Quick thought before the day starts

[kimurho]

Yesterday, I posted about grindylow, claiming that Jennie Greenteeth, Peg Powler, and Nellie Long-arms (of whom I had never before heard) were individual, named members of the the same species. But what if "Grindylow" IS a named member of the same species.

Imagine if Otherfolk classified humans by the ones they knew. So there would be Donalds - low IQ beasts that build large empty buildings for no reason except to travel from one empty dwelling to another and who attempt to accumulate wealth. They steal beautiful young women, discarding them when they are bored. Dangerous because they lack understanding, occasionally actively malicious.

There would be Simmons, brightly clad beings with wild hair that are in perpetual motion, generally pleasant and smiling. Simmons are well-disposed to others and like to bless others with health and well-being.

... and so forth.

Comments

[spikethemuffin]

This would explain some things about lamias, how some people say their defining trait is "attracted to poets," others saying "great babysitters but will kill you," others saying "NO DO NOT LET THEM NEAR YOUR CHILDREN." Or dwarves, or kobolds, or how hobgoblins and brownies are the same species. It would be as if one Fae met a Simmons and one met an, I don't know, a Lana del Ray, and both of them were convinced that This Is How Humans Are.

It's almost like we tend to aggressively stereotype the Other.

[archangelbeth]

I like this concept, really...

*laugh*

[ysabetwordsmith]

That is brilliant.