🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <3l4iin$r...@nova.umuc.edu> car...@nova.umuc.edu (John Caruso) writes:
>In article <decuirjdD...@netcom.com>, John D. DeCuir wrote:
>>
>>    (FAQ Note:  "Strafing" means to slide, as opposed to accelerate.
>>    For example, when you sidestep to your left, you are "strafing".
>>    While the terminology is confusing, it is well-rooted in the
>>    Doom culture of today, so this writer will choose to keep
>>    it in.)
>
>Nice note, but the Webster's definition of strafe is "to attack with
>gunfire" (especially from low-flying aircraft).  No mention of moving
>side to side.  You can certainly slide without firing, so calling it
>strafing is not only inaccurate but misleading--and Descent refers to
>it as sliding throughout the documentation and within the game itself.
>Why use terminology from a different game, no matter how popular?  You
>wouldn't use Pac Man or Tron terms.  Why not stick to Descent?
>
>    (FAQ Note:  "Sliding" is often referred to as "strafing" by people
>    who've played Doom, so try to be indulgent when you talk to them.)
>
>:-)
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
> John Caruso               \   On the surface he seems sensible
> car...@paradiso.umuc.edu   \   But underneath the logic is crazy...
> caruso@UMUC (Bitnet)        \      -- Mark Burgess
>----------------------------------------------------------------------


Webster is not the final word.  Society, through it's use of a word, 
often redefines it.

The point is, strafing is what we all call sliding to one side, and 
firing when speaking about action games, just as it's flying past a 
target and firing when speaking of flight-sims.

Da Smurf's .02