I welcome additions to the dictionary of vampspeak PROVIDED such additions are needed at least semi-regularly on Vampyres. If you have a term that is not in use but you think represents a useful concept, try introducing it onlist. If it is adopted by Vampyres membership, it will be added to the Dictionary of VampSpeak. Additions this time include "quantum fluff" and, in the Netspeak appendix, IMGLO. ;-) The Mad Bibliographer (playing lexicographer) Cathy Krusberg Internet: ckberg@ix.netcom.com ========================================================= This info file was last posted November 4, 1998. A Dictionary of Vampspeak (Being a list of words used chiefly or solely by habitues of the discussion group "Vampiric Lore, Fact, and Fiction" = Vampyres) Bloodstock -- An annual real-life gathering of Vampyres listmembers. Basically a large-scale vampfest, each year's Bloodstock is organized by a committee which, with the aid of participants-to-be, decides on events and location (striving for variety and centrality, respectively). The first Bloodstock was held in July 1994, in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, at Miner's chicken farm. The name "Bloodstock" was coined by Arioch. Bloofer niblets -- children. So-called for the "Bloofer Lady" in DRACULA, who was fond of feeding on them. breather -- a living human being; especially, a member of mainstream human society. Usually derogatory. CotN -- Children of the Night. (Some prefer to interpret this as Creatures of the Night.) Any being or class of beings that reaches its optimal level of existence when the sun is beyond the horizon. This includes vampires, ghosts, weres, workers of all varieties of magic, disc jockeys (uhm..., I guess the PC version of that is radio announcers), and probably college students (especially those who can pull passing grades out of a hat). Yes, and gargoyles, too. FAQ -- Frequently Asked Question file. The VAMPYRES FAQ are part of the nonfiction archives currently available at the Vampyres Only web site or by request from Vlad III . FAQ is really a netspeak term. Many e-facilities have their own FAQ files. fledgling -- a newly created vampire, or a new member of this list. (Some Vampyres listners use the term "fleshling.") fluff -- any fiction or poetry written by list members on vampires or other supernatural topics. NOT a derogatory term. The term "fluff" is also used on other parts of the Net. knightie -- fan of the TV series FORVER KNIGHT. Technically, a Knightie is a fan of the character Nick Knight in particular. lumloonian -- A listmember who will discuss only vampires as represented by Brian Lumley (the Necroscope series) and refuses to accept the validity of other types of vampire. Cf. masqueraddict, riceferatu. lurker -- a listmember who rarely, if ever, posts. A widely-used Netspeak term. mage -- a worker of any variety of magic. masqueraddict -- A listmember obsessed with vampires as represented in White Wolf's game Vampire: the Masquerade (VtM). The adjectival form is "masqueraddled." Cf. lumloonian, riceferatu. niblets -- short for Bloofer niblets nosferatu -- a traditional, folkloric vampire, often resembling a rotting corpse. quantum fluff -- a kind of round-robin fluff, with a premise similar to that of the TV series "Quantum Leap" -- hence, "quantum fluff." A quantum fluff involves the same character appearing in short fluff vignettes, each by a different author and with a discrete end that leads into a segue motif which enables the next fluffer to pick up without worrying about continuity. Akuma (Kenn Wislander) originated the quantum fluffs and coordinated the few that the Vampyres list has seen. The last was in about 1994. real vampires (also called realvamps or Arthenian vampires) -- human beings who are biologically normal in many respects but have the ability to "feed" off life energy. Blood is often the preferred medium, but they may also obtain this energy by "psychic" feeding. Real vampires may have characteristics associated with vampires of fiction, such as sensitivity to sunlight. Some are apparently born "realvamps"; others have undergone some type of transformation or realization of latent abilities to become vampires. Real vampires are a controversial topic. Many aficionados of fictional vampires give no credence to the notion that vampires exist in "real life," and even self-proclaimed real vampires may disagree on what is in fact a "real vampire." The Vampire Support WebRing, hosted by Sanguinarius , gives access to a number of web sites relevant to real vampires. renfield -- a vampire's minion, often bug-eating and prone to maniacal cackles of laughter. Named for the madman Renfield in the classic novel DRACULA by Bram Stoker. riceferatu -- originally, a fledgling list member who has not yet learned that raising the subject of casting for the filming of INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE results in pained screams from veteran list members (who have been over this ground repeatedly). "Riceferatu" can also apply to someone who will discuss ONLY Ricean vampires (i.e., those appearing in the works of Anne Rice) and/or who refuses to accept the existence of other varieties, even in fiction. Cf. lumloonian, masqueraddict. turn -- to make a person a vampire. vampfest -- a physical-world (not virtual) gathering at which (1) the majority of attendees are listmembers or former listmembers; (2) at least four people not of the same geographic social circle are present; and (3) vampyres are discussed. This definition eliminates (for example) regular roleplaying get-togethers by listmembers. A gathering of listmembers who live in the same area and do not normally meet off-net, however, qualifies as a vampfest if it conforms to all other criteria. (The term "vampfest" was coined by Huntress in 1990; the definition was refined at the New England Vampfest II of 1992.) van helsing -- A vampire hunter of great sagacity. virtual party (v-party) -- a type of shared-world fluff. The virtual party is "hosted" by a kind being who provides a setting for fluffery. Participants "attend" by posting activities of one or more attending personae at said party. Virtual parties are limited to a few days' duration, as determined in advance by the host. They generate incredible quantities of fluff and inspire screams of anguish from listmembers who have small e-mail accounts and/or little spare time, and who do not realize that such events are the exception rather than the rule for the Vampyres list. More experienced listmembers who prefer to avoid the festivities unsubscribe during virtual parties. were -- any being that can assume the forms of other species, e.g., werewolf, weretiger, were-seal, were-kiwi, were-firefly. ================================================================ Appendix: A SHORT DICTIONARY OF NETSPEAK Tacked on by recurrent demand, this appendix brings to you a sampling of the more common abbreviations used on the nets. These items are really netspeak rather than vampspeak, but there have been enough requests for information like this to justify its inclusion. You asked for it -- you got it! AFAIK As Far As I Know BCNU Be seein' you! BFN Bye for now BTW By the way FUBAR F[ouled] Up Beyond All Recognition FWIW For whatever it's worth FYI For Your Information GD&R Grinning ducking & running IIRC If I recall correctly IMO In my opinion IMHO In my humble opinion (and numerous variants: IMOSHO = in my oh-so-humble opinion; IMNSHO = in my not-so-humble opinion, etc.) IMGLO In my God-like opinion = "This is my tongue. See how it is firmly planted in my cheek." LOL Laugh(ing) out loud OIC Oh, I see! OTOH On the other hand ROF,L Rolling on floor, laughing. RSN Real Soon Now [which may be a long time coming] RTFM Read the F[ine] Manual (or Message) SNAFU Situation Normal, All F[ouled] Up TIA Thanks In Advance TTFN Ta ta for now! TTYL Talk (type) to you later YMMV Your mileage may vary NONVERBAL NETSPEAK: Better known as emoticons or smileys. There are many, *many* variations on the smiley, but these are the ones you're most likely to see: :-) Basic smiley. Turn your head on its side to see it! :) Condensed version of the same. ;-) Winking smiley. :-( Frowning smiley. User is upset. :-D Laughing smiley. :-p Smiley sticking its tongue out (at you!) Vampire smilies include :-[ , :-)= , and variants. On some lists you will see Japanese-style smileys. I am less familiar with these, but the basic form is ^_^ . My favorite Japanese-style smiley is the humble bow of thanks or apology --> m(__)m .