[MR] Re: Use of the word 'Troll'

[Tatsushu .]

Okay, a lot of people have put their two cents in, and the person asking 
seems to have already come to a decision as to what the 'poll's answer was, 
but I feel this debate has significance beyond the one person for people 
throughout the kingdom.

FWIW, I am for using more period terms.  As others have pointed out, there 
are more period terms for most things (autocrat, feastocrat, halflings, 
troll, dragon, farspeaker, etc.) that we have pet names for.  However, I am 
not going to advocate a 'language police' to go out and change these.  
Rather, I will encourage the use of what feels like more proper word usage 
in those areas where I can.  I still slip up--I've been in the SCA long 
enough to have certain words enter my lexicon--but I am trying, myself, to 
use words that are more appropriate to our period.

I don't know why such a small question has seemed to turn an entire kingdom 
on its ear, though.  This has really gathered a lot of comments, which says 
to me that it isn't as unimportant an issue as many people seem to think.  
Obviously there are enough people out there considering such things.

For my own part, I will try to teach what I see as 'real' words.  I like 
words like gatekeeper, head steward, host, child, car (or carriage), etc. 
and will try to introduce those to new people I meet.  I would like to reach 
a point where someone asks "Where is the troll?" and I respond "The 
gatekeeper is over in that direction."--not meaning to correct, but simply 
to illustrate that proponents of the various words can still interact with 
one another, even if one simply has to translate internally.

My personal belief is that being more accurate does not equal less fun.  I 
don't know where that equation seems to come from.  As if there are a bunch 
of people out there with sticks waiting to beat people who use the 'wrong' 
terms.  Rather, the people I know who advocate these terms would rather 
encourage their use and show people that if becoming more accurate in our 
own play CAN be fun--extremely so.  Whatever time and place you can be from.

So, go ahead and use whatever you want.  However, I applaud those who offer 
alternatives.  It is through having choices that we are each empowered to 
best play the game we wish.


-Ii

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