Squish Names: Unpopular Opinion

[SteelCity]

To put it bluntly, they're stupid. Not only do they sound incredibly stupid, and they do, but some are just a reach to make happen! It also tends to take away a lot of agency from a character. It's like that's all they're seen for. Nevertheless, I find them grossly unappealing and annoying.

Edited July 12, 2022 by SteelCity
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[DramatistDreamer]

Yeah, I never got onto the Portmanteau (I think that’s what it’s called?) wagon. It seems to minimize the value of each character as an individual and yeah, to me, it sounds kind of childish

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. No offense to people who do use them, I know it can often be shorthand or a term of endearment, of sorts but when you think of these epic, classic films (Casablanca, e.g.), no one is creating these blended names for these characters.

 

EDT. The original idea for a portmanteau is actually clever when it means something (smoke+fog=smog) but for characters’ names, nah, don’t like it.

[Franko]

I'll admit that one -- TrAsh, for Tracy and Lord Ashton, General Hospital -- made me smile.

[SteelCity]

Portmanteau, amalgam! Let's call the whole thing off! You're right though, used in the intended way, it's not offensive. It gets even more annoying when it's used for characters that haven't even interacted enough to warrant a following!

[Paul Raven]

What was the first soap squishname?

I seem to recall Shane/Kayla-Shayla as one of the first times it was used for a soap couple and that was around 1990.

What were some others from when it became a trend?

Days couples like Bope, Jarlena weren't used in their first go round in the 80's.

[SteelCity]

Listen to how stupid they sound! Although, missed opportunity not naming Jeannie "Shayla."

[Videnbas]

I use squish names as a convenient shorthand when talking about pairings online.

But it just occurred to me that I never use them about characters and couples I really like. Maybe because I feel like the names diminish the couple and characters involved somehow.

[Gray Bunny]

 

I seem to remember GL fans saying "Bloss" was the first soap squish name (for Blake & Ross), but perhaps they were just speaking for GL. This would've been mid-90's. 

[Spoon]

It's good shorthand for doing a quick post.  I'm lobbying for BJ (Belle + EJ) myself.

[dragonflies]

Not trying to be rude, but if they bother you don't use them, but  if others want too, who cares

[SteelCity]

As I said, they sound stupid. Especially when you see them 25 in a row!

[Jeff]

I'll give this one an "A" for creativity 

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 (they're growing on me too).

As for the topic, yeah to each his own.

[YRBB]

Yeah, never been too crazy about those, but they are convenient every now and then when discussing on a forum!

[SteelCity]

I don't see how it's harder than saying Sami/Lucas or something 

[Contessa Donatella]

I love the word portmanteau. They can also be called "Mash-ups" although that is uesd for songs in a medley. I don't care for them when people have to try too hard to make it work. So, sometimes I like them & sometimes I don't. But we will always have them!