+JL_HSTRE Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/muggle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muggle http://www.cesnur.org/recens/potter_019.htm P.S. Is it too much to ask for pinning threads to the top of the message boards? Either a single Frequently Asked Questions threads or at least the stuff that shows up weekly (muggles, nanos, virtuals, premium member caches)? Quote Link to comment
AZcachemeister Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I use the word muggle because its understood and faster in our conversation. The Un-washed Heathens (my favorite) Infidels (second favorite) Non-believers ...the list goes on. Yet, a term borrowed into a popular series of fantasy novels about a magical society is the one picked by the general multitude. If Star-Trek had retained it's popularity a bit longer, would we be calling them Ferengi? Quote Link to comment
+lamoracke Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 (edited) Ferengi were part of the Federation....muggles were never allowed to know about their existence. Trouble with tribbles? Edited August 15, 2012 by lamoracke Quote Link to comment
+SwineFlew Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I use the word muggle because its understood and faster in our conversation. The Un-washed Heathens (my favorite) Infidels (second favorite) Non-believers ...the list goes on. Yet, a term borrowed into a popular series of fantasy novels about a magical society is the one picked by the general multitude. If Star-Trek had retained it's popularity a bit longer, would we be calling them Ferengi? Thanks, now I have to clean my drink off of the screen. Quote Link to comment
+uxorious Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Every time this comes up, I wonder about the split between those that like the term muggle and those that don't. (And of course, those that really don't care one way or the other. ) When I started Geocaching, I had never heard the term "muggle". Reading the logs and the forum, I found it was a very common word with a meaning to Geocaching. I never read the Harry Potter books, nor saw the movies, so I did not know the connection there. It wasn't until the first time I read some complaints here in the forum that I even knew about Harry potter's use of the term. By then I was used to using it and liked it. (this was very soon after I started Geocaching. ) This also explained why my muggle friends understood me when I used it. I wonder if the source you first heard the term from might effect how you feel about it. Note: The above is just some rambling thoughts, and in no way change how I feel about the term, nor how I use it. Quote Link to comment
+manicgecko Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 What did I just read? Quote Link to comment
4wheelin_fool Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 The cops caught me with a little muggle once, but they let me go. Quote Link to comment
+BlueDeuce Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I wonder if the source you first heard the term from might effect how you feel about it. Fact is we don't feel any ownership for the term, but come-on, give us something else that we accept as easily. Quote Link to comment
+stijnhommes Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I don't care what muggles are called. The term muggles has the right connotation. Even the people who despise Harry Potter seem to grasp the meaning without extensive explanation, which is what I would want to see in a geocaching term. Quote Link to comment
+Z3ROIN Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 When the last time this topic was bought up? OMG!! Don't tell me this is not in The Schedule! Simply amazing! Quote Link to comment
+redsox_mark Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 While I know J.K. Rowling was not the first to use the word muggle, I think the Harry Potter use of the word fits well to describe non-geocachers. In the Harry Potter world - the people doing the magic are sharing the same world as those who don't - the Muggles. But the Muggles are unaware of this alternate world. When I first discovered Geocaching, I was amazed that this was all going on without my knowing. There was a cache 300 feet from my house and I didn't know it was there. It had been there for years. I haven't obtained any magical skills (and I'm not very good at finding tricky caches). But now I am part of the Geocaching "world" - and no longer a Muggle. But I like Harry Potter. If you don't like Harry Potter, I can see how the term would be annoying. (And I assume there are people who like Harry Potter but still don't like the term). Quote Link to comment
+niraD Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Ferengi were part of the Federation....muggles were never allowed to know about their existence.If we're going to borrow the name of Star Trek aliens, then I think we need to pick aliens with a pre-warp culture that were not allowed to know about the Federation, thanks to the prime directive. Of course, this also gives us the opportunity to coin a term for people who know about geocaching, but who do not participate themselves. This would correspond to one of the post-warp alien cultures that has not joined the Federation (for whatever reason). But I see nothing offensive about the word "muggle" either. Quote Link to comment
