Is "gelf" still a thing?

[Thrumdi]

I played Regnum Online about 3 years ago (mid-2010). At that time, the phrase "gelf" was widespread to describe players from the realm Syrtis. It was generally understood that this meant "gay elves".

Regnum recently appeared on Steam, and a few of my guild members expressed some interest in trying out the game. (We are primarily a PvP guild currently playing Guild Wars 2). However, we do have an explicit non-discrimination policy, as we have gay members, and guidies who have gay family members.

Before I can recommend our guild try out Regnum, I need to do due diligence about terms like this. Is "gelf" still widely used in chat, on the forums and elsewhere?

[PT_DaAr_PT]

Yes, but I can't understand why it has to be such a big deal. Syrtis looks gay and has elves, so somebody decided to call players of that realm gelf. I have never seen the word gelf being directed at a gay person that plays that realm. The majority of people don't really think much about the g in gelf. And to be honest, I don't give a shit and not even the most famous gelf of Regnum had a problem with it, and he is gay. You can read his own words:

Originally Posted by Pizdzius

So shall we make a poll among gay people what language can we use?
How ridiculous can it get?
I am gay too. As far as I am concerned, I don't CARE. ITS MY OWN PERSONAL BUSINESS. I know what language there is around world and I don't give a holy crap about it. I don't give a fuck if people tell jokes about polish people, either! I LAUGH cause they're FUNNY.
What the hell, man? There are gay people who unfortunately worked their asses hard on the status people pin to us now. Feminine looks, faggots, fashion sense, rainbows and teapot pose. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE LIKE THAT so why bother? Syrtis DOES look gay, but in all possible meanings. Looks happy, looks feminine, looks queer, looks lame. I admit, I HATE the gay chicken that's our mount :P

What we do in our bedrooms is our personal matter and saying GAY ELVES in a MMO game doesn't touch our sex life, does it?

What, are gay people the only ones that can use "gay" word? Mass hysteria and political correction is what I hate the most. And that's why I am ashamed of being gay, cause if I tell that to people, they always see me like a typical queer. I can't help it tho, I can only shrug and say I DONT CARE.


So, to sum it up, a drama queen who's crying to stop using phrase gelf, try to imagine it's green elf. Now, better?


DISTANCE.

[Hopeakettu]

It is, indeed. However, I think the 'gay elf' interpretation is problematic in my opinion. I've always preferred to primarily decode it as 'green elf', which is probably the original meaning.

(Then again, there was a time in the past when being 'gay' had nothing to do with sexual orientation.)

OT: I wonder if people interpret 'goats' as 'gay oats'

EDIT: +1 to the post above

[VeterKh]

i really don't care about sexual orientation of Realm Sirtis. It's a GAME.

[Quincebo]

Like all alsius players are goats in real life, or have goats in their backyard

Like all ignis players are pigs, or have pigs in their backyard

[Wield_II]

http://i.imgur.com/FVV9z.gif

[_Kharbon_]

Basically, I agree with Daar and Hopeakettu.

The term "gelfs" is still generally used, but I doubt, that many players still know what it originally meant.
Personally, I always understood it as a abbreviation from the word "goat". Since Alsirians are generally known as "goats" (for rather obvious reasons), I thought, that the "g" from the beginning of the word was stocked upon the word "elf", to create a "gelfs" (I hope, this makes a bit of sense :P)

When I learned what "gelf" ment, I started using my (c) modification "gelfie", and for goats "goatie" :P. Still, the simple word gelf and goat is much more convenient to use, than any other, to distinguish between the two realms in war.

Therefore, I wouldn't consider this term much more discriminating than "pig", that's used to call ignis :P

[Checkit]

Just don't play. We don't need a group of people who are going to get offended by every little thing said to them.

Also, +123219083092185012930281942 to the quote in Daar's post.

[Takeyo]

Originally Posted by Hopeakettu

It is, indeed. However, I think the 'gay elf' interpretation is problematic in my opinion. I've always preferred to primarily decode it as 'green elf', which is probably the original meaning.

(Then again, there was a time in the past when being 'gay' had nothing to do with sexual orientation.)

OT: I wonder if people interpret 'goats' as 'gay oats'

This! Why are people so eager to interpret things in a derogatory manner?! I have always read it as "green elves" (meaning forest elves and referring to them in terms of the colour of their realm, indicating the realms people in general by extension) as opposed to the Ignis whose elves are dark elves which I would describe as purple or red for similar reasons. What we're doing is simply indicating what other realm is involved, not casting a slur on any realm! Half the time I simply report colours. Referring to Syrtis as "green" and Alsius as "blue" with no nicknames attached. Maybe we should just use colours since they're just as easy to type and nobody will misinterpret them... on second thought maybe they will
Still, fyi here is a Drow who loves the old country! I joined Ignis because they're somewhat of the underdog on my server, and I decided I just HAD to have a dark elf... but the Forest always calls to my elven blood... Keep being awesome and elven you awesome Syrtians you!

[Takeyo]

And now that I read the thread I see that a lot of people feel like I do about the term... why must haters hate? IT STANDS FOR "GREEN ELF" apparently all real people realize this! Glad to see I don't stand alone... or with just one other :P