a more awkward interaction then a genuine connection.
you wait in line to tell someone your name, then you spell your name to them, then you wait as they write it, then you stick the tag on your chest , then you walk away… and no offense to the name-tag people you are all very nice but you don’t know my name; and i don’t expect you too. so i usually avoid the table. (its good to have kids cuz i can walk around the other way… :D sneaky-sneaky)
this Sunday we came with a friend visiting for the first time and that was prolly the second most awkward thing for him, not to be outdone, of course, buy the red-dye-finger-dipping/
I know I’ve been around a bit but I still see myself as “New” to the J. What I’m not saying is that name tags completely suck. I agree they can be a tool to build community and make someone new feel at ease. I mean, a million franchises can’t be wrong can they? My feeling (as someone new to your community) is that I don’t want to feel cornered into being tagged like a trophy moose on my way into church. I mean all likenesses aside it’s just not my thing.
“Is it an expression of having ‘one hand out’ to new people?”
I hear your heart with this one but if a name tag is the “one hand out” to new people then you might want to have an unconference on the art of conversation. Now, this has not been my experience at all. Thinking through this a little more there has never been a time that I was made to feel unwelcome at the J. The community you have is open and genuinely friendly (name tags or not.)
I think the real question here is whether or not you can get name tags that are made from 100% recycled materials. Yes, I’m serious.
It’s hard to imagine something any dorkier than wearing a sticky name tag with name hand written on it.
Mincey, shameless idea-stealer that he is (I posted this idea originally here: http://www.talkinchurch.com/node/10#comment-46), has refined the concept of a more permanent and dare I say COOLER solution. Apple apparently allows/used to allow expressions of individuality in the picture for the ID.
I’m OK with a cool name tag. I hate wearing the hand written ones. It’s not cool nor inviting nor innovative.
I believe in God because every once in a while, I hear a voice that says, “You’re my favorite.”
it would make it see too much like a club and would serve only to alienate those who don’t participate on the site.
all we really need is a table, some masking tape (or those white things if you must), and a bunch of colored sharpies. i can write my own name and prolly would if everyone else was and there was a feeling that it was helpful.
how bout a assortment of nametags with emicons on them so i can choose one that reflects how im doing :-D, :-] :-/, ;-), :-}, B-), :-(, :*), etc… better yet we dont need to do it ahead of time, i can write that too. so we have a poster with a bunch of options of things to write. oh and here’s another idea: stickers. marinate.
Sheesh, Jeff: You rip off my idea and then say it’s a bad idea. Foul! Foul!
It’s not an exclusionary thing. You could go to the web site and select the Name Badge link. You’d get a page with the outline of the badge, your site photo (combined with the opportunity to upload a larger, higher-rez photo) and the name you want to have on your badge. Then you can choose to print a B&W or color version (with the photo optimized (somehow?!) for B&W).
You bring in your printout on Sunday and give it to the folks at the name badge table and they give you an ID frame and lanyard (or whatever).
If I visited and saw everyone with cool ID badges, I’d want one. But then I’m a dork so draw your own conclusions.
I believe in God because every once in a while, I hear a voice that says, “You’re my favorite.”
To Jeff’s point, I’d argue it does not help build the community we are looking for.
Granted, everyone’s different, but the negative aspect of someone asking to give you one when you don’t want one, seems to outweigh the benefit of having them.
Asked a different way: How many people do we think would be turned off by not having them? How many people would leave (and not return) thinking, “I really wish they had name tags.”? I’d argue few (if any). The other benefits of community that we want don’t come from name tags, and it’s naive to think that we can create community so easily.
Honestly, as dorky as they may seem…I have no problem wearing a nametag. For some of us not very good with names, including myself, they come in quite handy. I personally can’t think of anything cooler that we could wear…and no offense, but a badge?? i’m not so sure of that….eheheh
I wish the energy put into not wearing badges could be put into getting to know people. (or ending hunger, anything) I don’t like wearing them, but they are sooooo helpful when you are just getting to know people. I don’t think they help with the first time people come, but when they have been there a few weeks and see someone they have met - but don’t remember their names - then it is very very helpful. They have saved me many times. And they help when I see the new people after a week or two, and sorry I do care but don’t remember their names. How cool do we have to be? What is our priority.