+JJnTJ Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Someday, if I'm bored, I'm going to compile a list of FPCs (Frequently Posted Complaints) and FAQs with links to past discussions. Maybe I'll add ratings, from "Horse Might Just be Pining" to "Horse has Disintegrated and its Remains are No Longer Recognizable as Equine". Quote Link to comment
4wheelin_fool Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Any muggle found near geocaches around here gets smoked. Quote Link to comment
+duncanhoyle Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Its about time somebody get around to discussing this. I can't believe that, after all these years, the subject of "muggles" has finally been broached. Thank you, AneMae! NEXT UP: BRING BACK VIRTUALS - MY OWN PERSONAL UNIQUE VIEW NOT HELD BY ANYBODY ELSE EVER. Ohh... Ohh... Ohh!!! Can we follow up that one with a "Why isn't there a nano category" thread? Strangely enough, that question was asked to the panel at the UK mega q/a session last weekend and Jeremey said that he didn't know why there wasn't one and that he thought there should be. The only issue would be working with all the 3rd party application developpers to make them aware of it so that their software would either work with the new type or default to something like unknown. The issue I've always had with the term 'muggle' is that if used in the Harry Potter sense it implies (to me) a person without a knowledge of geocaching or without the technological ability, and therefore unable to take part in caching. This isn't the case though, because a 'muggle' can be made aware of caching and all they then need do is use a phone,gps or even just a map to search. This is a skill that can be learnt by anybody and does not rely on latent ability. I don't use the term Quote Link to comment
+Z3ROIN Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I don't even associate the word with Harry Potter, to me it's a geocaching word, i'm pretty sure it wasn't coined by JKR as well. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 man, the schedule makes no mention of the constant FTF discussions either. I see why a locationless cache retro day is not going anywhere, not on the schedule either, sadly. the word muggle is ingrained in my vernacular now, its not changing. For the record, I have always supported locationless cache retro day also, and Muggle is ingrained in my vernacular. Hey, someone had to post and lighten the mood after Dog with glasses got flamed, in this rather lighthearted thread. I got flamed? OH NOEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know, it just occurred to me that I think I generally use the word in the verbal sense much more than the nounal sense. I will say that a cache got "muggled", but I think that I rarely say that "I saw a Muggle". Quote Link to comment
+sir dumil Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I don't mind use of the word, "Muggle", not being a Harry Potter initiate and all. I think "Tribble" would be cooler, though. You know, those fuzzy, adorable creatures that are so, so adoptable. They caused trouble by getting into the bins (grain bins). It predates the pop stuff, anyhow. Or, maybe "Tsi-mri", from C.J.Cherryh's Faded Sun trilogy? Quote Link to comment
+Shop99er Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Someday, if I'm bored, I'm going to compile a list of FPCs (Frequently Posted Complaints) and FAQs with links to past discussions. Maybe I'll add ratings, from "Horse Might Just be Pining" to "Horse has Disintegrated and its Remains are No Longer Recognizable as Equine". :laughing: Quote Link to comment
MisterEFQ Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Someday, if I'm bored, I'm going to compile a list of FPCs (Frequently Posted Complaints) and FAQs with links to past discussions. Maybe I'll add ratings, from "Horse Might Just be Pining" to "Horse has Disintegrated and its Remains are No Longer Recognizable as Equine". The interesting thing about forums, is that you don't have to read every thread or respond to them. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Someday, if I'm bored, I'm going to compile a list of FPCs (Frequently Posted Complaints) and FAQs with links to past discussions. Maybe I'll add ratings, from "Horse Might Just be Pining" to "Horse has Disintegrated and its Remains are No Longer Recognizable as Equine". The interesting thing about forums, is that you don't have to read every thread or respond to them. Please allow me to add: The interesting thing about forums, is that you don't have to read every thread to respond to them. Quote Link to comment
4wheelin_fool Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 "Muggle" was first discussed in it's own thread here on 9/5/2002, but was first used in another thread (with a broken link) on 2/25/2002. Quote Link to comment
+SwineFlew Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 (edited) Someday, if I'm bored, I'm going to compile a list of FPCs (Frequently Posted Complaints) and FAQs with links to past discussions. Maybe I'll add ratings, from "Horse Might Just be Pining" to "Horse has Disintegrated and its Remains are No Longer Recognizable as Equine". The interesting thing about forums, is that you don't have to read every thread or respond to them. Please allow me to add: The interesting thing about forums, is that you don't have to read every thread to respond to them. Lets me stack it on some more: The interesting thing about forums, is that you don't have to read every post to respond to them. Edited August 16, 2012 by SwineFlew Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 "Muggle" was first discussed in it's own thread here on 9/5/2002, but was first used in another thread (with a broken link) on 2/25/2002. Nice archeology! Thanks. I especially loved this post: "Who's Harry Potter?" Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 I guess we can all just be glad that GeoBaptism™ didn't stick. Quote Link to comment
