+CluelessTwo Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Hi all I was introducing Geocaching to a muggle friend who loves walks and adventure and when I explained to her about being discreet because people who dont know about Geocaching are muggles and we have to do everything possible to protect the cache, She said that that was nicked from Harry Potter books. Now I have never read harry potter books so I havent a clue whether muggles is in there or not but she assures me (because shes a harry potter freak) that muggles in the harry potter book are people who dont know about magic and sorcery. So my question is of course, who used the word first? And if it was geocachers, does that mean that Ms Rawling is a Geocacher? And can we all collectively sue her for nicking the word and buy tupperware with the proceeds so we can hide in wild and wacky places? Claire (one half of the clueless two) Quote Link to comment
+WebChimp Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 So my question is of course, who used the word first? We borrowed the word from Harry. It seemed to fit those on the "outside" of what we are doing. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 We nicked from Harry Potter. Actually I first heard it as "geomuggle", but it eventually was shortened. Quote Link to comment
+CluelessTwo Posted July 11, 2009 Author Share Posted July 11, 2009 Oh thats a pity, I was looking forward to ms rawling funding my geocaching addiction. lol Never mind! Anyone know any good deals on wholesale bulk lots of tab loc tupperware? Quote Link to comment
+gof1 Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Lock & Lock Don't use anything less in a plastic container. Quote Link to comment
+CluelessTwo Posted July 11, 2009 Author Share Posted July 11, 2009 Hi Ya Unfortunately I live in northern ireland so I wont be able to use JC Penny. Thanks though. Seen some on ebay but dont like buying off ebay in case things get broken in the post. Im really disappointed that Ms Rawling isnt a Geocacher though! I really hoped that she stole the muggle thing! lol What were muggles called before harry potter books? Claire Quote Link to comment
+The Ravens Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 What were muggles called before harry potter books? Claire Were not the Potter books first? First cache was placed May 2000. Quote Link to comment
+CluelessTwo Posted July 11, 2009 Author Share Posted July 11, 2009 So there were harry potter books before 2000. Oh right, I never knew that. There I go living up to my name again!! lol Quote Link to comment
+The Ravens Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 I don't know for sure. I was kind of asking. Quote Link to comment
+The Ravens Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Just looked it up. First book was published in 1997. Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Everybody's wrong. The word (meaning an outsider) existed, but was little used, long before the Potter books were written. It's common in SF and fantasy to resurrect arcane words, rather than invent new ones out of whole cloth. Quote Link to comment
AZcachemeister Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Everybody's wrong. The word (meaning an outsider) existed, but was little used, long before the Potter books were written. It's common in SF and fantasy to resurrect arcane words, rather than invent new ones out of whole cloth. There ya go! This probably explains my general disdain for the term... Heathens I tell you, they're all heathens! 4. irreligious, uncultured, or uncivilized. Quote Link to comment
+Qbar Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Everybody's wrong. The word (meaning an outsider) existed, but was little used, long before the Potter books were written. It's common in SF and fantasy to resurrect arcane words, rather than invent new ones out of whole cloth. I've often wondered how new words came about, how people made them, but I never dreamed it was out of cloth. Boggles the mind, I tell you. Working this one out should keep me busy until the rain stops Quote Link to comment
+mdplayers Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 JK Rowling admits freely to resurrecting arcane words and using obscure historical names as a basis for names in her popular series. The existance of 'muggle' prior to Ms. Rowling using it isn't surprising to me at all. BTW her name is pronounced like 'row' (to row a boat) '-ling'. Quote Link to comment
gojkgo Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 I was thinking about this thread last night as I was watching the fourth Harry Pottery movie on TV. There's a lot of hiding and seeking things in this movie. Maybe she's a secret geocacher after all. Quote Link to comment
+EvanMinn Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 And other subcultures use it for people that aren't part of their subculture too: knitters, hackers, pagans/wiccans, Lindy Hoppers, etc., etc., etc.. That's more why I don't really like it: it is just so uninspired and unimaginative and a bit childish. But it is so ingrained in the geocaching community now, it is here to stay. Quote Link to comment
+Colonial Cats Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Hi Ya Unfortunately I live in northern ireland so I wont be able to use JC Penny. Thanks though. Seen some on ebay but dont like buying off ebay in case things get broken in the post. Im really disappointed that Ms Rawling isnt a Geocacher though! I really hoped that she stole the muggle thing! lol What were muggles called before harry potter books? Claire Harry Potter (1997) predates Geocaching (2000). Don't know when the term muggle actually started being used in Geocaching. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Hi Ya Unfortunately I live in northern ireland so I wont be able to use JC Penny. Thanks though. Seen some on ebay but dont like buying off ebay in case things get broken in the post. Im really disappointed that Ms Rawling isnt a Geocacher though! I really hoped that she stole the muggle thing! lol What were muggles called before harry potter books? Claire Harry Potter (1997) predates Geocaching (2000). Don't know when the term muggle actually started being used in Geocaching. September 2002 Quote Link to comment
+infiniteMPG Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Rowling has said she created the word "Muggle" from "mug", an English term for someone who is easily fooled. She added the "-gle" to make it sound less demeaning and more "cuddly". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muggle Rowling invented the word for her Harry Potter books 3 years before the first "cache" was placed. Quote Link to comment
+bflentje Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Rowling has said she created the word "Muggle" from "mug", an English term for someone who is easily fooled. She added the "-gle" to make it sound less demeaning and more "cuddly". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muggle Rowling invented the word for her Harry Potter books 3 years before the first "cache" was placed. Doesn't Wiki say the following.. "The word occurred in popular culture and literature prior to Rowling's adoption of it. However, the Harry Potter series popularised the word, and it has come into common usage in other contexts." Quote Link to comment
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