Hahaha Elfwood Weirdos
So, I awoke, feverish and sick, to find that my piece, Into the Blue, had been featured as a Mod's Choice on Elfwood. I was all happy and then I laughed, realizing that all sorts of Elfwood weirdos were going to come out of the woodwork to leave their strange comments/flames/suggestions. Sure enough, as the day went on, out came the baffling comments from anonymous posters who could be located anywhere from Ohio to Antarctica.
Of course, there's always a gem.
This one I received from - you guessed it - an anonymous poster on my piece, Into the Faelands:
"Very nice picture. I really admire your coloring and concept.
However, were you aware that "Iolani" is Hawaiian for "Heavenly Hawk?" As a Hawaii local, it's very strange for me to hear that in a fantasy setting. It's very commonly heard around here: a palace, a clothing brand, an apartment building, and a prestigious college prep school are all named Iolani. It just doesn't work for your story, because it's actually too common a name. To hear you using it in this setting is...very, very odd. To say the LEAST. It would be just as bad as calling the hero's horse "Honolulu." I assume you know what that is."
Can I have a raise of hands - who here has heard, previously to me using it as the name of a character, the name 'Iolani"? *laughs* This person is making it sound like Iolani is as commonplace in people's minds as the word "Honolulu." Here, let me make a similar argument, using "Corrib," which is the name of a river here in Galway and also used for many businesses.
It's very commonly heard around here: a river, a shopping center, a student apartment building, are all named Corrib. It just doesn't work for your story, because it's actually too common a name. To hear you using it in this setting is...very, very odd. To say the LEAST. It would be just as bad as calling the hero's horse "Ireland." I assume you know what that is."
Makes just about as much sense, doesn't it? I really wish this guy had left an email adress so I could have set him straight. The uniqueness of names are all based off how common they are among the society they are used in. I mean, how common is the name Niamhín in Japan? It is very common here in Ireland, and it would be ridiculous for an Irish person to accuse a Japanese writer of being 'uncreative' for using such a 'common' name in their writing. 'Iolani' may be common in Hawaii, but in the rest of the world, it is practically unknown. As for the reason I named her Iolani? I chose it because of the meaning 'heavenly hawk.' Iolani is a half-angel blacksmith. She is a warrior, and has heavenly blood. Fits pretty well, I think.
Pssst! I have a secret! The world does not revolve around Hawaii. *giggles* Surprise!
Of course, there's always a gem.
This one I received from - you guessed it - an anonymous poster on my piece, Into the Faelands:
"Very nice picture. I really admire your coloring and concept.
However, were you aware that "Iolani" is Hawaiian for "Heavenly Hawk?" As a Hawaii local, it's very strange for me to hear that in a fantasy setting. It's very commonly heard around here: a palace, a clothing brand, an apartment building, and a prestigious college prep school are all named Iolani. It just doesn't work for your story, because it's actually too common a name. To hear you using it in this setting is...very, very odd. To say the LEAST. It would be just as bad as calling the hero's horse "Honolulu." I assume you know what that is."
Can I have a raise of hands - who here has heard, previously to me using it as the name of a character, the name 'Iolani"? *laughs* This person is making it sound like Iolani is as commonplace in people's minds as the word "Honolulu." Here, let me make a similar argument, using "Corrib," which is the name of a river here in Galway and also used for many businesses.
It's very commonly heard around here: a river, a shopping center, a student apartment building, are all named Corrib. It just doesn't work for your story, because it's actually too common a name. To hear you using it in this setting is...very, very odd. To say the LEAST. It would be just as bad as calling the hero's horse "Ireland." I assume you know what that is."
Makes just about as much sense, doesn't it? I really wish this guy had left an email adress so I could have set him straight. The uniqueness of names are all based off how common they are among the society they are used in. I mean, how common is the name Niamhín in Japan? It is very common here in Ireland, and it would be ridiculous for an Irish person to accuse a Japanese writer of being 'uncreative' for using such a 'common' name in their writing. 'Iolani' may be common in Hawaii, but in the rest of the world, it is practically unknown. As for the reason I named her Iolani? I chose it because of the meaning 'heavenly hawk.' Iolani is a half-angel blacksmith. She is a warrior, and has heavenly blood. Fits pretty well, I think.
Pssst! I have a secret! The world does not revolve around Hawaii. *giggles* Surprise!