Muggles? Really? Can't we be more creative?

[+ContactJack]

Hi all,

 

I am writing to discuss the usage of the term "Muggles" for NON-geocachers...

 

In a hobby, that I have been obsessed with for the last year or so... this borrowed term from Harry Potter is my one complaint.

 

as you all know, this is a very unique hobby and 8 of 10 people don't even know what it is...

It is a hobby that requires wits, creativity and outright cleverness, either to hide or find!

 

The being said, isn't the "Geocache Nation" collectively clever enough to come up with our OWN word for non-geocachers.

 

Forgive me, if others have posted this... I did a quick search and found nothing...

 

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

Replies encouraged!

[+BlueDeuce]

Thoughts?

 

Replies encouraged!

 

I'm sticking with muggles.

[knowschad]

You'll get used to it. I did.

[+Coldgears]

Makes sense, I say we start a petition to call all muggles either

 

A. Ashinkes

B. Non-geo's

[+Woodruff Sycamorph]

I'll do the obligatory, it's been in use long before Harry Potter, bit...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/muggle

[+Ms.Scrabbler]

a quick search comes up with "the term muggles...." from May 30, 2010

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...&hl=muggles

[+ContactJack]

I'll do the obligatory, it's been in use long before Harry Potter, bit...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/muggle

I do feel a little bit better about it now... thanks to clarification...But I am still curious to see if we come up with our own word

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

Hi all,

 

I am writing to discuss the usage of the term "Muggles" for NON-geocachers...

 

In a hobby, that I have been obsessed with for the last year or so... this borrowed term from Harry Potter is my one complaint.

 

as you all know, this is a very unique hobby and 8 of 10 people don't even know what it is...

It is a hobby that requires wits, creativity and outright cleverness, either to hide or find!

 

The being said, isn't the "Geocache Nation" collectively clever enough to come up with our OWN word for non-geocachers.

 

Forgive me, if others have posted this... I did a quick search and found nothing...

 

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

Replies encouraged!

Make a suggestion. If it catches on it will be adopted. Good luck with that!

[+Semper Questio]

I thought the "muggles" thread was scheduled for the last week of the month? I can't keep up any more.

 

I didn't like it at first, then I learned more about the history of the word and I just got used to hearing and saying it. No big. I now have a bigger problem with people saying "mugglers".

[+buttaskotch]

Makes sense, I say we start a petition to call all muggles either

 

A. Ashinkes

B. Non-geo's

[+buttaskotch]

Come up with something cool, get your caching buddies to say it, say it at multiple events so that others hear you say it, then use it in reference to the non geocachers on the boards, lets see if something with catch on! :-)

[+9Key]

I remember hearing the term "muggles" back when I started caching in '02, so I think it's pretty ingrained into the game.

[knowschad]

I'll do the obligatory, it's been in use long before Harry Potter, bit...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/muggle

I do feel a little bit better about it now... thanks to clarification...But I am still curious to see if we come up with our own word

Its been tried many times before. There are some pretty lengthy old threads here that are full of suggestions that haven't taken off.

[+thedeadpirate]

In a hobby, that I have been obsessed with for the last year or so... this borrowed term from Harry Potter is my one complaint.

 

It WAS your one complaint. Forum bashing will be your new one.

 

I kind of like "The Others", but muggle is fine with me too.

[+Telecacher]

I sometimes use the term outside of Geocaching, if someone inadvertently prevents me from doing something "...Muggled!"

[+atmospherium]

Been caching for less than 2 years, yet I know far more about this hobby than I ever will about Harry Potter. Never read the books, never watched the films (in spite of my obsession with Emma Watson). As far as I'm concerned "muggle" is a geocaching term. I sometimes use the word "clown" when refering to muggles in cars. As in, "Is that clown gonna sit right next to that light pole all day?"

[+ContactJack]

Been caching for less than 2 years, yet I know far more about this hobby than I ever will about Harry Potter. Never read the books, never watched the films (in spite of my obsession with Emma Watson). As far as I'm concerned "muggle" is a geocaching term. I sometimes use the word "clown" when refering to muggles in cars. As in, "Is that clown gonna sit right next to that light pole all day?"

 

I like Clown...

[+AuntieWeasel]

Somehow, nobody seems to like it when I call non-cachers "straights."

[+Quossum]

Borrowed term or not, I love it and think it's perfect for our sport. Adds the little touch of magic to our proceedings, and carries the implication of this whole hidden world of caches, lurking under lamp posts, sequestered in signs, resting under trees down paths no "normal" human would walk, going on all around that only a select few of us know about.

 

--Q

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

Somehow, nobody seems to like it when I call non-cachers "straights."

They just don't want to admit that all geocachers are a bit bent!

