Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Lt. Barclay
8. He Has An Unfortunate Nickname
To prove the old adage about the weak picking on those who are weaker, Wesley Crusher coined an unfortunate nickname for poor, shy Reg Barclay. While Reg struggled to fit in with the Enterprise crew, Wesley Crusher dubbed him "Lieutenant Broccoli". When you're being bullied by Wesley Crusher, then you know that something has to change.
Barclay's nervousness and poor service record were all symptoms of his holodiction, but the nickname followed him around for a bit. In a neat bit of karma, the very fandom that rejected Wesley Crusher embraced the nervy, socially awkward Reg Barclay, leading to four subsequent appearances in TNG. Take that Wesley!
The bullying of Reg is something that's not always seen in the utopian future of Star Trek, with most people respecting their colleagues and not resorting to cruel name-calling. In Hollow Pursuits, Will Riker even considers having Barclay removed from the ship for not meeting the standards demanded by the Federation flagship. It's a refreshing take on the structure of Starfleet, that shows that not every officer is an unflappable expert in their chosen field.
Thankfully, Captain Picard gave Barclay another chance, as he would do with Wesley Crusher, and the character went on to greater heights.