Why does everyone have secret nickname?

[Shorty]

I typically do if for the following reasons:

1) Scouting potential Clan mates
2) Play well and get challenged by some random new clan that claim they can destroy you, then play them... win and get called a hacker...
3) not to get swarmed with requests
4) follow suspicious players
5) playing pranks on other clan mates.

6) We are ninjas from a secret province

7) in AndrewFengs case, to avoid bans.