Cursing and slang!

[bcw81]

I use falish whenever I get the opportunity just because I want to.

P.S. I always pronounce it Fall-ish.

[Samoa]

   Falish - Used to describe something/someone that is flamboyant.
e.g. Those pants make you look awefully Falish.

While the curses threads come up every now and again, I wanted to take the opportunity to say that I *really dislike* "Falish," and have (thankfully) never heard anyone use it in-game. Am I the only one who finds it kind of... distasteful?

Maybe I'm missing the logic here. Aren't Fale generally flamboyant? Don't think I've ever heard it used in game either, but I'm just curious as to why you find it distasteful.

I'm willing to buy that I'm being hypersensitive, but to me it just reads like a cold shot of "haha, gay!" in a culture where that shouldn't ever really be seen. If we want to argue about -bastard- being a complimentary term, I'd feel like the same could be said of "someone who can afford to dress and act flamboyantly and throw enormous, socially significant parties."

[hyzhenhok]

   Falish - Used to describe something/someone that is flamboyant.
e.g. Those pants make you look awefully Falish.

While the curses threads come up every now and again, I wanted to take the opportunity to say that I *really dislike* "Falish," and have (thankfully) never heard anyone use it in-game. Am I the only one who finds it kind of... distasteful?

Maybe I'm missing the logic here. Aren't Fale generally flamboyant? Don't think I've ever heard it used in game either, but I'm just curious as to why you find it distasteful.

I'm willing to buy that I'm being hypersensitive, but to me it just reads like a cold shot of "haha, gay!" in a culture where that shouldn't ever really be seen. If we want to argue about -bastard- being a complimentary term, I'd feel like the same could be said of "someone who can afford to dress and act flamboyantly and throw enormous, socially significant parties."

There's no reason why Zalanthans would make the connection between flamboyancy and homosexuality. Whatever Fale does that is deserving of ridicule, it doesn't have anything to do with sexuality.

[Talia]

"Torish" gets used as an insult too, in an opposite sort of way. But I've never seen either used to imply anything about sexuality or gender identity. Looking Falish or acting Torish may or may not be appropriate for some characters at some times, but in certain contexts those are very valid insults.

[Synthesis]

"Torish" gets used as an insult too...

Why do you hate donuts? 

[Dalmeth]

Maybe I'm missing the logic here. Aren't Fale generally flamboyant? Don't think I've ever heard it used in game either, but I'm just curious as to why you find it distasteful.

Because it's associating a noble house with an insult for one.

Maybe among other nobles describing other nobles, that's fine.  Otherwise, who would ever have the authority to throw House Fale's name around like that?

[Rhyden]

Maybe I'm missing the logic here. Aren't Fale generally flamboyant? Don't think I've ever heard it used in game either, but I'm just curious as to why you find it distasteful.

Because it's associating a noble house with an insult for one.

Maybe among other nobles describing other nobles, that's fine.  Otherwise, who would ever have the authority to throw House Fale's name around like that?

Still, in Allanak flamboyancy isn't a general popular trend except with Fale Nobles. A lowly commoner dressed in silks could be considered Falish, and so could a flamboyant Sergeant of the Byn. I believe the root of this argument stems from the fact that "Falish" is under the curses helpfile. I believe it should be taken out, to rid the negative connotation associated with flamboyancy, but still believe it's a suitable descriptor. Then again, since myself nor Samoa have ever seen it used in game, I doubt it's really that big of an issue.

Also, I've seen the term "Bynnish" used before.

[Whiran Luck]

I don't believe the curse/slang suggestions are supposed to be Allanak-centric, and it's not simply curses but slang as well.

With that said, I personally think Falish is fine, and have never read a connotation of gay or sexuality into it, only that someone may be flamboyant, possibly past their means, or in a way that stands out, usually in an odd way, amongst their peers. I think of things like Falish and Torish as less derogatory (depending on where and how it's used) than just slang.

[Samoa]

OK, then I'm going to assume I'm just being weirdly hypersensitive about it and it's fine. Glad I brought it up to get some other opinions

[askaran]

I've always wanted to use pussy.. But seeing as how women arent really looked down upon in Zalanthas.. Dont see the point.

[Is Friday]

I've always wanted to use pussy.. But seeing as how women arent really looked down upon in Zalanthas.. Dont see the point.

I've come up with a great reasoning for this to be justified with a few of my PCs. Think creatively, and you too can use these base insults to their maximum effect!

[MeTekillot]

If anyone ever questions me for using pussy IC, I just say something along the lines of "Pussies are soft. You're soft. So you're a pussy. Pussy."

[boog]

"Ohh, baby, pet my quirri."

[bcw81]

"Ohh, baby, pet my quirri."

I am now hoping beyond hope to hear this around EVERY CORNER.

[Zoltan]

Don't forget purple-headed love dujat.

As to pussy, I don't think I've ever used that except to refer to vaginas. IN A MOST VULGAR FASHION.

I think the one I felt most "on the line" with was cock- and cuntbreath. It wasn't to imply that someone was gay and terrible for it, but that they spent an inordinate amount of time on their knees. Sort of an extra-offensive way of calling someone a weak-willed kiss-ass.

[jriley]

Cunt, whore and derivatives don't fit so well. There's no societal stigma to back it up. Whore is a job description, bastard carries with it the prestige of a family where marriage actually happens.

