RPG Buzzwords that have effectively lost their meaning due to poor over-use

[MGibster]

I generally dislike the use of jargon in RPG discussions. I think discussions can be more productive by describing the thing you mean rather than using a term you assume everyone else has the same definition for (or even knows).

When I still cared about academia, when I would listen to someone speaking about philosophy they would typically define what they meant when using a term. But then even when people here define what they mean when using a particular word, there's always pushback from someone else who says they use the word differently. So we end up getting into a big discussion about what the word means instead of however the author defined it for the purposes of having a discussion.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

When I still cared about academia, when I would listen to someone speaking about philosophy they would typically define what they meant when using a term. But then even when people here define what they mean when using a particular word, there's always pushback from someone else who says they use the word differently. So we end up getting into a big discussion about what the word means instead of however the author defined it for the purposes of having a discussion.

Maybe that's an argument for skipping jargon -- whether or not it's defined -- entirely and just discussing ideas.

 

[MGibster]

Maybe that's an argument for skipping jargon -- whether or not it's defined -- entirely and just discussing ideas.

Good luck. I expect any effort to eliminate jargon be about as effective as preventing euphemism treadmills or semantic change. At some point you're just fighting language itself.

 

[grimslade]

Jargon is fine if it can be recognized as shorthand for a larger concept. Jargon is crud when it is used to gate keep or obfuscate.
The problem is the use, not the word. Ask for clarification and move on with the conversation.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Good luck. I expect any effort to eliminate jargon be about as effective as preventing euphemism treadmills or semantic change. At some point you're just fighting language itself.

I think it's worth the effort.

If one is discussing neurosurgery or quantum physics, jargon is necessary to getting one's point across in a reasonable amount of time. I absolutely don't think it's necessary for the discussion of games.

 

[Scribe]

I think it's worth the effort.

If one is discussing neurosurgery or quantum physics, jargon is necessary to getting one's point across in a reasonable amount of time. I absolutely don't think it's necessary for the discussion of games.

Agreed. I don't think I've ever seen a case where a bunch of jargon has improved the shared understanding of what is being discussed.

It's generally just another vector for argument.

 

[Morrus]

So is this one of those threads where people hurl thinly veiled insults at other folks' preferences and playstyles, then cover with "It's just a joke"?

I love those.

I just came from the Superman thread where you were chastising somebody for posting their opinion of a film, to this thread where you are chastising people for vaguely defined offences. If you think somebody has broken the rules, please report it. Otherwise, please dial back the thread policing. Thank you.

 

[Theory of Games]

When I still cared about academia, when I would listen to someone speaking about philosophy they would typically define what they meant when using a term. But then even when people here define what they mean when using a particular word, there's always pushback from someone else who says they use the word differently. So we end up getting into a big discussion about what the word means instead of however the author defined it for the purposes of having a discussion.

 

[BookTenTiger]

I really wish people would stop using the following terms when discussing roleplaying games:

Barconian - not every system is truly Barconian and it waters down the term to overuse it.

Dice Queen - having lots of dice shouldn't make anyone a target of derision.

Fungeon - if I read one more review that describes an adventure as a fungeon...

Orc Farm - such a derogatory term for a certain style of play, even if I'm not a fan of it.

Fingerpuppet NPC - okay I'll admit I don't really understand this one but I see it being used all the time!!!

 

[Deset Gled]

When I still cared about academia, when I would listen to someone speaking about philosophy they would typically define what they meant when using a term. But then even when people here define what they mean when using a particular word, there's always pushback from someone else who says they use the word differently. So we end up getting into a big discussion about what the word means instead of however the author defined it for the purposes of having a discussion.

I think the issues with jargon in TTRPGs goes even further than that.

First, IME it is actually fairly uncommon for people to define their jargon. Also, jargon terms gets reused way to often (see the previous example with "narrative"), so it's difficult to use even with explicit context. And even when people define jargon, it is extremely common for people to fall back into non-jargon use of the same term. Additionally, some people will intentionally define a jargon term in a way different from any standard use to push an agenda of their own. This last one has actually landed people on my ignore list.

I find jargon useful but occasionally annoying in academia and engineering. I often find jargon to be the heart of bad faith arguments in TTRPG space. It makes me sad.

I don't doubt that "liminal" is being overused, but if it's just being used to describe hallways and doorways and the like, that's the problem, not the word itself.

"Liminal" has been a buzzword in the general horror zeitgeist. Things like the Backrooms, movies like Skinamarink (not worth watching, INMSHO) have leaned into it heavily. I think any problems with the term in TTRPGs space is really just spill over from that, not really an RPG issue.