D&D General Jaquaying the dungeon - a term to avoid

[MGibster]

I do think it was nice to coin the term "Jaquaying" as a way to honor an underappreciated individual whose influence during the nascent role playing game industry is felt even today. Prior to a few short years ago, I don't believe I had ever heard of Judge's Guild, it looks like they had stopped producing books prior to my introduction to AD&D, nor do I ever recall hearing of Janell Jaquays even under her other name. The use of term brough Jaquays to my attention and made me a bit more aware and appreciative of those who designed the maps we use in TTRPGs as well as video games. While I didn't use the term, mostly because I don't know how to pronounce it, I understood what people meant when they typed it out and I had no objection to it being used. If I use Xandering, who exactly am I honoring?

 

[TheSword]

This is a rather interesting read

A Historical Note on Xandering

In the summer of 2010, I wrote the article now titled Xandering the Dungeon.That wasn’t the original title of the article, nor the original term I coined to describe both the process of creating

thealexandrian.net

This blog invented the term. Now, he doesn't want us to use it anymore. Some of you might say "who is he to police my language!?!", and I would concede that what he wants may not be a sufficient reason to change the terminology.

however

The term is based on a real person (Jennell Jaquays), and she wanted the term to be changed. And I while I thought it was a cool honor, to reflect her significant contributions to the game, if she wants it changed and he wants it changed... we probably should. (His new term is xandering which... it will do I guess?)

(Lastly, Justin linked to the campaign to help her pay medical bills, which I think was a nice touch of him).

The ego on the guy

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The ego on the guy

Taking credit for other people's work is in the long tradition of Galileo, Newton and Edison!

 

[Reynard]

Taking credit for other people's work is in the long tradition of Galileo, Newton and Edison!

Watson and Crick have entered the chat.

 

[DEFCON 1]

It's funny to see how many of you seem to have Justin Alexander living rent-free in your heads that you are trying so hard to change the narrative around this phenomenon that he himself identified as a thing.

 

[Parmandur]

It's funny to see how many of you seem to have Justin Alexander living rent-free in your heads that you are trying so hard to change the narrative around this phenomenon that he himself identified as a thing.

I mean, he's worked hard to get into people's heads and to make people dislike him: Mission Accomplished?

 

[Reynard]

It's funny to see how many of you seem to have Justin Alexander living rent-free in your heads that you are trying so hard to change the narrative around this phenomenon that he himself identified as a thing.

I think JA deserves thanks and recognition for bring Jaquays' contributions to the forefront, but not only does Alexander's blog post come off as smug and self important, I am personally put off by a cis hetero dude choosing to name after himself something previously named after a trans woman -- even if he did the original naming. It is a bad look. Alexander could have called it anything if the purpose was to change the name to honor and protect Jaquays, and he chose to name it after himself. That says something right there, and nothing good.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

He does mention in his discord it’s partially a play on his own name but also a reference to a crossroads, for what that’s worth

 

[el-remmen]

He does mention in his discord it’s partially a play on his own name but also a reference to a crossroads, for what that’s worth

I will say that before I grasped that "xandering" was a play on his name (I guess I am slow on the uptake), I assumed it was a play on "X" idea of multiple crisscrossing ways in a dungeon.

And for the record, I don't care that he named it for himself, unless it turns out that the real reason he changed it is because he refused to add the "S" that's in her name and then pretended to be honoring her wishes by changing it altogether. But as of now that is not clear to me either way.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

I will say that before I grasped that "xandering" was a play on his name (I guess I am slow on the uptake), I assumed it was a play on "X" idea of multiple crisscrossing ways in a dungeon.

And for the record, I don't care that he named it for himself, unless it turns out that the real reason he changed it is because he refused to add the "S" that's in her name and then pretended to be honoring her wishes by changing it altogether. But as of now that is not clear to me either way.

Yeah that would be BS if that were the case.