[Is Friday]

Pussies are folks that just 'sit there and take it'.

Whore is an incredible insult for women or men aspiring to something prestigious but are missing the mark of fashion in any given region--i.e. dressing like a whore.

[Whiran Luck]

It still doesn't make sense in Arm context, since higher class, or even normal class prostitutes would tend to dress more fashionably to attract their clients, and in most of the 'nicer' places in game that have them, they're generally dressed well.

Now, 'Rinthi whore is something else.

I could also see whore as an insult when applied to someone whose profession involves skills outside of the bedroom. It's insulting not because 'whore' is an insult, but moreso in the way that it implies that the insultee would be better suited making a living on their back (which also implies a lack of talent, finesse, intelligence) than whatever profession they're touting themselves as, as opposed to them being someone who sleeps around for money. As in 'You'd make a better whore than you would a soldier.'

[My 2 sids]

It still doesn't make sense in Arm context, since higher class, or even normal class prostitutes would tend to dress more fashionably to attract their clients, and in most of the 'nicer' places in game that have them, they're generally dressed well.

Can we make the distintion between whores and say, geishas?   Concubines -- sure, give them fashion/ culture/ etc. because they play a role in society.   Whores -- they're simply selling what's between their legs.   
** this would make for some helpful documentation, actually

I could also see whore as an insult when applied to someone whose profession involves skills outside of the bedroom. It's insulting not because 'whore' is an insult, but moreso in the way that it implies that the insultee would be better suited making a living on their back (which also implies a lack of talent, finesse, intelligence) than whatever profession they're touting themselves as, as opposed to them being someone who sleeps around for money. As in 'You'd make a better whore than you would a soldier.'

Exactly.  Whoring is the same as grubbing or digging holes -- it's simply a physical task that isn't associated with any knowledge or skill.

[Whiran Luck]

The thing is, I'm not talking about concubines. Concubines are something completely different. I'm talking about whores. Prostitutes. Hookers. Sure. There are fillthy, gritty disgusting ones who charge a couple sid a hookup. There are rinthi whores who are diseased and even more filthy and disgusting. But many of the normal NPCs who are whores are actually dressed normal to nicely. And there are super expensive and picky ones (in the minority) who are probably dressed as nicely as concubines and with the jewels to match, who count the upper crust of wherever it's allowable as their clientele.

However I'm going to assume the majority are probably just your average joe commoner who is getting by. A whore would attract their clients and coin through their appearance (desirability) and word of mouth (performance). So I'm just going by the assumption that a whore by profession and trade would likely dress a -little- better than your average grebber, if only to make visiting them more worthwhile to that average grebber. Same as a mercenary. Why would someone hire a mercenary as a guard if they didn't have a sword or armor?

Anyways, I certainly don't mean a kept companion (which is essentially a concubine and who has some pretty high expectations of behavior and social nicety). I really mean just plain old whore. And I still don't see it as an insult where such a profession has no social stigma attached to it. It would be equivalent to insulting someone by calling them a soldier, or a farmer. It -could- be insulting in specific situations, but overall, it bears no undesirable stigma to be insulting.

[Whiran Luck]

Addendum, because my internet client is being a bitch: By nicer, I don't mean noble-nice. By 'nicer' I mean places that are open to the public, employ whores, have whore NPCs and generally whore-related atmospheric emotes. They're not exactly destitute.

[John]

It's insulting not because 'whore' is an insult, but moreso in the way that it implies that the insultee would be better suited making a living on their back (which also implies a lack of talent, finesse, intelligence)

In that case shouldn't being called a grebber be worse then being called a whore? After all not only do they lack talent, finesse and intelligence, they're also so ugly they can't even make it as a whore. Same thing could be said for mercenary or hunter (although these at least have some talent. Then again, they're butt-fuck ugly whereas a whore has to at least be passable).

[Qzzrbl]

It's insulting not because 'whore' is an insult, but moreso in the way that it implies that the insultee would be better suited making a living on their back (which also implies a lack of talent, finesse, intelligence)

In that case shouldn't being called a grebber be worse then being called a whore? After all not only do they lack talent, finesse and intelligence, they're also so ugly they can't even make it as a whore. Same thing could be said for mercenary or hunter (although these at least have some talent. Then again, they're butt-fuck ugly whereas a whore has to at least be passable).

I dunno man.

It at least takes guts to go out into the hot desert full of nasty critters to greb and hunt.

Not so much as a whore.... And yeah, there have been some uuuuuuugly ones.

[chrisdcoulombe]

Tuluki Muk sucker!

[John]

It's insulting not because 'whore' is an insult, but moreso in the way that it implies that the insultee would be better suited making a living on their back (which also implies a lack of talent, finesse, intelligence)

In that case shouldn't being called a grebber be worse then being called a whore? After all not only do they lack talent, finesse and intelligence, they're also so ugly they can't even make it as a whore. Same thing could be said for mercenary or hunter (although these at least have some talent. Then again, they're butt-fuck ugly whereas a whore has to at least be passable).

I dunno man.

It at least takes guts to go out into the hot desert full of nasty critters to greb and hunt.

Not so much as a whore.... And yeah, there have been some uuuuuuugly ones.

It takes a ton of guts to walk into a room alone with someone, take off all your armour and then lie down for them. They could kill you at any moment.