This phrase was coined by New Scientist magazine several years ago. It describes the tendency of people to gravitate towards jobs and careers that fit their surname. Whilst listening to Gardeners Question Time this afternoon, it struck me that two of the presenters display this tendency - Bob Flowerdew and Pippa Greenwood.
It started me wondering whether more gardeners display nominative determinism, or indeed whether any bloggers have gravitated towards jobs based on their names. Mind you, having racked my brain to think of more gardening examples, I've failed, so perhaps Bob and Pippa are the only examples.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
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7 comments:
Can't think of a gardener example, but there's a Dr. Doctor in my old hometown...
That's one of my favourite New Scientist features of all time!
I've always included Anne Swithinbank in the aptly names GQT panel line-up and of course there was Clay Jones a few years back. Phil McCann writes occasionally for Gardeners' World magazine, though he's yet to be commissioned to write an article on water in the garden. Don't forget Bill Sowerbutt either.
Anyone would think I'd been secretly collecting these for a while...
Well, my last name is Parker ~ which has sort of a connection to gardening. I used to know a gardener who had the last name, Hedge.
Susan, with a name like that he couldn't have become a plumber!
VP, I did umm and ahh about Anne Swithinbank but decided to leave her out. I'd forgotten about Clay Jones. The others are inspired!
Kate - very apt.
I have a friend with the surname gardener who was a fellow student on my horticulture course.
http://ryans-garden.blogspot.com/
Now if only I had come across this theory whilst I was working it would have made my job so much simpler, as providing careers advice and information was a major part of it :) How about Rosemary Verey ?
My name doesn't work with it, but in the 'burbs of Chicago, Marcus Delafleur has a demonstration green roof and raingarden at his home.
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