Nicknames

[kempermentor]

No: HPFGUIDX 185561


> Alla:
> Agreed. By the way, I do not like this nickname myself, I think it 
> does not nearly reflect who Snape is, but yes to me it is a nickname. 
> Myself I will stick with greasy git, heh. 
> ...
> Do nicknames have to be humorous at all though? I am wondering about
definition of the word. I believe that they can be as ugly as they can
get.
> I mean I certainly do not like nickname I was called in school. And
I was not called it every day either, but of course it was a nickname,
what else you would call it? It certainly was not my given name, but
it correctly reflected something about me.

Kemper now:
James and Sirius' nickname for Snape is Snivellus.
Snape's put-down from James and Sirius is Snivellus.
Nicknames/putdowns are mostly based on relationship. Mostly.
I think all putdowns are nicknames, but not all nicknames are putdowns.

Nicknames do not have to be funny (Red, Ginger, etc.), they just have
to refer readily to a person.  Calling Harry Ginger would make no bit
of sense. I find it pleasing to the brain when nicknames/putdowns have
wit even if base (snivellus).  My college friends would on occasion
call me 'Smithy'.  Short for 'tunesmith', as I had (and still do) the
habit of singing when others repeat a word/phrase which happen to be a
lyric in any given song that I'm familiar with.  The nickname is a
friendly rib on what I am sure can be perceived as an annoying if not
glaring flaw.  I had bad acne in high school.  'Pizza Face' would be a
putdown even if a 'friend' called me that regardless of the fact that
the putdown figuratively reflected a truth about me. Thankfully, I had
no such friends.

Ron Ron is a nickname under the subset of 'term of endearment'.  But
Hermione uses it as a putdown.  Hilarious!

Kemper