[Simulacra]

Ganerally speaking, I agree with you. There is no need to confuse people with jargon you need higher education to understand. But in some discussions, I find these sort of terms very useful. So, it all depends on the situation and the discussion at hand, I guess.

[Phaedra]

Simulacra wrote:

Phaedra wrote: Diegesis is a perfectly good literary term, but why use it if we don't have to? I agree. Confusion will not lead anywhere, but diegesis is an academic term that has been around for 40-50 years or so to name "the fictional world". It's used in literature, film science, theatre, live roleplaying and ludology (science of games). I don't think it's made up to cause confusion, but rather to explain that which cannot be explained otherwise.

I know it's not made up, hon, I was a lit major. My point was that it's jargon, and I don't think that -- for the benefit of those here who are not in fields of study or careers in which it is used, and ergo unlikely to be familiar with the word -- we should be introducing "diagesis" or, for that matter, any jargon that's not absolutely necessary.

Simulacra wrote:

Talking about alternity on the other hand is even more obscure since it's a neologism.

Precisely. Unless it's necessary to coin a term or use some sort of field-specific jargon (as, for example, in the case of using "puppetmasters" instead of the unwieldy "those people who run ARGs behind the scenes"), in the interests of keeping the genre open and accessible to all, I think we should avoid both.

[Simulacra]

Phaedra wrote:

Diegesis is a perfectly good literary term, but why use it if we don't have to?

I agree. Confusion will not lead anywhere, but diegesis is an academic term that has been around for 40-50 years or so to name "the fictional world". It's used in literature, film science, theatre, live roleplaying and ludology (science of games).

I don't think it's made up to cause confusion, but rather to explain that which cannot be explained otherwise. Talking about alternity on the other hand is even more obscure since it's a neologism.

[Phaedra]

Hmm. I kind of feel like this thread is missing the point.

Diegesis is a perfectly good literary term, but why use it if we don't have to?

ARGs are confusing enough for the newcomer without intentionally creating jargon. Sometimes the jargon is necessary (I can't think of a non-jargony one-word name for puppetmasters, and it takes a while to explain TINAG, so those terms are necessary).

The fact that there is unavoidably going to be jargon means that we need a glossary so that people don't get completely lost.

But intentionally creating jargon smacks of elitism and exclusivity. There's already enough that's confusing about ARGs that there is the potential for alienation of newcomers -- the purpose of sections like this are to work in tandem with members of the community in painlessly and approachably inducting newcomers and disseminating the information that needs to be disseminated for them to navigate the genre -- without creating more terms for them to learn.

We're trying to make it less confusing, not more. [/i]

[Simulacra]

In narratology, the story world (which may or may not bland with the so called real world) usually is called diegesis.

[vpisteve]

When did this section turn from a Glossary into a place where people are seemingly just trying to invent new terms???

I've got an idea! How's about we wait for a (serious) term to get established before listing it here, instead of listing it here to try to get it established?



Now excuse me while I go be alterimmervasive somewhere.

[SpaceBass]

I like The Phil better; at least it's blatantly ambiguous. Looking at this word cold, you'll have no idea what it means. Alternative Serenity? Alternating Eternity? Meh.

[Dorkmaster]

I like it. I see it as such a cool meta-reference for ARG-heads... It's use to the general public would be weak (but then again, see my submission for "The Phil" and you'll quickly realize I have no legs on which to stand myself...) But I really like it, and it's concise enough to catch on. I digs it.

[Alzheimers]

Alternity