You gave us a Latin name?

[qcontinuum]

The arrogance of humanity is absolutely stunning. They're still running around naming every species they run into-- including the plant and animal and nanite and energy and silicon and every other form of life-- with a dead language from their long-past history.

Of course generally speaking they seem to be giving species names based on their own words for themselves. I can only imagine what they named the Klingons. Klingonus semisapiens? (Okay, that's not what they named them, but they should have.)

So I decided to see what they named us. "Deolus ludens" : playing little gods.

Little gods?

Who play?

I said something to Riker one time about the sentience of species being defined by the complexity of their games. So I suppose Riker's behind this. Either that or the line made it into a report and someone else thought it would be funny to name us for it.

The Organians are "Deolus pacans" -- little gods who make peace. Yeah, right. How humanicentric.

But on the other hand I think I'd rather be well known for the quality of my games than something boring like making peace. :-)

Who got the idea of putting us all in the same taxonomic genus anyway? We're not actually related. Not to the Organians, anyway. We're distantly related to the Douwd but in the same sense that all human mammals are related.

But little gods? I'm omnipotent. How would you go about defining a big god?

Okay, so I will put up with "petit dieu", but deolus sounds like something Crusher would treat with a hypospray. And that's why Latin is a dead language and French isn't. Latin, to put it bluntly, sucks. (What kind of language takes the concept "beauty" and makes it into the word "pulchritudina?")

Comments

Re: It's not just Humans

[qcontinuum.livejournal.com]

*Every* species comes up with names for those they encounter--even if they do eventually adopt the culture's own name.

I wouldn't say every, Kathy. Mine doesn't. We call other species what they call themselves.

In terms of sheer arrogance, I think the Borg, with their penchant for classifying other species with only a number and suitability for assimilation, take the prize.

Yes, the Borg are obnoxious like that. At least they gave us an adjective or two to go along with our number. I'm also pleased that not only are we not on their "assimilate" list, we are actually on their "run away real fast when you see this" list.

Terrorizing the Borg is not just fun, it's an important civic duty. They are arrogant enough to get it into their head to try to study us if we don't keep 'em scared.

Somehow, I suspect that you wouldn't be satisfied with *any* name conferred upon you by Humans

Not if it had a word like "deolus" in it. I mean, doesn't it sound like a fungal infection?

Besides, I gave you people a perfectly good name to use. One syllable, one letter, easy to say and even easier to spell. I don't see why you had to go make up one of your own. I mean I go to all the trouble to come up with a name for us that you can pronounce and that would, as closely as possible in your language, translate what we are, so you go and decide we're the little playing gods instead?

That being said, after having thought about it, I suppose the "ludens" part is one of the more appropriate things you could have come up with.

(unless it were a personalized form of adress by *one* particular Human?)

Why do you think I'm that picky? There's certainly more than one Human I'd accept personalized forms of address from... :-)

And as far as the 'little' moniker rankling, well, I seem to recall at least one other occasion when you were also obsessed with 'size'...

Hmmph. I'm still taller than him. And more omnipotent.

Re: It's not just Humans

[kathrynjaneway.livejournal.com]

We call other species what they call themselves.

Presumably though, the adjectives are your own additions?

a word like "deolus" in it. I mean, doesn't it sound like a fungal infection?

I couldn't really say, as my primary field of study was quantum cosmology, not mycology.

I mean I go to all the trouble to come up with a name for us that you can pronounce and that would, as closely as possible in your language, translate what we are, so you go and decide we're the little playing gods instead?

Perhaps a more descriptive name was deemed necessary? (Or someone at Records got tired of too many alphabet jokes?)

Why do you think I'm that picky? There's certainly more than one Human I'd accept personalized forms of address from... :-)

From certain comments you've made lately, I was fairly certain you had narrowed your focus to one individual in particular. Hmm, perhaps my assumption was in error? *raises speculative brow*

I'm still taller than him. And more omnipotent.

*More* omnipotent? I didn't think such distinctions were possible.

And I distinctly remember your exact phrasing on that particular occasion was, "Mine's bigger!"

Re: It's not just Humans

[qcontinuum.livejournal.com]

Presumably though, the adjectives are your own additions?

The adjectives are descriptive. For instance, "humanity" or "humans" is our name for you. "Primitive, savage child-race" is one possible description we might apply to you. See the difference?

Perhaps a more descriptive name was deemed necessary? (Or someone at Records got tired of too many alphabet jokes?)

Well, yes, that's true. If I have to hear one more "But where's U?"... that's gotten as old as can I make a rock so heavy I can't lift it.

From certain comments you've made lately, I was fairly certain you had narrowed your focus to one individual in particular. Hmm, perhaps my assumption was in error? *raises speculative brow*

I don't know how many times I need to make it clear that the Q have no concept of monogamy...

*More* omnipotent? I didn't think such distinctions were possible.

Sure they are. For example, amanda_the_q is an omnipotent being, but since she's less powerful and less experienced than the rest of us, we can override her any time we want. Therefore we're more omnipotent than she is. :-)

And I distinctly remember your exact phrasing on that particular occasion was, "Mine's bigger!"

True, but I got rid of it.

The tattoo, of course. It looked stupid. What, did you think I was talking about something else? :-)

Re: It's not just Humans

[kathrynjaneway.livejournal.com]

For instance, "humanity" or "humans" is our name for you. "Primitive, savage child-race" is one possible description we might apply to you. See the difference?

Just glad to hear that they are not interchangable *g*.

that's gotten as old as can I make a rock so heavy I can't lift it.

Well, can you? (Sorry, I couldn't resist. But seriously, this strikes me as a rather ridiculous question to pose to a god-like being, if one could ask *anything* at all).

I don't know how many times I need to make it clear that the Q have no concept of monogamy...

I wasn't referring to a monogamous relationship, Q. At least how humans would define the term. I'm well aware of your views on the subject. Rather, I meant you appeared lately to be focusing most of your *attention* on one particular individual...who, coincidentally, just had a birthday and speaks French (which you have stated you much prefer as a language over Latin).

Therefore we're more omnipotent than she is

Perhaps my human limitations are showing, but I keep returning to the fact that 'omni' means 'all', so 'omnipotent' is 'all-powerful.' One doesn't usually think of there being different degrees of all-powerful, it's more of an absolute.

The tattoo, of course. It looked stupid. What, did you think I was talking about something else? :-)

It never crossed my mind for even an instant that you might have done away with another 'accessory'(it would certainly belie another definition of the word omipotent...) Though, your physical form is one you've simply adopted for your interactions with Humans, so really there is nothing to prevent you from making any 'alterations' you wish.

Any removals are reversible, yes?