68 replies to this topic

[Mystere]

LordNothing, on 17 February 2016 - 06:52 PM, said:

language evolves, we get it. that still doesn't make people who use the word "meta" look smart. it means so many things that it is vague and useless. its actual meaning can only be inferred by its context. this is not an elegant way to use language, especially when there are synonyms with more explicit meaning that can be used. but that isnt cool so we use words that all the cool people are using.

Apparently, these days you just ain't cool until you invent something, even if it is something stupid or worthless.

[Bishop Steiner]

LordNothing, on 17 February 2016 - 06:52 PM, said:

language evolves, we get it. that still doesn't make people who use the word "meta" look smart. it means so many things that it is vague and useless. its actual meaning can only be inferred by its context. this is not an elegant way to use language, especially when there are synonyms with more explicit meaning that can be used. but that isnt cool so we use words that all the cool people are using.

And since the actual context used in these forums is plain enough for a small child to grasp, it serves it's purpose.

It has nothing to do with "making one look smart" and everything to do with conveying a mutually understood idea in an expeditious manner, so that time need not be wasted, and one can move immediately to the crux of the matter.

The only ones concerned about "looking smart" appear to be those who insist on clinging only to the archaic or original meaning of the term, while thinking they are somehow superior for not deigning to indulge the vulgar usage.

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 18 February 2016 - 02:01 AM.

[LordNothing]

its clear to people who have been around for awhile. i understand what people are saying. but when new players come to the game it just confuses them. i see a lot of people use "meta" wrong even in the mwo context, and that shows how confusing a term it is. i prefer to be more explicit for the benefit of all. if that makes me look like an intellectual circle jerk then so be it. but when i say optimal build even the most ignorant noob knows what i mean.

Edited by LordNothing, 17 February 2016 - 07:18 PM.

[Bishop Steiner]

LordNothing, on 17 February 2016 - 07:17 PM, said:

its clear to people who have been around for awhile. i understand what people are saying. but when new players come to the game it just confuses them. i see a lot of people use "meta" wrong even in the mwo context, and that shows how confusing a term it is. i prefer to be more explicit for the benefit of all. if that makes me look like an intellectual circle jerk then so be it. but when i say optimal build even the most ignorant noob knows what i mean.

If you desire a linguistics crusade, why not focus on the most egregious offender in these forums?

"VIABLE"

Consistently used, especially by the denizens of Mount Tryhard in lieu of the term "optimal", used correctly in your own post.

I see only a handful of people confused by the way meta is used here (and have seen it used on the same meaning on other forums), and most get up to speed fast enough.

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 17 February 2016 - 07:27 PM.

[Realizer]

The word has been being used for things of this instance, "games theory" since the early 1900's. Every game in the NFL is played to a meta; Chess has a Meta, and a long list of other things in daily life. It doesn't mean multiple things, it's not confusing, it's how things develop.

To put it more clearly if you go shopping for an item, let's say it's a car and you ask the sales guy, what's the fastest car he has to show you. He will show you the fastest car on the lot, but it may not be the fastest car you can buy, it's just the fastest one on that lot. To understand how meta applies the meaning of the word is, something beyond the end. In this case it would be the end of your purchase decision, you can choose to settle for the fastest car on that lot or you can go further and buy the fastest car you can afford from any lot. Figuring that out will take research and trial and error, but after a while you will find what you are looking for.

The same applies in MWO, or any other game. After thousands of matches on the same maps with the same choices and combinations given, eventually clear patterns will start to be visible. Such as laser builds have an easier time doing high amounts of damage when compared to their counterparts. Or in CS:GO for example it's easy to see which guns in the game are the best, by how often they outperform their counterparts on certain maps.

Edited by Realizer, 17 February 2016 - 07:37 PM.

[sycocys]

Mystere, on 17 February 2016 - 07:02 PM, said:

Apparently, these days you just ain't cool until you invent something, even if it is something stupid or worthless.

Flameta - its so cool I don't even need to explain what it is.

[Nauht]

What about metard?

[MischiefSC]

It is by skill alone I set the meta in motion.

It is by the use of mech lab that builds acquire efficiency, efficiency leads to meta, meta leads to pwning.

It is by skill alone I set the meta in motion.

Edited by MischiefSC, 17 February 2016 - 08:31 PM.

[Revis Volek]

Just for fun, this is how you use it in Chemistry.

4. Chemistry

• (of acids, salts, or their organic derivatives) a prefix denoting the least hydrated of a series: meta-antimonic,HSbO 3 ;
  
  meta-antimonous,HSbO 2.

Edited by Revis Volek, 18 February 2016 - 12:07 AM.

[LordNothing]

MischiefSC, on 17 February 2016 - 07:58 PM, said:

It is by skill alone I set the meta in motion.

It is by the use of mech lab that builds acquire efficiency, efficiency leads to meta, meta leads to pwning.

It is by skill alone I set the meta in motion.

that wasnt in the books!

[1Grimbane]

Nauht, on 17 February 2016 - 03:18 PM, said:

You whippersnappers. In my day the word to describe the current trend was "FOTM".

