Nicknames
Often, I find that my friends and I assign nicknames to people, mainly those who are fairly temporary people in our lives (ok, honestly, I'm talking about the guys we date). Why this need to nickname? It seems to make them less real, more caricature. Less serious, maybe less able to hurt us when, inevitably, things don't work out? It gives a funny spin to these guys, gives them a distinctive something, since we often don't get to know them well enough to really define who they are. Do other people do this, in areas other than dating?
posted by Shoshana @ 6:46 AM
7 Comments:
yes to both dating and other areas, like clients who i can't always remember the real name. such as "Luigi" the Italian guy... the boss couldnt' remember his name so called him that and it's stuck (not in front of the client though!)
Definitely. It's easier to do that than to remember names, and adds a little fun. It's not even always a nickname: Could just be a descriptor, like "the corner guy" or the "wacko who walks around wearing a hockey mask playing Superman tapes".
Sarah -
That's true, we have used nicknames in our office as well.
Ezzie -
I've always enjoyed nicknaming people. When I was in Alabama last week, I was in the mall when I saw a guy that I think I knew in high school (though I wasn't certain, it's been quite a while since high school!). I couldn't remember his real name for the life of me - but I certainly remembered the nickname I had given him!
Ezzie gives almost everyone a nickname, but I guess that's because you don't want to identify them in your blog, right? I pretty much only nickname the guys I date because I don't want to talk L"H when I talk about them to my friends. This way, everyone knows who I am talking about and the stories associated with him, but not exactly who he is. My friends and I do have some nicknames for people we encounter but whose real names we don't know (pizza guy, bakery guy, [favorite restaurant] waitress).
Right on! Totally agree with this. One lovey-dovey nickname that I hate with a passion is: BUNNY!!! Why?! If that doesn't cheapen a relationship, what does?
Sara -
I think it's great that you use nicknames to avoid lashon hara, to be honest, I don't think my usage of nicknames is due to such noble reasons. And btw, when are you coming for Shabbos?
Sarah -
LOL. I hate being called a lot of nicknames by guys, I won't even list them.
Was going to come this week but S & E are having his family for Shabbas. Hopefully the week after Labor Day. Will keep you posted.
Post a Comment
<< Home