You know, I've never seen this argument on anything BUT D&D. Lots of people say, for example, that "there was no Deus Ex sequel; oh, you mean Invisible War, the game that had NOTHING TO DO WITH DEUS EX SHUT UP SHUT UP." Or what about "I don't know what your talking about; there was only the first Matrix movie, nothing else." And because no D&D conversation is complete without a derogatory anime reference, I can very personally tell you that nobody has ever made a Tsukihime anime ever. Ever. Period. It doesn't exist, and anyone that tells you otherwise is a liar. Also, they hate you. They hate you so much, and you should punch them in the face.
...And yet these comments mostly just go by, and those that (erronously) disagree with them just tend to shrug and mock those that feel that way. And those that agree shrug and mock those that disagree. It's a simple - and common - statement, to say that you feel x thing disrespects or doesn't fit in with x series to the point where, despite it's name, it's not really a part of said series. Fallout 3 is a great game, it's a lot of fun, and it's incredibly gratifying to see Bethesda finally advancing instead of further devolving their games...but it's not Fallout. It's only here and now that I've seen the "There is no ____" comment blow up and actually become a giant debate.
I think it is because what the term has turned into.
What is a Maytag? Is it anything? A company. That is all Maytag is.
Does a washing machine stop being a washing machine if it is Kenmore and not a Maytag washing machine?
These things have functions. A washing machine washes clothes.
The functions are simple ideas. Not many people think too hard into is it a top or front loaded. It still washes clothes.
A lot of people take to saying D&D as a generic term for and RPG. Like calling a washing machine a Maytag. What if it is a range, or a refrigerator? It can still be a Maytag, but it isn't a washing machine and doesn't perform the functions of a washing machine.
People have gotten lazy with their language, communication skills, and just generalize so many things in life because they have become complacent, that they don't care to talk correctly anymore.
Now that D&D is a franchise, it is even harder to know what the hell anyone is talking about if someone says "I play D&D."
Do they play some specific edition? Do they know editions existed prior to WotC and 4th/3rd? (They way many talk they don't act like it) Do they play the video game/MMO version?
D&D really means nothing anymore, and that is where the problem is.
The "who cares" crowd are the problem people that want you to shut up talking and thinking and just play D&D.
Well if you intend for me to play D&D, you need to tell me what the hell you are talking about because so many thing carry the name "D&D" in the franchise.
It is the same kind of reason behind why Scott Rouse and Peter Lee (Shoe too?) mention that individual D&D miniature sales for singles would be a bitch for WotC and retail stores to handle, because each one needs it one name to tell them apart via SKUs.
So you don't see it many other places, because not many other things need specific in the everyday chit-chat meaningless talk that many people do. But when you are talking about something and have a point to make, or an idea to get across, you need to be specific about what you are talking about and not be so lackadaisical and complacent with your language that only you really knows what you are talking about.
This sort of thing is everywhere and not just with D&D.
Go all over the world and ask groups of people to play "football".
I bet you would end up playing at least 3 different games:
Hacky-sack - because the "ball" can be referred to as a footbag or football.
"Soccer" - aka Football
America Football - aka the wussy Rugby
Hell, you might even play Rugby for someone so inclined to use the term football for their colloquialism for it.
This day and age with the internet connecting everyone, nobody knows everyone else's slang, slander, and colloquialisms; so it would serve everyone better to say something correctly.
A Maytag is not a washing machine. It can be, as well as a range, dryer, stovetop, fridge, etc.
A washing machine is not by default a Maytag. It can be as well as Kenmore, White-Westinghouse, etc
D&D is not one thing. That is why this very subforum has a
Prefix section when starting a new thread. To identify what you are talking so you don't complain when someone comes in an misunderstands because you wanted to discuss 3rd and 20 posts are talking about 4th, or vice versa, insert any two editions into the equation.
So, to end on ambiguity and vagueness....anyone here like to play football?
