Do You Hate Name Tags, Too?
This cartoon came from attending one of those business events where I had to wear a name tag.
I hate name tags.
Well, I should say I hate wearing a name tag. I find them very useful when I’m speaking to someone because I’m horrible with names, but I always feel self-conscious with that big red “Hi, I’m Mark” branded on my chest.
So, instead of hobnobbing and mingling, I set my mind to work on other ways people are identified with tags or signs, and this cartoon popped out. I suppose a therapist might suggest that I was feeling trapped in my job, but mostly I just felt goofy, and was able to turn it to my advantage.
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About: Mark Anderson’s cartoons appear in publications including The Wall Street Journal and Harvard Business Review. Anderson is the creator of the popular cartoon website, Andertoons.com, where he licenses his cartoons for presentations, newsletters and other projects. He blogs at Andertoons Cartoon blog.
November 7th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I don’t like paper nametags, but my small business makes digitally imprinted and engraved name bagdges, and are more more esthetically pleasing.
November 7th, 2008 at 10:40 am
November 7th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Haha, I love the look on the characters face….so defeated.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I have to agree, the look on his face is priceless. Hate name tags myself, too. Very funny!
November 7th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I hate them too. I thought I was the only one!
When someone I don’t know walks up to me and says “hi Carla!” I try hard to remember where I know this person from. Of course, I forgot I’m wearing my name. Going out is worse because now every Tom, Dick and Harry on the street, in a café or restaurant knows my first name. “How many shots, Carla?”
In an event, I sometimes wonder why that guy is looking at my chest, and then I quickly remember the name tag that’s stuck to my top.
Great cartoon! I love the look on his face.
November 7th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
It could be good to wear a name tag in order to remember the names. I have a problem to remember names, but I am working on it!
I will put the URL of my website in the future. My name is included! 
http://Martin.Lindeskog.name
November 7th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Can you make me a sign that says “Hi, I’m 5′7″?
November 8th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Name tags are the great equalizer. It’s always amusing when someone thinks they’re so well known that they don’t wear theirs, or when they decide just because they don’t like wearing one, they’re not going to. I’m talking about big meetings or conventions when people are there in large part to network. Not wearing your name tag in cases like that is simply rude I think. Name tags definitely help when you’re meeting a lot of people in a short time frame. I think wearing your name tag where people can see it easily and read it well just makes things easier, puts them at ease. My biggest beef is with name tags that are poorly designed functionally (as in the one I encountered recently that was on a clip and the card swivelled around easily so everyone walked around with their names upside down!) and when the print is too small to be read from a reasonable distance.
November 8th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
making a request to notify of follow up comments
thanks
November 9th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
I don’t hate name tags as long as they are pleasantly made. What’s important is when meeting a lot of different people, they will remember me and my name. I can’t just assume that everybody know me even if you could say to yourself your expert on this and on that.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:47 am
I too don’t have problems with name tags but how effortless and unpleasant the name tag is made — that pisses me off. Thinking they should have spend a little significant time to make their name tags more pleasant and interesting to wear. But I have nothing against the purpose of name tags. In fact. I find it really helpful.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:03 am
One tip - you have it on the wrong side. The name tag should be on your right side, so when you extend your hand to shake someone’s hand, their eye follows up your arm to your name tag. Try it.