And yes, I usually just take the pen and write my own name, it is easier. Why can’t there be pens and greeters too? If no one was there new people would not know what to do.
but seriously a table with name tags and pens on the way in… people are going to know what to do. now stop commenting about us commenting about name tags and get on with ending hunger. :D
I’m ending hunger right now…IN MY BELLY! Thank you ice cream! Well anyway, I don’t really care either way. I am really bad with names so sometimes those things do help me out. But on the other hand I remember coming to the Journey once in a while when I was back from school and feeling a bit awkward about wearing one. Not a huge deal though. I think if everyone is doing it, then its totally cool. But if everyone isn’t into it, then it just makes it awkward. Eh back to my ice cream!
Dave, have we met? Perhaps I’d know if you were wearing a name tag on Sunday. :-) Seriously though, I like what I read from you. Hopefully I can make your acquaintance in the near future.
I don’t think we have met. I played drums last week, if that helps you place me. I’ll wear my pink dress to church on sunday so it’s easier for you to find me and we can meet.
I believe in God because every once in a while, I hear a voice that says, “You’re my favorite.”
How about having your name on your underwear (you know, that little tag on your elastic waistband)? I’m sure that sort of would appease everyone (it’s sort of hidden but there when you need it).
Wait…. I don’t think Josh wears any. Scratch that!
I’m still hip on an unwelcome table and a “name tag man” (a sort of mascot that looks like some of those pictures above). I posted it somewhere else on this colossal site (but I think the webmaster deleted it and stole my ideas too!) : )
Name tags are cool. I meen who else is going to spell my kids names wrong? I sometimes like to feel like the new guy and not wear one. Then all the people who have been coming to the journey for a year or so can say who is that guy without a name tag. Then find out, oh, wait. He is that guy? Then they say, I should go get him a name tag. The other guy says, No, I’m going to go get him a name tag. Then a fight breaks out over who is going to get me a name tag. Then after someone gets knocked out they think, Who was that guy I was going to get a name tag for. Oh well the two say, lets go get a doughnut. Then a fight breaks out because there is no more doughnuts. Can’t we all just get along?
It is a scary thing that some can think that name tags build community. I dodge them with energy though sometimes I see one filled out ahead of time with my name on it! It sometimes reminds me a bit of a church I went to where the leadership was always trying to get me to shave my beard… I thought they were joking but I found out later they were serious.
Jimbo, I think you are onto something. What if we raised money to go to any charrity of your liking for you to shave your beard. I’d shave my head if you shaved your beard?
I don’t mind wearing a name tag at church, and being poor at remembering names I appreciate when others have them on. By far the worst part of wearing a name tag is forgetting to take it off before you go out to lunch after church…..
The question should not be do you like wearing a name tag. The question should be do name tags help (newer) people feel connected? Let’s do a poll on that. If you already know a bunch of people or are great at remembering names, don’t answer on the poll because it isn’t a good representation of who we have name tags for. Then we can have some real data.
The welcome table is a place for people to be welcomed, to be told that we are glad that they came today. Name tags are secondary and optional.
Fun ideas for name tags are great and I am happy to hear them.
wassit.
and he calls me the geek…
i think everyone should print-out their usernames and website avatars onto a badge and wear those on sunday.
Too corporate Jdawg... observe
I think we should all roll like name tag man:
or like this guy… Scott eh, what a lame name…
But if I’m honest I’d actually want something like this:
name tags
As someone who came from a much smaller church, I really appreciate the name tags. There is nothing more embarrassing than having to ask someone yet again what their name is, because we only pass in each other’s orbit that is the Journey solar system every so often.
I’m hoping this is only a temporary problem for me, but until then, let’s wear the silly name tags!!!
The Question should be...
Does wearing name tags help build the community we are looking for?
Is it an expression of having “one hand out” to new people?
I don’t personally like wearing the name tag… but am convinced.. .it provides a good “hello nice to meet you” place at the name tag table… and it helps break the ice people feel when they are at a new church with new people.
What I really want to hear is from newer people from the Journey if the name tags helps or hinders their sense of connection?
The question should be...
but it isn’t.
the question was do you like wearing a name tag.
you’re convinced that it provides a good “hello nice to meet you” place but i would argue that more people avoid it like the plague and it provides a more awkward interaction then a genuine connection.
you wait in line to tell someone your name, then you spell your name to them, then you wait as they write it, then you stick the tag on your chest , then you walk away… and no offense to the name-tag people you are all very nice but you don’t know my name; and i don’t expect you too. so i usually avoid the table. (its good to have kids cuz i can walk around the other way… :D sneaky-sneaky)
this Sunday we came with a friend visiting for the first time and that was prolly the second most awkward thing for him, not to be outdone, of course, buy the red-dye-finger-dipping/
(No subject)
*ahem* New People eh?
