Tessius |
I have been finding more and more that people are commenting on how people are using terms they don't understand. This is meant to be a safe place where you can come and ask what they mean without judgement or comment. The three I want to know are RAW, nerf, and gish.
RAW=rules as written. Usually a literal interpretation of the rules as they appear.
Nerf=changes something for the worse, usually applied when the person speaking doesn't think the change was necessary.Gish=character that uses both melee and spellcasting. Refers to a certain type of Githyanki from 1st or 2nd edition I believe.
Seldriss |
RAW = Rules As Written, often used in debates about rules interpretation.
Nerf : Often used in MMORPG, when the developpers reduce some abilities of a race or class. Since then also used in tabletop RPG.
Gish : Slang for a fighter/mage or fighter/sorcerer, coming from githyanki.
Edit : Damn, you guys are fast.
Pat Payne |
What I don't understand is why can't we just say according to the rules, instead of RAW, as an example. I was always taught that proper grammer was critical for the establishment of a polite society.
Ummm...don't kill me, but it's "grammar" -- "Grammer" is another way of saying "Frasier Crane" :P :lol:
Lipto the Shiv |
What I don't understand is why can't we just say according to the rules, instead of RAW, as an example. I was always taught that proper grammer was critical for the establishment of a polite society.
Check out some of the threads discussing pathfinder changes and playtesting... Mostly the people who use those terms a lot don't really fall under the banner of 'polite society'
Pat Payne |
I believe ‘Nerf’ implies more than just a change. As I have seen it used, it means to reduce in (usually) power to the point of uselessness.
I've always thoguht of "nerf" meaning "any change a DM makes, no matter how reasonable, that a player doesn't like or agree with."
as in "You're a first level neutral evil assassin. I'm not letting you have a +5 Holy Avenger as starting equipment." "Aw, you're nerfing me, man!" :P
Seldriss |
I believe ‘Nerf’ implies more than just a change. As I have seen it used, it means to reduce in (usually) power to the point of uselessness.
Indeed, it's often a severe change, a reduction of some abilities, a loss of power, or at least that's the way it's perceived by the angry crowd.
As an example check the WoW forums after each patch :DUngoded |
David Fryer wrote:What I don't understand is why can't we just say according to the rules, instead of RAW, as an example.The internet has given birth to a lot of shorthand, for better or worse. Laziness, expediency, a façade of subject matter expert; I am sure there are a wealth of reasons.
Blaming it on the internet is a bit unfair.
Acronyms predate the internet by a fairly large span of years.
David Fryer |
David Fryer wrote:What I don't understand is why can't we just say according to the rules, instead of RAW, as an example. I was always taught that proper grammer was critical for the establishment of a polite society.Ummm...don't kill me, but it's "grammar" -- "Grammer" is another way of saying "Frasier Crane" :P :lol:
That's why I teach history, not english.
Vigil RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16 |
There isn't anything wrong with acronyms. But the first use should come after the full use of the phrase being shortened.
So if I'm arguing that some loophole is against the rules as written (RAW), I can safely refer to RAW for the rest of my post. In fact, RAW can be referred to for the rest of the thread, since the term has now been established.
Tessius |
I first saw nerf used while playing wow, usually some class complaining about one of their abilities being reduced in power. A change that players of other classes didn't always think was a bad thing. I tend to think of them as attempts to balance classes or abilities that aren't usually liked by the affected players.
Seldriss |
I first saw nerf used while playing wow, usually some class complaining about one of their abilities being reduced in power. A change that players of other classes didn't always think was a bad thing. I tend to think of them as attempts to balance classes or abilities that aren't usually liked by the affected players.
Same, but if i recall correctly i saw it on some DAoC forums before.
(Tessius, what's your server on WoW ?)
Aberzombie |
There isn't anything wrong with acronyms. But the first use should come after the full use of the phrase being shortened.
So if I'm arguing that some loophole is against the rules as written (RAW), I can safely refer to RAW for the rest of my post. In fact, RAW can be referred to for the rest of the thread, since the term has now been established.
Working for the Navy, this is exactly what we do in all the various reports, technical documents, etc. I imagine the rest of the military is the same way.
David Fryer |
Vigil wrote:Working for the Navy, this is exactly what we do in all the various reports, technical documents, etc. I imagine the rest of the military is the same way.There isn't anything wrong with acronyms. But the first use should come after the full use of the phrase being shortened.
So if I'm arguing that some loophole is against the rules as written (RAW), I can safely refer to RAW for the rest of my post. In fact, RAW can be referred to for the rest of the thread, since the term has now been established.
True, but when I was in the military we had classes to learn what all the acronyms meant.
Ungoded |
Ungoded wrote:Blaming it on the internet is a bit unfair.Fair enough. How about a plethora of new shorthand.
