# Question Re: Shortening of Nicknames by Me? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 29, 2008, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049 "2008-12-29T06:28:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/1 "2008-12-29T06:28:52Z")
As y’all may have noticed, I am shortening some of your nicks (but continue to bold them out of respect) and I wonder if any of you find this offensive or disrespectful and if so, would you let me know? Examples: “ **Twicks** ” for **Twickster** “ **Tuck** ” for **Tuckerfan** “ **Zip** ” for **ZipperJJ** “ **Bos** ” for **Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor** These and many, many more! 🙂 I know that you consider these names to be your “own” for whatever reason you chose them, and the last thing I would want to do is make you uncomfortable by me using a shortened version. So let me know your thoughts, okay? Thanks and you may continue to call me “ **Quasi** ” or maybe just **DOFFG** ( **D** emented **O** ld **F** ucker **F** rom **G** eorgia) 😃 Q ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/2 "2008-12-29T06:43:34Z")
No worries at all! I do it quite frequently just because I’m a lazy ass who can’t be bothered to remember the whole blasted name (even if it’s short!) Carry on, Q! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/3 "2008-12-29T06:44:06Z")
Just wanted to add that the shorter nicks does make me feel a little closer to y’all, since this the only way I will probably ever get to interact with you. Q ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/4 "2008-12-29T06:46:01Z")
Thanks **Hazle**! (is that name from Watership Down?) Q ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/5 "2008-12-29T13:34:37Z")
You’re not the only one to call me twicks – and far from the only one to use shortenings, initials, and other nicknames for people. Unless you’re cutting and pasting, which can be kind of a PITA when you’re knocking out a quick post, it makes complicated names a lot easier to deal with. As long as it’s clear to any attentive reader who you’re referring to (I hope DFFOG doesn’t catch on), I don’t see a problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/6 "2008-12-29T14:14:34Z")
It’s fine on the board, but I hate it hate it hate it with my real name in real life. Sigma is fine or even Girl. But don’t mess with my real name. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/7 "2008-12-29T16:45:43Z")
Yeah, I don’t mind. Apart from my teachers and grandmother, no one has used my real name in the last five or so years, so I don’t really care what you call me. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/8 "2008-12-29T16:46:25Z")
When I was participating in the SDMB poker games some folks started referring to me as **'Nomer** , and I thought it was kind of neat for my screen name to have a nickname. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/9 "2008-12-29T16:49:00Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > It’s fine on the board, but I hate it hate it hate it with my real name in real life. Sigma is fine or even Girl. But don’t mess with my real name. Same here. I like **Aes** , but only grudgingly accept Rob, and refuse to answer to most other diminutives. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/10 "2008-12-29T17:13:35Z")
When another poster is specifically addressing me, I much prefer “Skald” to “Skald the Rhymer.” The latter seems…I don’t know…unduly aggressive, somehow. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/11 "2008-12-29T18:26:50Z")
Yeah I’m into it. I even shorten my name to just Zipper when I send PMs and such. I figure my online moniker is my real name on The Internets, so just as I would expect my friends IRL to call me by the short form of my name, it doesn’t surprise me when my online friends call me by the short form of my online name. Oddly enough, my nickname IRL is JJ (used only by school friends) but I would find it completely odd if someone called me that online. lol ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/12 "2008-12-29T18:42:18Z")
Yup, be my guest. **faith** is fine, or as we’ve already discussed, you can call me by my real name, Kemi. Just save the **fool** part for when you’re mad at me. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/13 "2008-12-29T19:46:13Z")
Glad my user name is short enough not to need abbreviation. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/14 "2008-12-29T19:49:13Z")
Feel free to shorten my name, if you wish. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/15 "2008-12-29T19:50:54Z")
never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/16 "2008-12-29T20:02:02Z")
Mine’s already abbreviated. Literally. But, if shorter is better for ya, shorten away. Besides, anyone actually offended by you shortening their name for your own benefit isn’t someone you need to be talking to anyhow, right? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/17 "2008-12-29T20:08:42Z")
Just don’t call me **An** , it just means _the_. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/18 "2008-12-29T20:16:52Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > When another poster is specifically addressing me, I much prefer “Skald” to “Skald the Rhymer.” The latter seems…I don’t know…unduly aggressive, somehow. :dubious: ‘unduly aggressive’? I personally don’t care, although honestly I’d prefer S’tyger (or S’kat or S’kitty) to STG. But it doesn’t bother me enough to make an issue of it. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/19 "2008-12-29T20:21:47Z")
Doesn’t bother me at all, just be aware that poster names are unique identifiers, but shortened forms may not be. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049/20 "2008-12-29T20:25:49Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#): > > :dubious: ‘unduly aggressive’? Maybe aggressive is the wrong word. But given that message boards are mostly social encounters, being addressed by my “full” name in such a fasion always seems–I don’t know–as if the person doing it is spoiling for a fight. As I’m frequently jerkish and thus accustomed to arousing such reactions, I always have to stop & wonder. :: makes note to discontinue use of STG in favor of S’kat:: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-shortening-of-nicknames-by-me/479049.md?page=2)