What a fascinating post you've hit upon! Hmm, I wonder if you ever write plays .... your own experience plus the comments provide an extraordinary mine of characters. Or... you could write a book on the topic of nicknames - bet it would sell!
The only time I recall having a nickname was in boot camp in the US Army. We had a 'guide-on' (that's a flag bearer when the platoon is on the march)named Abraham. He was Polynesian, from Hawaii... so we always called him 'Pineapple' During smoking breaks I'd pull a small pad out of my fatigues and draw the guys or whatever... so they often called me (I blush to say) 'Rembrandt'. There was an interesting fellow with a thin face, jug ears, and slightly protruding buck teeth and, not meaning any disparagement (he was actually quite intelligent), I named him 'Rat'... and it stuck, but he was very good-natured about it.
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The only time I recall having a nickname was in boot camp in the US Army. We had a 'guide-on' (that's a flag bearer when the platoon is on the march)named Abraham. He was Polynesian, from Hawaii... so we always called him 'Pineapple' During smoking breaks I'd pull a small pad out of my fatigues and draw the guys or whatever... so they often called me (I blush to say) 'Rembrandt'. There was an interesting fellow with a thin face, jug ears, and slightly protruding buck teeth and, not meaning any disparagement (he was actually quite intelligent), I named him 'Rat'... and it stuck, but he was very good-natured about it.