Also fair enough, though not surprising.
People develop acronyms, and other shorthand/slang, in spoken conversation; it would be rather odd for them not to do so, more often even, when they actually have to type the words out.
I hesitate to use Acronym because a lot of the internet slang does not stick to the same naming conventions.
Eh, slang is slang. It sounds odd when it's slang you're not familiar with, or when it's slang used by a group/demographic that you're not a part of. But your slang sounds odd to them too.
Bill Dunn |
Blaming it on the internet is a bit unfair.
Acronyms predate the internet by a fairly large span of years.
True, but internet, on-line chat, and texting have made the problem significantly worse. You used to only run into excessive acronymic proliferation dealing with bureaucratic institutions. Now, it's every-freaking-where on the internet.
From IANAL (I am not a lawyer) to LOL (laughing out loud) to IYKWIMAITYD (if you know what I mean, and I think you do). When I see a post that's positively obscure due to excessive acronyms, I'll compose a whole response and cut it down to just the first letters of the words. TWO can play at that game, as I see it.
Ungoded |
Aberzombie wrote:True, but when I was in the military we had classes to learn what all the acronyms meant.Vigil wrote:Working for the Navy, this is exactly what we do in all the various reports, technical documents, etc. I imagine the rest of the military is the same way.There isn't anything wrong with acronyms. But the first use should come after the full use of the phrase being shortened.
So if I'm arguing that some loophole is against the rules as written (RAW), I can safely refer to RAW for the rest of my post. In fact, RAW can be referred to for the rest of the thread, since the term has now been established.
But this isn't always the case with commonly known acronyms.
"Hate to eat and run, guys, but I have to get home asap."
"Ok."
Ungoded |
Ungoded wrote:True, but internet, on-line chat, and texting have made the problem significantly worse.
Blaming it on the internet is a bit unfair.
Acronyms predate the internet by a fairly large span of years.
I agree 100%.
I hate the overuse of acronyms in chat and messageboards. Especially the really long ones. Acronyms should be short, and if they are to be used in every day conversation, they should be fairly obvious or well-known.
From IANAL (I am not a lawyer) to LOL (laughing out loud) to IYKWIMAITYD (if you know what I mean, and I think you do). When I see a post that's positively obscure due to excessive acronyms, I'll compose a whole response and cut it down to just the first letters of the words. TWO can play at that game, as I see it.
I hate "LOL" above all others.
Mostly because the person who types it is pretty much guaranteed to not be laughing out loud.
Hell, they probably aren't even chuckling.
They may have given an amused snort.
David Fryer |
But this isn't always the case with commonly known acronyms."Hate to eat and run, guys, but I have to get home asap."
"Ok."
But not every acronym used on the boards is common knowledge, and when people have asked what they mean, there seems to be a tendency toward figurative eye-rolling and ignoring the question.
Sebastian Bella Sara Charter Superscriber |
Dragnmoon |
Dragnmoon wrote:CourtFool wrote:What Does STFU mean?.........................STFU
I think it means i am supperior to him in every way...
That or he is impolitely telling be to be quiet
I thought Maybe it meant..
Show The Full Undies!
Dragnmoon |
Dragnmoon wrote:Shut The F*** Up.CourtFool wrote:What Does STFU mean?.........................STFU
That is not very Nice!!
It should mean..
Show The Fun Utter!
Ungoded |
Ungoded wrote:But not every acronym used on the boards is common knowledge, and when people have asked what they mean, there seems to be a tendency toward figurative eye-rolling and ignoring the question.
But this isn't always the case with commonly known acronyms."Hate to eat and run, guys, but I have to get home asap."
"Ok."
Absolutely true, and that is a problem.
My disagreement, such as it is, relates to the idea that "...proper grammer was critical for the establishment of a polite society." and the idea that acronyms/slang were an internet-related "problem" which, as it turns out, is not what CourtFool was actually saying.
As far as proper grammar and polite society, I think people who use proper grammar are perfectly capable of being rude jackasses (sometimes even moreso), and acronyms/slang/etc. in no way prohibit politeness.
NOTE: I am not encouraging the use of bad grammar. I like proper grammar. I'm just saying it doesn't make you a nice person.
Billzabub |
It may be a generational thing, but to me, FTW does not mean For The Win.
Oh, and BTW, the F in STFU is actually an acronym itself - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, or so I've been told.
Actually, after further research, apparently, it is not an acronym. Check out The Straight Dope.
Sebastian Bella Sara Charter Superscriber |
kessukoofah |
Genova wrote:IIFCIt ain't up at the dictionary.
If I were to hazard a guess;
If I ****ing Cared.
It isn't in the Dictionary I use either. but I like your guess. I think I'm going to put that in.