Ah, those were the golden days....

wait.. i thought that's how we described women back in high school

Edited by 1Grimbane, 18 February 2016 - 12:42 AM.

[Ghogiel]

Percy Veer, on 17 February 2016 - 02:58 PM, said:

You know...a real wannabe!

The pot, meet kettle.

[1Grimbane]

Silly pot.. we call them african americans.

Edited by 1Grimbane, 18 February 2016 - 12:44 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Nauht, on 17 February 2016 - 07:56 PM, said:

What about metard?

Always preferred Metatard, myself.

[Paigan]

Percy Veer, on 17 February 2016 - 02:58 PM, said:

Has the word game, strategy, tactics gone beyond your understanding.

Meta...meta..meta...

Sounds like a pseudo-intellectual to me!

You know...a real wannabe!

Exactely my impression.
99% of the MWO community don't know what meta actually means.
It's just some pseudo intellectual term that someone came up with who didn't comprehend the ABSTRACT nature of the term and all the Lemmings ran after him.

No amount of ignorantly flaming me will change that.

Please, community, try to understand what an abstract concept is and what "meta" actually means.
Then stop using "meta" as a synonym for "super" (no, it is NOT).

It would make a LOT of brainpain go away for people who actually understand the term.

Edited by Paigan, 18 February 2016 - 02:41 AM.

[Soultraxx]

Bishop Steiner, on 17 February 2016 - 07:05 PM, said:

The only ones concerned about "looking smart" appear to be those who insist on clinging only to the archaic or original meaning of the term, while thinking they are somehow superior for not deigning to indulge the vulgar usage.

Ah good sir, you must be referring to the English, like myself.

I often cringe at the mis-use of words, but I am not above using them myself - but I do insist on trying the phrases out with my butler first to ensure I am not, to coin a phrase, "barking up the wrong tree"

☺

[Revis Volek]

Paigan, on 18 February 2016 - 02:38 AM, said:

Exactely my impression.
99% of the MWO community don't know what meta actually means.
It's just some pseudo intellectual term that someone came up with who didn't comprehend the ABSTRACT nature of the term and all the Lemmings ran after him.

No amount of ignorantly flaming me will change that.

Please, community, try to understand what an abstract concept is and what "meta" actually means.
Then stop using "meta" as a synonym for "super" (no, it is NOT).

It would make a LOT of brainpain go away for people who actually understand the term.

The only ignorant one here is you sir.

Sorry your grasp on English is so tenuous. Please see my use for the word META from Chemistry above.


IF it was up to people like you we would have made all the words we need back in the early days of our language and even though new things are invented, new ideas created and new thoughts come to light we wouldn't be able to invent new words to describe it? Each needs to be named if they are not, hence why language must evolve.

Being stagnant means death dude, As intelligent as you sound you should understand that, To not change and not adapt is often death. Even in simple things like language, if it doesn't work and your cant use it to express what you wanna say then why would you use it at all?


If you dont evolve your language to fit the modern day then its gonna get thrown in the trash. I mean why do you think we still dont speak Old English? If you think words mean ONE thing and ONE thing only then you should be saying YE when you mean YOU and HEAR YE when you want people to listen to ya.

Your way off base bro, like usual with this topic.

Edited by Revis Volek, 18 February 2016 - 11:06 AM.

[CygnusX7]

Percy Veer, on 17 February 2016 - 02:58 PM, said:

Has the word game, strategy, tactics gone beyond your understanding.

Meta...meta..meta...

Sounds like a pseudo-intellectual to me!

You know...a real wannabe!

Your troll is pretty far from meta.

[Bud Crue]

Paigan, on 18 February 2016 - 02:38 AM, said:

Exactely my impression.
99% of the MWO community don't know what meta actually means.
It's just some pseudo intellectual term that someone came up with who didn't comprehend the ABSTRACT nature of the term and all the Lemmings ran after him.

No amount of ignorantly flaming me will change that.

Please, community, try to understand what an abstract concept is and what "meta" actually means.
Then stop using "meta" as a synonym for "super" (no, it is NOT).

It would make a LOT of brainpain go away for people who actually understand the term.

Oh boy! Word games!

Okay kids, define for me: Meta Guacamole

Is that guacamole that is self-referencing? or
Is it guacamole that is an abstraction of "real" guacamole? or
Is it guacamole that is on a higher level than other guacamole?

Answer: it is MY guacamole.

Edited by Bud Crue, 18 February 2016 - 11:34 AM.

[man du]

Bishop Steiner, on 17 February 2016 - 05:57 PM, said:

Ah, look at you, all trying to sound smart and special. Emphasis on trying.

Someone must have been given a shiny new dictionary for their birthday, and feeling like all kinds of a special princess, eh?

You know the word "gay" actually means "happy, carefree" and "shambles", a meat market, whilst "******" means a bundle of sticks. I wonder why nobody reacts to those terms in "their intended" definitions?

Crazy, right?

Oh, but linguistic evolution and contextual use changes things, you say? Yes, indeed it does. Even when one says "meta".

I have no stake in either side of this conversation and I hope you will eventually forgive my impertinence, but I thought of this when I read your post.