On my evil nickname

About eight years ago, I was in need of a new alias . The nickname I was using until then was easily misunderstood, quite lame and, for the lack of a better description, totally ‘not me’. After test driving some options — including the über-lame ‘Free Willy’ — I finally came across the one I still use today while watching The Simpsons.

It happened during the credits at the end of one of the “Treehouse of Horror” / Halloween specials. The whole staff was credited with some ‘scary name’, like “Diabolical Dan Castellaneta” and “Sort of Frightening Sam Simon.” And buried somewhere in the middle, I see (something like) “John ‘Evil Nickname’ Doe”.¹ It was one of those light bulb moments.

As a nickname, it has turned out to be perfect: it’s has proven to be unique, very evil and tr00 (for those places where not having a nickname like “GrimNecroDeathDealer” or “Punisher of Puppies” if frowned upon), yet non-offensive and witty. The only downside I have so far encountered is that people tend to drop the Nickname and just call me Evil, which kinda goes against the whole not-having-an-‘evil’-nickname-that-looks-evil scheme I was going for. You win some, you lose some.

Anyway, that is the story behind my nickname. What about yours?

  1. As I found out today, ‘evil nickname’ does not appear in any of the Simpsons’ Halloween credits. The closest thing is “Matt ‘Scary Nickname’ Groening”. I’m sticking to my story. [back]