Comments on: Slag

By: Glomoro

Glomoro — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:06:29 +0000

Clearly what we should have discussed here, going by the gravatars, was impaling him through the muffin.

By: minespatch

minespatch — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 07:43:26 +0000

Funny, when I was reading my copy of Nights with Uncle Remis, and they used the “n”-word, it didn’t offend me. Mainly due to when it was published. Saying words should not be a death sentence on tradition.

By: Shockwave

Shockwave — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 22:11:40 +0000

Slug makes me think he transforms into a gastropod.

By: Rosemarie

Rosemarie — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:17:31 +0000

While I agree* that the intention with which a word is used is what is important, there are certain words that are used almost all the time with bad intentions, and thus should be kept out of certain things, such as children’s programming.

On another note, although I myself think the word “slag” as a term for anything other than “molten rock/metal” is silly, that is just because of my personal experience with the word. I think it is important to try not to use words that are offensive to many people in things like children’s shows once you know about it. So I don’t think that it was wrong to use “slag” before somebody said “Hey. Guys. This word means something different in certain cultures…” but afterwards it would be wrong. They cannot just tailor everything to fit American sensibilities and completely disregard the sensibilities of other cultures.

Man, that was long. Apologies.

*Sorry, just kind of making an assumption about your meaning, but I think I got it right.

By: Jake

Jake — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 07:58:11 +0000

Look on the bright side. Slag will apparently be named Slug for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. At least it gives me fantasies of him punching Decepticons into submission.

By: I.care.0

I.care.0 — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:03:30 +0000

.. And now I cringe. Thanks.

By: Syndaryl

Syndaryl — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:02:32 +0000

The effect goes WAY back further than the Hammer films. Hawthorne is a medieval (and possibly pre-medieval) folk protection from witches and evil magic and demons and hey hey hey. It was part of accounts of vampire put-downs for centuries – the movies took that idea and ran with it… but vampires being killed by being caught up in thorn-wood branches is actually one of the more authentic ideas.

It just doesn’t come up much because it’s not really very cinematic. It’s that sort of practical, no-nonsense, “this is way safer than fighting vampires” folklore that people come up with that you really shouldn’t make vampire movies about

By: Andrusi

Andrusi — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:24:08 +0000

Then I stand corrected.

By: vlademir1

vlademir1 — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:06:23 +0000

Considering I know people who were full on gray in their twenties, I beg to differ.

By: vlademir1

vlademir1 — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:01:21 +0000

And in not giving it to that hypothetical 8 year old (assuming they’re capable of following the archaic style of a nineteenth century writer in the first place) and including as part of that a discussion on exactly why the word is considered bad you’re shortchanging the poor child. Most kids aren’t idiots and if you explain why a particular word is currently considered bad they are largely capable of the needed understanding to not use it unduly. Mind you the needed understanding of the English language to follow the style of any nineteenth century writer tells me we’re really talking about 10 or 11 year olds, rather than 8 year olds, who are quite a bit more likely to have been exposed to the word from one context or another.

That aside, retaining the word is a bad thing because we are talking about something that is considered by definition kids programing and parents do tend to go on the offensive when they have to explain terms whose meaning they’re already uncomfortable with to their kids, and I doubt most of us want to return to the days where kids programing felt a need to just talk down to kids.