[+narcissa]

I don't care for the Harry Potter reference, but it's pretty firmly entrenched.

 

As a side note, I've been using the name "narcissa" online for about 15 years, and had no idea that there was a Harry Potter character with this name because I wouldn't touch that nonsense with a barge pole. I get a little testy when, between "narcissa" and "muggles," people assume I am some sort of fan of that literary equivalent to Cheez Whiz.

[+briansnat]

I never liked the term mu***es and refuse to use it. Many years ago I suggested CLAMS

 

Cacheless unAware Members of Society.

 

It went over like a lead balloon.

[knowschad]

I never liked the term mu***es and refuse to use it. Many years ago I suggested CLAMS

 

Cacheless unAware Members of Society.

 

It went over like a lead balloon.

Clams? Did someone mention clams?

[+TheAlabamaRambler]

I never liked the term mu***es and refuse to use it. Many years ago I suggested CLAMS

 

Cacheless unAware Members of Society.

 

It went over like a lead balloon.

Clams? Did someone mention clams?

Would we get to wear the neato CLAM uniform?

 

[+WRASTRO]

Hi all,

 

I am writing to discuss the usage of the term "Muggles" for NON-geocachers...

 

In a hobby, that I have been obsessed with for the last year or so... this borrowed term from Harry Potter is my one complaint.

 

as you all know, this is a very unique hobby and 8 of 10 people don't even know what it is...

It is a hobby that requires wits, creativity and outright cleverness, either to hide or find!

 

The being said, isn't the "Geocache Nation" collectively clever enough to come up with our OWN word for non-geocachers.

 

Forgive me, if others have posted this... I did a quick search and found nothing...

 

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

Replies encouraged!

I actually like the term "muggle" since I think it helps convey a sense of the fun of our little game. I detest the "(insert whatever here) Nation" terminology though.

[knowschad]

Instead of a group of muggles, we could have:

[astralsled]

I refuse to use the word "muggle" in any logs. I think it's pretty lame and embarrassing. Other people are going to use it and that's fine, but I never will. I really don't care about Harry Potter at all and regardless of the fact that the word existed before those books, it's pretty closely associated with them now, and it really just sounds plain stupid.

[knowschad]

I refuse to use the word "muggle" in any logs. I think it's pretty lame and embarrassing. Other people are going to use it and that's fine, but I never will. I really don't care about Harry Potter at all and regardless of the fact that the word existed before those books, it's pretty closely associated with them now, and it really just sounds plain stupid.

Did you read the threads above you? Muggle predates Harry Potter by a considerable amount. It is not a Harry Potter term. It is a drug term. That makes it much more appropriate for us to use, doesn't it?

 

Frankly, if someone can succeed in getting it changed, I would be as happy as a C.L.A.M.

 

[JohnX]

If your cache is trashed by muggles would it be "mugglerizated"?

 

Edit: Can't get the spelling right on that term. I don't know why.

Edited June 18, 2010 by JohnX

[+roziecakes]

I'll do the obligatory, it's been in use long before Harry Potter, bit...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/muggle

I do feel a little bit better about it now... thanks to clarification...But I am still curious to see if we come up with our own word

 

I think you could; but it would be hard to get the entire world caching community to catch on. Some people say "mugglers" instead... or you could just say "non-geocachers"; or you could just start using a word that you like and see what happens, perhaps others will think it's cool too.

[+journey4truth]

Considering I can't stand Harry Potter, I wasn't too keen on using this word either. God forbid the original geocachers had been enthusiastic Tolkien readers. We could be calling these muggles "orcs" instead.

[+W7WT]

I refuse to use the word "muggle" in any logs. I think it's pretty lame and embarrassing. Other people are going to use it and that's fine, but I never will. I really don't care about Harry Potter at all and regardless of the fact that the word existed before those books, it's pretty closely associated with them now, and it really just sounds plain stupid.

 

What he said!!

[+Quossum]

Would we get to wear the neato CLAM uniform?

 

 

[astralsled]

Did you read the threads above you? Muggle predates Harry Potter by a considerable amount. It is not a Harry Potter term. It is a drug term. That makes it much more appropriate for us to use, doesn't it?

 

Frankly, if someone can succeed in getting it changed, I would be as happy as a C.L.A.M.

 

Did you read my post? I said that I knew the word didn't originate with Harry Potter.

 

And in drug terms "muggle" is a really old word for marijuana, it's probably a different etymology since it doesn't really have anything to do with people who are outside a group or not clued in.

 

What he said!!

 

She actually, but thanks!

Edited June 18, 2010 by astralsled

[knowschad]

Did you read the threads above you? Muggle predates Harry Potter by a considerable amount. It is not a Harry Potter term. It is a drug term. That makes it much more appropriate for us to use, doesn't it?

