(Relatively) Recently, in another thread I had a disagreement with another member here in Policy Review that was found to be, after a bit of back-and-forth, nothing more than a misunderstanding based on words alone. Considering that the vast majority of policy is in regards to tiering, a process that in and of itself is connected to defining various elements of the game to this or that tier/treatment, I think it is important that we have very well defined word usage.
While genuinely good, I think that here and there Smogon has issues with Terminoligy, and that we sometimes (especially trickling to lower discussions) throw around words that either do not have a specifically allocated meaning, or surprisingly have different meanings for different people. We definitely have words that have different meaning depending on usage, and it can be confusing. I also think there is room for words to define concepts that we use a lot but don't have terminology for.
Examples:
"OU" of UU: Is a phrase being used to describe X-Act's inevitable usage list for the new UU tier (which will hopefully give birth to a future NU tier). The pain meaning hear is X-Act's usage tier-- I suggest we have a word for this seeing as it will soon be a concept excercised over more tiers than OU.
Example Proposal: "Standard."
This word would be defined as "Those pokemon that define their tier based on the usage list." Thus if we were to say "OU Standard," it would refer to the OU List, "UU Standard" and "NU standard having the same meaning for their respective tiers.
This would have the added benefit of making the phrase "OU" refer specifically to the metagame as a whole (which includes lower tier pokemon) rather than just those OU pokemon of the usage list. Right now "OU" has both meanings in it and it has to be taken from context what meaning is implied.
Suspect
The english word suspect refers to all parties that are under scrutiny in regards to guilt over a crime. However, in our metagame it is not just suspect pokemon, but all pokemon that are under constant monitering by the players. If someone developed a killer, game-breaking set for Salamence, it would come under scrutiny just as Garchomp did. Thus I think the phrase needs greater specificity.
example definition: "A pokemon that has come under scrutiny such that it requires its own testing in a metagame independent of other suspects. Occurs in the case of 1 of 2 cases:
1- A pokemon that is moving from a "Pseudo-Tier" to a lower "Balanced Tier." (ie. a pokemon moving from BL to UU)
2- A pokemon whose strength in the metagame has aroused attention from the players to a degree that it must be designated as a suspect. (ie. a case like Garchomp)
Ultimately, I would like to propose a thread (if not this one), containing updates to accepted terminology as needed. As discussion continues, I think it inevitable that we will come across many needed cases of ammendments to current terminology, or words to define new concepts that arise with new issues. Basically a thread where we can suggest alterations or additions to accepted smogon terminology.
"The problem is just syntax," people say-- but Syntax can really bite you in the ass.
While genuinely good, I think that here and there Smogon has issues with Terminoligy, and that we sometimes (especially trickling to lower discussions) throw around words that either do not have a specifically allocated meaning, or surprisingly have different meanings for different people. We definitely have words that have different meaning depending on usage, and it can be confusing. I also think there is room for words to define concepts that we use a lot but don't have terminology for.
Examples:
"OU" of UU: Is a phrase being used to describe X-Act's inevitable usage list for the new UU tier (which will hopefully give birth to a future NU tier). The pain meaning hear is X-Act's usage tier-- I suggest we have a word for this seeing as it will soon be a concept excercised over more tiers than OU.
Example Proposal: "Standard."
This word would be defined as "Those pokemon that define their tier based on the usage list." Thus if we were to say "OU Standard," it would refer to the OU List, "UU Standard" and "NU standard having the same meaning for their respective tiers.
This would have the added benefit of making the phrase "OU" refer specifically to the metagame as a whole (which includes lower tier pokemon) rather than just those OU pokemon of the usage list. Right now "OU" has both meanings in it and it has to be taken from context what meaning is implied.
Suspect
The english word suspect refers to all parties that are under scrutiny in regards to guilt over a crime. However, in our metagame it is not just suspect pokemon, but all pokemon that are under constant monitering by the players. If someone developed a killer, game-breaking set for Salamence, it would come under scrutiny just as Garchomp did. Thus I think the phrase needs greater specificity.
example definition: "A pokemon that has come under scrutiny such that it requires its own testing in a metagame independent of other suspects. Occurs in the case of 1 of 2 cases:
1- A pokemon that is moving from a "Pseudo-Tier" to a lower "Balanced Tier." (ie. a pokemon moving from BL to UU)
2- A pokemon whose strength in the metagame has aroused attention from the players to a degree that it must be designated as a suspect. (ie. a case like Garchomp)
Ultimately, I would like to propose a thread (if not this one), containing updates to accepted terminology as needed. As discussion continues, I think it inevitable that we will come across many needed cases of ammendments to current terminology, or words to define new concepts that arise with new issues. Basically a thread where we can suggest alterations or additions to accepted smogon terminology.
"The problem is just syntax," people say-- but Syntax can really bite you in the ass.
