Condottiere
SOC-14 5K
Eldar like to refer to humans as Mon-keighs, a hairy primate species they're familiar with.
Insults of the Imperium
- Thread starter kilemall
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kilemall
SOC-14 5K
Good point. I am looking for stuff that sets future peoples off, so if racism doesn't do it, the functional equivalent of 'your momma' or 'your service branch are incompetent cowards so you must be one too' will suffice.
Yeah. Need to think outside the box on this thread.
Since, Aslan are honor bound they might find Over Acting with Honor to be humorous. Acting without honor and without reason might be funny. "Why would anyone do it?"
Aslan might think Humans being silly is insulting to humans.
Hivers might find someone easily manipulated to be humorous. To manipulate a Hiver and display it would be a huge insult.
K'Kree would think a comparison to a Vargr would be an enormous insult.
Are you sure?
Traveller Wiki said:
To manipulate a Hiver might, instead of insulting them, earn their respect.
Enoki
SOC-14 1K
Well, if you look at humanity, insults are often based on specific topics or ideas that demean the person insulted.
For example, many insults are gender or sex based. Insults of this sort towards men tend to be ones calling or insinuating they are female or feminine.
"You throw / hit like a girl!"
"You're a p....y!"
"My sister hits harder than you do!"
Insults towards women tend to question their promiscuity.
"Wh...e!"
"Bi...h!"
"Slu...!"
Other insults might be directed towards competence, intellect, or other desirable traits that when lacking would be considered making the person of lower status.
The same thing might occur here. For example, a K'kree being called a "Loner" or otherwise insinuating they're not part of the herd would likely be insulting.
Telling a male Aslan he fights like a (fill in the blank with something that is weak and easily beaten). Or, maybe telling a female Aslan she couldn't think her way out of a wet paper sack.
Maybe telling a Zhodani that the only reason they exist is because their mind is a test pattern (I used a human version, maybe there's something more appropriate to Zhodani). It'd be like saying "The lights are on and nobody's home... and I can prove it!
For example, many insults are gender or sex based. Insults of this sort towards men tend to be ones calling or insinuating they are female or feminine.
"You throw / hit like a girl!"
"You're a p....y!"
"My sister hits harder than you do!"
Insults towards women tend to question their promiscuity.
"Wh...e!"
"Bi...h!"
"Slu...!"
Other insults might be directed towards competence, intellect, or other desirable traits that when lacking would be considered making the person of lower status.
The same thing might occur here. For example, a K'kree being called a "Loner" or otherwise insinuating they're not part of the herd would likely be insulting.
Telling a male Aslan he fights like a (fill in the blank with something that is weak and easily beaten). Or, maybe telling a female Aslan she couldn't think her way out of a wet paper sack.
Maybe telling a Zhodani that the only reason they exist is because their mind is a test pattern (I used a human version, maybe there's something more appropriate to Zhodani). It'd be like saying "The lights are on and nobody's home... and I can prove it!
Ackehece
SOC-13
Hey it's a horse eating k'kree..... I bet his mommy kept him in a box as a child.
When That Aslan tried to kill a fly he punched himself out instead, his mate is some much stronger than him at fighting he sought a divorce to hide his shame. She is dumber than a zarkalian slime lizard... you know the ones that forget to breathe during rain storms killing themselves.
Your mother was a zhodani and your father smelt of elderberry wine.
When That Aslan tried to kill a fly he punched himself out instead, his mate is some much stronger than him at fighting he sought a divorce to hide his shame. She is dumber than a zarkalian slime lizard... you know the ones that forget to breathe during rain storms killing themselves.
Your mother was a zhodani and your father smelt of elderberry wine.
Your mother wears Swordy combat boots.
[size=-2]As per Yakov Smirnov; and she probably does ... and will hurt you.[/size]
[size=-2]As per Yakov Smirnov; and she probably does ... and will hurt you.[/size]
Ackehece
SOC-13
My mother does wear those boots... and she is proud of that fact... Kill any wImp Marine...
MThompson016
SOC-12
"Yeah, because she killed one and took his boots as a trophy."
My mother complains that her combat boots no longer fit... 1LT V. L. Morris, WAC... Mustered out at Landstuhl, Duetschland, with travel orders to Texas...
Military/gender based insults won't work any better in the 3I than they do in modern America. Certain subcultures will be insulted, others simply bemused.
Call a marine a wus, he will, unless intoxicated, usually do little more than glower. Accuse him of willingly leaving live marines behind in enemy hands... many a marine would be tempted to take the Article 15 and flatten you.
Calling an Imp Marine "Naval Security Guard" would have as little impact as it did in the 1920's USMC - those not assigned to ship security details would correct you politely. Because, according to the tables, a significant portion of the IMC are, like the 1920's USMC, assigned to security details for the Navy.
Context is important, and more so is the target's psychology.
It's not the manipulation, its the superiority by displaying it publicly.
I'm pretty sure that is within the manipulation guidelines, making it public after it has worked. I suspect that Hivers do not have humiliation as we see it.
Ok. I'll bite.
They worry about their survival. Manipulation is a primary element of their culture. Do you have evidence supporting the theory? Hivers have no sense self value?
I did not say they have no sense of self value. I did say I suspect that Hivers do not have humiliation as we see it.
I think they would lose more self-esteem or self-respect from failing a manipulation than from being the subject of a manipulation. I will reread my Hiver material once again to see if I learn anything directly bearing on this.
I believe that they might try to turn the tables on you rather than be insulted. I would say you have made yourself fair game in manipulating, except for the sense I get that they think anyone is fair game.
Spartan159;530650 said:
Cool. Let us know any viable assumptions. I've found Hiver books to be a dreary repeat of each other. Perhaps MgT has something. Haven't read it all.
So, if they consider it a challenge that's cool. But the game is up at that point. The cards are on the table. They've lost. A smart person would break away at that point. I cannot see tossing something in any sophonts direction and then coming back for more. That would be arrogant.
Enoki
SOC-14 1K
Part of that is dependent on who's making the insult too. Insults can also be made for other reasons than trying to enrage another party. They can be used for social banter for example.
And the angle can vary: For example:
Marines: You use a joke format instead: "Why do they put Marines on starships? Because sheep (substitute appropriate critter) are too obvious!"
Marines: "Bullet stoppers." "Self propelled sand bags." "Space going bell hops."
But, most military or other work / group specific insults are meant for use between members of that group. You're an outsider using them and you probably will end up getting beaten for it.
Insults can also be intended for self-use. That is the person holds contempt or prejudice for another group or race.
"Useless sand crabs" a spacer might say about people who never go into space.
Then there's more general insults:
"Your as useless as teats (or other appropriate body part) on a pump handle / rattlesnake / other thing where they would serve no useful purpose"
They say "I'm sorry." You reply "No you're not! You're pathetic!"
A female version might be "I can tell by your shoes you're a total bit...h."
The person being insulted is rich: "Let me write your name on a credit so I don't forget it..."
So, you need a lot of context to know if something will work as an insult or not depending on who is saying it and the person it is being directed to.
