The Cicierega Effect

The Cicierega Effect (named for Neil Cicierega) is when *literally nobody can spell your name without having to google it*. Whoever decided what your last name is was an absolute dick.

The namesake itself is only a mild example. A famous mega-example is Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegel­steinhausen­bergerdorff­welche­vor­altern­waren­gewissenhaft­schafers­wessen­schafe­waren­wohl­gepflege­und­sorgfaltigkeit­beschutzen­vor­angreifen­durch­ihr­raubgierig­feinde­welche­vor­altern­zwolfhundert­tausend­jahres­voran­die­erscheinen­von­der­erste­erdemensch­der­raumschiff­genacht­mit­tungstein­und­sieben­iridium­elektrisch­motors­gebrauch­licht­als­sein­ursprung­von­kraft­gestart­sein­lange­fahrt­hinzwischen­sternartig­raum­auf­der­suchen­nachbarschaft­der­stern­welche­gehabt­bewohnbar­planeten­kreise­drehen­sich­und­wohin­der­neue­rasse­von­verstandig­menschlichkeit­konnte­fortpflanzen­und­sich­erfreuen­an­lebenslanglich­freude­und­ruhe­mit­nicht­ein­furcht­vor­angreifen­vor­anderer­intelligent­geschopfs­von­hinzwischen­sternartig­raum Sr. (And yes, he gave his name on to his son.)

Cases of it can be found in names of other things, for example places (Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaunga­horonukupokaiwhen­uakitanatahu, Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein), or departments of governments (Mannanafnanefnd), but it's mostly in human names, perhaps because names of other things have a tendency to be memorized by nerds.

person one: how tf do you spell your last name
person two: orfenblinklenienerweiner
person one: how tf am I supposed to remember that, this is a solid the cicierega effect moment

by alexdapineapple February 10, 2021