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Why the need for nicknames? Columnist thinks they're signs of affection for good friends in life Date published: 6/28/2009 By Rob Hedelt IT'S HARD to remem- But at least by high school, I didn't call most of my classmates, friends and family by their real names. Instead, it was more fun and somehow felt right to come up with nicknames For that reason, my good friend George became T.M. Pal Andrew became Poochie. And good buds Robert, Ed and Mark became Head (short for Headley), Tick and Dungo, while I became C.J., a reference to a random remark a football coach made about me one day at practice. I'm not really sure why it felt right and like a sign Perhaps it was a sign that we were all part of a group, buds who were there for each other, the nicknames passwords of a sort that only we could use. Or perhaps it was simply me trying to seem cool in my dorky, high school way. Whatever the reason, it was the way things went in those years, and in years to follow as it became a habit. Looking back on it now, I'd like to think it was because I gave these young ladies more respect than I gave my young male friends. But I don't think that Instead, I think it had more to do with feeling connected and comfortable with my male friends, to the point where the nicknames were a sign of friendship and connection at an age when that was reassuring. Simply reeling off nicknames for the girls I knew didn't feel as right, taking liberties in a way I didn't feel permitted to do. As I went on to college and then got into the working world, the nickname game continued. In college, I played football with John-O and Moose, took classes with Mongo and learned quite a bit from a professor we affectionately called Uncle Buckles.
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
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