I know I’ve been around a bit but I still see myself as “New” to the J. What I’m not saying is that name tags completely suck. I agree they can be a tool to build community and make someone new feel at ease. I mean, a million franchises can’t be wrong can they? My feeling (as someone new to your community) is that I don’t want to feel cornered into being tagged like a trophy moose on my way into church. I mean all likenesses aside it’s just not my thing.
“Is it an expression of having ‘one hand out’ to new people?”
I hear your heart with this one but if a name tag is the “one hand out” to new people then you might want to have an unconference on the art of conversation. Now, this has not been my experience at all. Thinking through this a little more there has never been a time that I was made to feel unwelcome at the J. The community you have is open and genuinely friendly (name tags or not.)
I think the real question here is whether or not you can get name tags that are made from 100% recycled materials. Yes, I’m serious.
Cool Tags Are Wearable
It’s hard to imagine something any dorkier than wearing a sticky name tag with name hand written on it.
Mincey, shameless idea-stealer that he is (I posted this idea originally here: http://www.talkinchurch.com/node/10#comment-46), has refined the concept of a more permanent and dare I say COOLER solution. Apple apparently allows/used to allow expressions of individuality in the picture for the ID.
I’m OK with a cool name tag. I hate wearing the hand written ones. It’s not cool nor inviting nor innovative.
I believe in God because every once in a while, I hear a voice that says, “You’re my favorite.”
doh.
that was on this church website forum? ….
— hey that name tag idea was dave’s!
i want a third choice!
i am kind of in the middle. it’s not a big deal either way. but i’d be all for it if we take jeff mincey’s idea and make badges!
nah, its prolly bad idea
it would make it see too much like a club and would serve only to alienate those who don’t participate on the site.
all we really need is a table, some masking tape (or those white things if you must), and a bunch of colored sharpies. i can write my own name and prolly would if everyone else was and there was a feeling that it was helpful.
how bout a assortment of nametags with emicons on them so i can choose one that reflects how im doing :-D, :-] :-/, ;-), :-}, B-), :-(, :*), etc… better yet we dont need to do it ahead of time, i can write that too. so we have a poster with a bunch of options of things to write. oh and here’s another idea: stickers. marinate.
No Backpedaling!
Cool tags not sticky badges.
Sheesh, Jeff: You rip off my idea and then say it’s a bad idea. Foul! Foul!
It’s not an exclusionary thing. You could go to the web site and select the Name Badge link. You’d get a page with the outline of the badge, your site photo (combined with the opportunity to upload a larger, higher-rez photo) and the name you want to have on your badge. Then you can choose to print a B&W or color version (with the photo optimized (somehow?!) for B&W).
You bring in your printout on Sunday and give it to the folks at the name badge table and they give you an ID frame and lanyard (or whatever).
If I visited and saw everyone with cool ID badges, I’d want one. But then I’m a dork so draw your own conclusions.
I believe in God because every once in a while, I hear a voice that says, “You’re my favorite.”
To Jeff’s point, I’d
To Jeff’s point, I’d argue it does not help build the community we are looking for.
Granted, everyone’s different, but the negative aspect of someone asking to give you one when you don’t want one, seems to outweigh the benefit of having them.
Asked a different way: How many people do we think would be turned off by not having them? How many people would leave (and not return) thinking, “I really wish they had name tags.”? I’d argue few (if any). The other benefits of community that we want don’t come from name tags, and it’s naive to think that we can create community so easily.
I see nothing wrong with them
Honestly, as dorky as they may seem…I have no problem wearing a nametag. For some of us not very good with names, including myself, they come in quite handy. I personally can’t think of anything cooler that we could wear…and no offense, but a badge?? i’m not so sure of that….eheheh
suck it up princess! ( and princes)
I wish the energy put into not wearing badges could be put into getting to know people. (or ending hunger, anything) I don’t like wearing them, but they are sooooo helpful when you are just getting to know people. I don’t think they help with the first time people come, but when they have been there a few weeks and see someone they have met - but don’t remember their names - then it is very very helpful. They have saved me many times. And they help when I see the new people after a week or two, and sorry I do care but don’t remember their names. How cool do we have to be? What is our priority.
