[Facts] Re: no nickname for me
"One woman even went so far as to say, after I had told her my name is Cynthia, 'Yea, Cindy.' Are people lazy, or what?"
****** After you've already told someone that your name is "Cynthia", and they reply to you in the very next breath: "Yea, Cindy", I wouldn't say that's "lazy". I'd say that's freakin' disrespectful. I'm with Sarahjeanne on her suggested approach to people like that. Except, if it was me, I'd go one step further. I'd say to that person: "Are you freakin' deaf, or just retarded?"
"Then they act as if I'm being snooty or unfriendly because Cyndi is a perkyier, friendlier name."
****** Eh, let 'em think what they want. Those kind of people have already proven that their opinions don't count for much, anyway.
"Any other people out there with this problem, and what is your advice?"
****** I have chosen to go by the nickname of "Nan" in my business and social life because it's easier for me than having to 'splain my name all the time to strangers. Plus, it's easier for my friends to type. :)
I don't view anyone who calls me "Nan" to be lazy or anything, and I know that if I'd told any of my friends that I preferred to be called "Nanaea" all the time, they would make an effort to do that, too. But it's no big deal to me, either way, and I do view "Nan" as an affectionate sorta nickname.
Sometimes I'll affectionately shorten some of my friends' names, too -- like "Pav" (for Pavlos) and "SJ" (for Sarahjeanne). If I thought, for a moment, that any of them didn't like it, then I wouldn't do it. It's that simple. It's a basic matter of respect.
Since you've already made it clear to people that you don't want to be called "Cindy" (and I don't blame you, coz "Cindy" sounds kinda bimbo-ish, anyway), they need to respect your preference. If they don't show you that respect, then you have every right to SMASH 'EM! :)
From "The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth":
Rule #11: "When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him to stop. If he does not stop, destroy him."
-- Nanaea