+ScooterDawg Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I find the term "Muggle" a rather arrogant one. I'm glad we're discussing this. On a related note, what can we do about the term "Troll"? Quote Link to comment
+littlegemsy Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I vote we call them gremlins. Quote Link to comment
+dorkinstine Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 What about just calling them "The Un-educated" People who Don't Know about Caching Oddly I have not heard one good reason for keeping the term muggle if the term is disliked enough that we have to discuss this for several pages in the forums then that's proof enough for me, lets just agree to change it then Email everybody about the change but I believe the biggest thing that needs to happen is stop using the term muggle Quote Link to comment
Mr.Yuck Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) What about just calling them "The Un-educated" People who Don't Know about Caching Oddly I have not heard one good reason for keeping the term muggle if the term is disliked enough that we have to discuss this for several pages in the forums then that's proof enough for me, lets just agree to change it then Email everybody about the change but I believe the biggest thing that needs to happen is stop using the term muggle Say what? First of all, 80% of Geocaching.com accounts have never once even viewed the forums. Yes, there is a way you can tell this. Second of all, it's been disliked by about 6 people on a two page thread? Yes, there have been other threads, and there are a small number of people out there who don't like the term. I'm going to go out on a limb and say Groundspeak will not be changing the word to something else, and sending out 5,000,000 emails. Ever. Edited August 17, 2012 by Mr.Yuck Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 On a related note, what can we do about the term "Troll"? Not troll, perhaps? Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 What about just calling them "The Un-educated" People who Don't Know about Caching Oddly I have not heard one good reason for keeping the term muggle if the term is disliked enough that we have to discuss this for several pages in the forums then that's proof enough for me, lets just agree to change it then Email everybody about the change but I believe the biggest thing that needs to happen is stop using the term muggle OK, I'm tired of fighting this battle. "The Un-Educated" wins. Next time I have to archive one of my caches because it was damaged by a non-cacher, I am going to write that it was "Un-Educateded". Quote Link to comment
+Z3ROIN Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I'm going to go out on a limb and say Groundspeak will not be changing the word to something else, and sending out 5,000,000 emails. Ever. I don't think GS have the power to control all the geocachers in the world to that extent Quote Link to comment
Mr.Yuck Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I'm going to go out on a limb and say Groundspeak will not be changing the word to something else, and sending out 5,000,000 emails. Ever. I don't think GS have the power to control all the geocachers in the world to that extent Well yes. They do not own Geocaching. I should know that as a strong supporter and user of the alternative sites (except Garmin). However, probably 95% of registered Geocachers think they invented the game, own it, and can change the word Muggle. Quote Link to comment
+uxorious Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 What about just calling them "The Un-educated" People who Don't Know about Caching Oddly I have not heard one good reason for keeping the term muggle if the term is disliked enough that we have to discuss this for several pages in the forums then that's proof enough for me, lets just agree to change it then Email everybody about the change but I believe the biggest thing that needs to happen is stop using the term muggle Now this is strange, I have not heard one good reason for dropping the term muggle. I think the reason the term is discussed for several pages, everytime it come up, is because some people like it and some don't. However, that is not a good reason to drop it. If you don't like it, don't use it. I like it and will continue to use it. Simple, right? Quote Link to comment
ll JK ll Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Never being a fan of Harry Potter (I actually fell asleep in the theatre...my wife wasn't pleased ) I had never heard of the term "muggle" until I started caching. It's a little silly to me but I get why it's used and it doesn't bother me. Also, I just want to confirm that once I started caching I gained magical powers. I now have the uncanny ability to walk through every spider web in the forest. I haven't found a good use for it yet but once I do it's going to be awesome Quote Link to comment
duckmalone Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 (edited) When the last time this topic was bought up? OMG!! Don't tell me this is not in The Schedule! This is great Edited September 11, 2014 by duckmalone Quote Link to comment
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