And yes, I usually just take the pen and write my own name, it is easier. Why can’t there be pens and greeters too? If no one was there new people would not know what to do.
Sorry your Highness
but seriously a table with name tags and pens on the way in… people are going to know what to do. now stop commenting about us commenting about name tags and get on with ending hunger. :D
Ending hunger
I’m ending hunger right now…IN MY BELLY! Thank you ice cream! Well anyway, I don’t really care either way. I am really bad with names so sometimes those things do help me out. But on the other hand I remember coming to the Journey once in a while when I was back from school and feeling a bit awkward about wearing one. Not a huge deal though. I think if everyone is doing it, then its totally cool. But if everyone isn’t into it, then it just makes it awkward. Eh back to my ice cream!
Name tag Rant
I openly despise name tags.
I have name tag burnings at my house.
I comment negatively on their myspace page.
And voted 15 times on the poll above.
HOWEVER…
With the new direction of the Journey being all able interaction and community…
I do see their place
I can’t believe I said that.
I must now go and repent.
Do What Works
OK so very little consensus on this topic. Therefore, let’s just do what works for each person. Shrugs.
I believe in God because every once in a while, I hear a voice that says, “You’re my favorite.”
Dave, have we met? Perhaps
Dave, have we met? Perhaps I’d know if you were wearing a name tag on Sunday. :-) Seriously though, I like what I read from you. Hopefully I can make your acquaintance in the near future.
Name Tag Oppression
Swet,
I don’t think we have met. I played drums last week, if that helps you place me. I’ll wear my pink dress to church on sunday so it’s easier for you to find me and we can meet.
I believe in God because every once in a while, I hear a voice that says, “You’re my favorite.”
Nice
Dave,
I was on vacation and missed your pink dress, I’ll be at the J this week w/ my lovely wife. I’ll be the one that looks like the guy in my avatar.
you can ballot stuff!
yes, you can vote over and over again, did you know that?
Underwear
How about having your name on your underwear (you know, that little tag on your elastic waistband)? I’m sure that sort of would appease everyone (it’s sort of hidden but there when you need it).
Wait…. I don’t think Josh wears any. Scratch that!
Un Welcome Table
I’m still hip on an unwelcome table and a “name tag man” (a sort of mascot that looks like some of those pictures above). I posted it somewhere else on this colossal site (but I think the webmaster deleted it and stole my ideas too!) : )
Who else is going to...
Name tags are cool. I meen who else is going to spell my kids names wrong? I sometimes like to feel like the new guy and not wear one. Then all the people who have been coming to the journey for a year or so can say who is that guy without a name tag. Then find out, oh, wait. He is that guy? Then they say, I should go get him a name tag. The other guy says, No, I’m going to go get him a name tag. Then a fight breaks out over who is going to get me a name tag. Then after someone gets knocked out they think, Who was that guy I was going to get a name tag for. Oh well the two say, lets go get a doughnut. Then a fight breaks out because there is no more doughnuts. Can’t we all just get along?
I crack myself up sometimes ha ha ha
~Frank
what was
ah, nevermind.
ballot stuffing
ok - who was sooooo bored that they posted 500 no votes - that takes time, i know since i had to post 15 or so yes votes to conteract josh’s votes.
community
It is a scary thing that some can think that name tags build community. I dodge them with energy though sometimes I see one filled out ahead of time with my name on it! It sometimes reminds me a bit of a church I went to where the leadership was always trying to get me to shave my beard… I thought they were joking but I found out later they were serious.
SHAVE JIMS BEARD
Jimbo, I think you are onto something. What if we raised money to go to any charrity of your liking for you to shave your beard. I’d shave my head if you shaved your beard?
~Frank
stop it right there
Frank… now you have crossed the line… that’s it… now I will have to throw a sheep at you (like on facebook)
The worst part of nametags....
I don’t mind wearing a name tag at church, and being poor at remembering names I appreciate when others have them on. By far the worst part of wearing a name tag is forgetting to take it off before you go out to lunch after church…..
We are asking the wrong question
The question should not be do you like wearing a name tag. The question should be do name tags help (newer) people feel connected? Let’s do a poll on that. If you already know a bunch of people or are great at remembering names, don’t answer on the poll because it isn’t a good representation of who we have name tags for. Then we can have some real data.
The welcome table is a place for people to be welcomed, to be told that we are glad that they came today. Name tags are secondary and optional.
Fun ideas for name tags are great and I am happy to hear them.
My 10 cents (Dang Inflation)