Nicknames - Nomen est Omen
As a rule, you do not choose a nickname yourself. Otherwise I would certainly not as "Stoffel? stumbled through my youth. Incidentally, my best friend at the time was the "brace". An ugly nickname that stuck to her much to her chagrin even after she did not need her braces for a long time. In my case was? Stoffel? a corruption of my real name, perhaps also inspired by the school reading of the picaresque novel? The adventurous Simplicissimus? by Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen. Who knows. In the "bracket"? was the distinctive feature of her braces (Spitz) eponymous. I think name rotations or discrepancies and physical features are the two most common origins of a nickname. Susi and Schwabbel can sing a sad song about it and will confirm this theory.
Some nicknames are also caused by gross negligence of new parents when choosing their child's name. A boy in my parallel class was called Steffi? or? the Steffi ?. He was the son of the Niemeyer family of pharmacies in my home village and bore the baptismal name Stefan. The fact that Stefan Niemeyer quickly becomes Stefanie Meyer is obvious. And since nicknames are often formed with the Verniedlichungs-i, Stefanie Meyer? Became the Steffi ?. Even after he took over his parents' pharmacy as a grown man, the village still said, "I'm leaving? fast with the Steffi, the aspirin are all.?
Children can be cruel, nicknames too. Not for nothing does the term nickname come from the 17th century, in which the word? Pointed? synonymous with? hurtful? was. Also the synonym? Mockery name? speaks for itself. Especially nicknames that refer to a physical trait or ailment can be very hurtful. As a redhead I can have a say. Or should I rather say red fox, copper roof or strawberry blondi?
The harder you resist a nickname, the more you will hear it. A strange effect, but most people are like that. Once they find a notch to pick, they swing the verbal ax with growing enthusiasm.
But how do you get rid of an unwanted or even defaming nickname? What make Schnulli, Specki and snail against the ridicule? The psychologist and communication trainer Regina Birlinger advises to repeat the following sentence as a mantra? I do not want this anymore.? For a short or (probably) long time, the environment would change. Unobjectionable should meet the person concerned with complete disregard. At the same time, she advises parents to be cautious when it comes to nicknames for their own children: "A child called Alexander has a very different start to life than a Sepp."
I also have a tip that is more complex and usually not appropriate: Just move. With a move I have as a young adult the? Stoffel? left behind me and presented in my new environment only with my real name. That I quickly got a new nickname there, I did not think bad. Everything better than Stoffel. By the way, the somewhat clumsy nickname has survived in my home village, as I recently learned there during a flying visit there. During a visit to the village pharmacy, the Steffi beamed at me? To: "Mensch Stoffel, you here and not in Hollywood." Actually, I just wanted to say hello, but suddenly I needed something for a headache?
I got inspired by nicknames here on TheFruitAndFlowerBasket to write a little story. All who recognize themselves in it may forgive me the freedom to have spoiled their nickname. The story goes like this:
Upsi auweia, it is already quarter to seven?there isamama yes, it's time to eat there. And I have mine xldeluxeDress not ironed yet. Not that I feel like it Glucke1980 at prom with her wrinkled dress. But the ball was still the blast. Do you still remember? Frollein bird and everyone else danced until the Permanent saver willimatt lay in the corner. And how backfee44 Has glasses of bubbly drunk? In the end it is like one whirlwind swept through the room and just called out?iamwhatiam! iamwhatiam!? Those were the days. Oh youth, sometimes I cry a few tearsfürdich, now that I'm 60 and Erika58... but then I just nibble one LittleBiscuit, pull? brave Ringelstrumpfhose high and Hestia not seen, I'm already much better.
Your Stoffel, er, Kriss