 

Frankly, if someone can succeed in getting it changed, I would be as happy as a C.L.A.M.

Did you read my post? I said that I knew the word didn't originate with Harry Potter.

Not really.

[astralsled]

Did you read the threads above you? Muggle predates Harry Potter by a considerable amount. It is not a Harry Potter term. It is a drug term. That makes it much more appropriate for us to use, doesn't it?

 

Frankly, if someone can succeed in getting it changed, I would be as happy as a C.L.A.M.

Did you read my post? I said that I knew the word didn't originate with Harry Potter.

Not really.

 

 

I really don't care about Harry Potter at all and regardless of the fact that the word existed before those books, it's pretty closely associated with them now, and it really just sounds plain stupid.

[+-cheeto-]

So if your cache is taken by a C.L.A.M. has it been Clammed?

[+atmospherium]

God forbid the original geocachers had been enthusiastic Tolkien readers. We could be calling these muggles "orcs" instead.

 

Or Sackville-Bagginses.

 

At the moment my mind is still boggling that the mere word "clam" brought up such images as those seen above. They're seriously freaking me out.

[+roziecakes]

God forbid the original geocachers had been enthusiastic Tolkien readers. We could be calling these muggles "orcs" instead.

 

Or Sackville-Bagginses.

 

At the moment my mind is still boggling that the mere word "clam" brought up such images as those seen above. They're seriously freaking me out.

 

Or Proudfoots (Proudfeet!)

[+Bear and Ragged]

In use before Mr Potter.

 

Anything/everything I call 'em wouldn't be allowed on a 'Family Friendly' site.

 

 

[Chumpo]

Somehow, nobody seems to like it when I call non-cachers "straights."

 

Fabulous!!!

[+BlueDeuce]

Considering I can't stand Harry Potter, I wasn't too keen on using this word either. God forbid the original geocachers had been enthusiastic Tolkien readers. We could be calling these muggles "orcs" instead.

 

A Clockwork Orange - they would be vecks and your buddies droogies.

[+Team Cotati]

I refuse to use the word "muggle" in any logs. I think it's pretty lame and embarrassing. Other people are going to use it and that's fine, but I never will. I really don't care about Harry Potter at all and regardless of the fact that the word existed before those books, it's pretty closely associated with them now, and it really just sounds plain stupid.

Did you read the threads above you? Muggle predates Harry Potter by a considerable amount. It is not a Harry Potter term. It is a drug term. That makes it much more appropriate for us to use, doesn't it?

 

Frankly, if someone can succeed in getting it changed, I would be as happy as a C.L.A.M.

 

 

Yeah, in some cases, more than others.

[+journey4truth]

The more I think about this the more want to come up with an alternative to muggles. I'm a fan of the Matrix film (the first one only), so maybe I could start calling non-geocachers the "Blue-Pills"

 

Or maybe more generically speaking, the Cache-Nots!

 

To be honest, I think the best approach is just to come up with a terminology we're comfortable with for our personal use, but one that's transparent enough (or derived from entrenched pop culture) that people will figure out what you're referring to.

Edited June 18, 2010 by LincolnAdams

[+BlueDeuce]

...snip (or derived from entrenched pop culture) that people will figure out what you're referring to.

 

I think that's the main issue, the underlying premise of muggles - 'someone who is not part of' - is easily understood by many of the geocaching population. It's (pop) cultural.

[+thistleRacers]

When I first started I thought using the term "Muggle" didn't quite fit the scenario, but I AM a Harry Potter fan (well more of a Ron fan :-D) and liked using the term.

 

I would go along with CLAMs shall we stage a coup?

 

but I was also thinking that any synonym to "commoners" would work...such as

"plebs"?

"proles"?

"bourgeois" or for short "bourg" haha LLAP!

[+GeoGeeBee]

"Mundanes."

 

Although I've never figured out how to combine geocaching with SCA.

[+roziecakes]

"Mundanes."

 

Although I've never figured out how to combine geocaching with SCA.

 

I love this one!! I used to work at Ren Faires and do SCA. I think I'm going to start using that. I like it better than muggles.

[+BlueDeuce]

"Mundanes."

 

Although I've never figured out how to combine geocaching with SCA.

 

I love this one!! I used to work at Ren Faires and do SCA. I think I'm going to start using that. I like it better than muggles.

 

So...when a previous , er...mundane learns what you've been calling them the derogatory connotation won't be a problem? You might do better by calling them Pedestrians even though it's more insulting.

Edited June 18, 2010 by BlueDeuce

[+Dragery]

Muggle is fine. Even if you stuck with the Harry Potter version of the word, it's kinda fun thinking of non-geocachers as "non-magic folk" because we possess a magic they do not