4. Mindmaps

In New Communication Technologies last year, Jason Jason and I 'met' for the first time. On my enterage to the lecture theater, Jason Jason came up with the 'witty' nickname of 'Button Sash Guy'. Months following this, Jason Jason had come up with something different: Dr. Buttons. While in the same vain, and while he might not remembered the initial meeting, the nickname idea was still there.

Which makes one wonder: How can nicknames be created? Well it is possible that nicknames could have a rather interesting relationship with mindmaps. Hence, for this weeks post, this is what my idea for a creative use of mindmaps relates to.

An interesting use of mindmaps would be the ability to come up with obscure - yet factually relevant - nicknames. In the center of the mindmap would be the person's full birth name. Stemming out from this would be hobbies, likes, dislikes, interests, and various other things that can define a person. These bubbles are then extended further, with more specific things. Such as stemming out from Jason Jason, could be 'interests', which is then extended to 'Microsoft Flash' in a new bubble. Numerous extensions would be added, such as 'Captain Crunch' under 'likes'.

After this is all done, one could then start trying to make a nickname out of various bubbles, by combining them. In our example, 'Captain Flash' would be a plausible nickname for Jason Jason. Numerous nicknames can be derived, and then one has to pick the best/favorite nickname, and start calling the person by this nickname.

The strengths of nicknames derived from this method, is that the nicknames have actual meanings, and as far as nicknames go, considerable depth. 'Captain Flash' can have multiple interpretations, an alternate interpretation to the one mentioned previously, would be something relating to the speed of Jason Jason (Like The Flash).

Of course, this is a rather lengthy way to come up with a nickname for someone. However, it is a rather academic way of coming up with one. Plus lazy nicknames won't derive from this method, such as nicknames that are merely the person's name, with a slight modification to the ending (Barry = 'Bazza' 'Barro' 'Barratine', etc).

Also, one might then decided that a nickname that someone else has come up with, is better than the one they have decided upon. And that would explain the lack of 'Captain Flash', and the prominence in 'Jason Jason', when I refer to Jason Jason.

Captain Flash.