Coming from a family with a penchant for boring and repetitious naming, it was rather necessary for those in my direct line all to have "nicknames;" and even for those with more unique given appellations I can think of only two (of about 40 well-known) relatives who were known within the family by a "given name."

In many cases, I'm pretty sure that first cousins within my family circle often didn't know each others' "real names."

If one can choose a name that suggests interests, reputation, or personality, it can convey a bit of information, and I see no compelling reason why "nicknames" should not be used within the Mudcat family. An advantage here is that you get to pick your own, rather than being forced to live with what some doddy lunatic uncle or aunt might have picked for you.

In my case, "Lin In Kansas" registered herself first, and as we had only one email addy I didn't register until some time later. She picked her name, I think, because she was p***d at me for dragging her kicking, screaming, and complaining to Kansas from her former residence of some 30 years in the Seattle area.

Having no personality or talent to reflect in a nickname, I stuck with her precedent, using JohnInKansas, as a way of warning people about our apparent family curse.

John