How I loathe the fake familiarity

That infests the modern media,

The habit of using diminutives....

Appalling applications of acedia.

 

Next time a senior police officer is seen

Being interviewed about whatever,.....

Check his first name on the TV screen

It's a fair bet that it's never

 

The name that he was given at birth

But a baby name excursion -

As if they didn't think it worth

Respecting the right recursion.

 

It seems to feature mainly men

(Richard is always "Dick")

And it isn't just now and again,

But a regular media trick.

 

William is always "Bill",

And Peter is always "Pete"

It's too frequent and I've had my fill

Of this multi-media conceit! 

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