Destructo...and other names

Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.

- Benjamin Franklin -

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A little while ago I was chatting with a friend and jokingly referred to myself as Destructo, a Super Hero name. I'm Loath to apply much context or the reason for referring to myself that way other than to say it was in a jokingly manner and that we both had a laugh - it won't stick, I hope. It made me think about names and the importance of using them.

Words allow us to express ourselves, deliver information, impart knowledge and wisdom and without them communication would be somewhat difficult. We use words in so many ways and probably take them for granted but my recent conversation and application of a joke-super-hero-name made me think about the things we call ourselves or others.

The sound of a person's name is said to be the most important sound in the world to that person which is why remembering names is so important.

In business or personal life using someone's name appropriately can make a strong impact and getting it wrong can feel awkward, uncomfortable and ruin potential relationships. Whether it's remembering a person's name on a date, or whilst having sex, or in the boardroom, workplace or simply social interactions, it means something and can be used to build trust, rapport and the potential for a solid ongoing relationship...Get it wrong and...well, it'll not go so well.

But what about nicknames?

I'm a person who mostly likes to use other people's names for the reasons above; it says, I know and acknowledge who you are and I respect you. I certainly use nicknames though, make them up for other people and actually know people whose real name I do not actually know.

I've had a few nicknames in my life too, some were hurtful and rather disgusting so I'll not repeat them. That's the thing I guess, nicknames can be positive and negative and being called things as part of a hateful racially-motivated campaign of terror upon a five year old didn't make me feel at all good. But I've had some good ones too, based on who I was at the time, things I said or did, how I looked and other reasons, no different to other people. I've not minded the nicknames mostly.

Australian's can be a sarcastic and irreverent bunch of people so the nicknames we make up can be quite funny and seemingly disrespectful however if an Australian gives you a nickname it often comes from a position of trust, respect and friendship...a nickname often means you're accepted and I believe we have a relationship good enough to sustain this (possibly odd) nickname. It's a good-natured thing mostly. We don't like people making up their own nicknames though, it's up to others to do it.

Being respectful of those who deserve it is important to me. That doesn't mean I don't drop Thor's hammer on people's heads when they deserve it, I certainly do, but if a person earns my respect they shall have it...until they do not deserve it. Along with that comes a loosening of the relationship, it sort of relaxes into whatever it actually is, and that can mean the words we exchange will change and nicknames may happen. I use the word nutbag and knucklehead (affectionately) with my friends and people I like for instance, it's a term of endearment almost, but if I said it to an enemy it would have a different meaning entirely, and they'd take it badly. There's a time and place right?

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Anyway, I wonder what you guys think about all this.

Do you have a nickname or what's the best one you've made up for someone else? Feel free to share it and the story behind it. Have you had a nickname you didn't like? Have you forgotten your partners name during sex? I hope someone says yes and tells that story! Feel free to comment below about anything you want really, it's your comment and you'll get a reply bag...nutbag. 😊