Nicknames, Identities, Perceptions

I was just thinking about nicknames that have been allotted to me over the years and was wondering what they say about my identity or the perceptions people make of me.

There is a common theory that everything is mapped out for us and that we are merely passengers on the journey. At the age of thirty-two and still meandering through life with no real idea of the direction in which I am going, I am happy to go along with that.

Some of the nicknames that I have endured provide for a certain degree of amusement and possibly intrigue into their origins. Therefore, I shall name a few:

“Li” (pronounced “Lee,” and short for Liam) has been a common one amongst family and friends. I like it. It is unforced, simple and I take it as a form of endearment.

After “Li,” there are more character-related monikers, such as “Beast,” introduced at a time when I lived, breathed, ate, drank and slept road-race cycling and training. It was used in reference to my incessant work ethic, in a similar fashion to the more explicit term, “Mile-Muncher.”

Subsequent employment in schools has made me fair game for name-calling. Strangely enough, kids have a childish element to them, which has resulted in labels related to my appearance.

“Superman” is a favourite. “Mr Muscle” (from the TV ads) has at times been given a mention. I have even heard “Spiderman” on a number of occasions, presumably from those who confuse their superheroes. A less appreciated doppelgänger has been “Where's Wally.” Admittedly, I was wearing spectacles and a stripy jumper at the time.

When I have allowed the Superman quiff and flick to grow, along with noteworthy sideburns, “Elvis” immediately gets a mention.

Contrastingly, when I was quite into my weight-training, had bulked up a little and shaved my head, I was called, “Jarhead.”

In further contrast, when I was very into my cycling and had got pretty skinny, I was referred to as, “Sherlock.”

Finally, I have even been called a “bum.” No, wait a minute that was not a nickname, but an insult. Thank you brother!

(Ed. Not that kind of "bum!")

Those are the principals so far as I can remember. They all have elements of accuracy and they are all complimentary in their own way - except for “Where's Wally.” I cannot see anything complimentary about that.

Anyway, I have rambled on long enough. I was just wondering, do these names actually say anything about me?