Any Questions?

[Tonyblack]

just around the corner from me there's a gynecologist called (translated) dr fishfat. in german his name is just a bit different, but i can't write THAT as my second post.

anyway, i do have a question about nightwatch, and the whole internet couldn't answer me this (also, i was looking for a discworld forum ):

in nightwatch, vimes calls knocker by his real first name, winsborough. "besides, he had given him his real name. the man never used it in public, for fear of the panic it might cause."

why should that name cause panic? because it's a nobby name? or am i just too not-british?

It wouldn't really cause a panic, it's Terry trying to be funny and the joke doesn't really work (at least in my opinion). If anyone was really called Winsborough they'd probably be teased mercilessly (or worse) because it's such a stupid sounding name.

The guy in Night Watch certainly wouldn't want the blokes he worked with finding out his real name, because they'd probably mock him.

But it really wouldn't cause a panic - it's a sort of far-fetched idea that Terry is putting forward to show how silly the name is.

I hope that helps.

 

[dennykay]

oh drat, the possible explanations in my mind were so much bigger and better than this, but it's always like this.

oh, and edit: thanks, tony!

 

[Tonyblack]

You are welcome.

 

[archerinwood]

If you want to join another discworld forum you could go to the cunning artificer forum, which is as good as this one. Also many people on here can speak german or live in Germany. I learn it at school, for example, and those people could probably help/ empathise with you as well.

 

[Dotsie]

It wouldn't really cause a panic, it's Terry trying to be funny and the joke doesn't really work (at least in my opinion). If anyone was really called Winsborough they'd probably be teased mercilessly (or worse) because it's such a stupid sounding name.

The guy in Night Watch certainly wouldn't want the blokes he worked with finding out his real name, because they'd probably mock him.

But it really wouldn't cause a panic - it's a sort of far-fetched idea that Terry is putting forward to show how silly the name is.

I hope that helps.

I have to disagree! I think that Terry is pointing out how the common man feels ill-at-ease with nobby people, and if you have a posh name you wouldn't use it in case commomers were afraid to talk to you.

Then when they got over that they would take the piss.

 

[Tonyblack]

Nah - if you found out that the school bully's real name wasn't 'Crusher' but Tarquin, he'd lose a lot of his power. Although he'd probably still stomp all over you if you called him by that name.

 

[Quatermass]

I have to disagree! I think that Terry is pointing out how the common man feels ill-at-ease with nobby people, and if you have a posh name you wouldn't use it in case commomers were afraid to talk to you.

Then when they got over that they would take the piss.

Everyone feels ill-at-ease around Nobby people, though I think he is probably his own species...

Nah - if you found out that the school bully's real name wasn't 'Crusher' but Tarquin, he'd lose a lot of his power. Although he'd probably still stomp all over you if you called him by that name.

Actually, if you had a classical education, or just was a decent autodidact (I am firmly in the latter camp), Tarquin is a very good name for a bully. After all, Tarquin was the 'last' king of Rome, infamous for being arrogant and throwing his weight around, and his son, who also had Tarquin in his name, raped Lucrezia.

Then again, explaining this to a bully would not get you merit points...

 

[The Mad Collector]

Then again, explaining this to a bully would not get you merit points...

But it might get you a bag to put your teeth in afterwards

 

[Anonymous]

BTW: How many miles is Lancre from A-M?
I found many things between 400 and 1000 miles...

 

[The Mad Collector]

BTW: How many miles is Lancre from A-M?
I found many things between 400 and 1000 miles...

Looks like about 800 miles as the witch flies according to the Discworld Mapp.

 

[Anonymous]

BTW: How many miles is Lancre from A-M?
I found many things between 400 and 1000 miles...

Looks like about 800 miles as the witch flies according to the Discworld Mapp.

Thanks... What does it say in Lords&Ladies (The first scene at the UU in said book?)
(Yes, i AM tearing apart a horrible fanfiction again for the general amusement *whistles innocently*)

 

[The Mad Collector]

BTW: How many miles is Lancre from A-M?
I found many things between 400 and 1000 miles...

Looks like about 800 miles as the witch flies according to the Discworld Mapp.

Thanks... What does it say in Lords&Ladies (The first scene at the UU in said book?)
(Yes, i AM tearing apart a horrible fanfiction again for the general amusement *whistles innocently*)

“Someone got killed up here.”
“Oh, no,” moaned Nanny Ogg. “Not inside the circle too.”
“Nope. Don’t be daft. It was outside. A tall man. He had one leg longer’n the other. And a beard. He was probably a hunter.”
“How’d you know all that?”
“I just trod on ‘im.”
The sun rose through the mists.

The morning rays were already caressing the ancient stones of Unseen University, premier college of wizardry, five hundred miles away.

 

[Tonyblack]

I thought five hundred miles. Poor Agnes ends up walking it.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot. And aye, poor Agnes

 

[archerinwood]

Mad, you know too much about discworld. Before I came on to he forum I was the only person in 5 schools (I know/ knew people from them) to have read a whole TP book all the way through. I love his books but I must admit that for me they start of a bit slow, but by the middle the story turns into a sort of film. If anyone is in constant good contact with him could you tell him I really like his books.
I have talked to him at the hogswtch event. I said "Can I sake your hand because you are the best author ever?" and he replied "I hink you're right!" I was so happy to talk to him.

 

[meerkat]

You lucky s*d Archer! I'd love to just tell him he is a brilliant writer! Maybe, maybe, 2012 I'll get a chance! I hope so!

 

[The Mad Collector]

You lucky s*d Archer! I'd love to just tell him he is a brilliant writer! Maybe, maybe, 2012 I'll get a chance! I hope so!

You'll have plenty of chances in 2012, he is generally wandering around. Just don't disturb him when his name badge says he is Silas T Firefly (member number 666) as that is his alter-ego for the convention when he just wants to enjoy himself as well.

 

[Tonyblack]

And don't bother him if he's sitting in a corner typing furiously at his laptop. I saw this happen at Clarecraft in 2005 - a fan went up to him and asked him if he was busy and he replied: "well, if you want to call writing my next book 'busy', then yes I am."

 

[Dotsie]

I thought five hundred miles. Poor Agnes ends up walking it.

I would walk five hundred miles.
And I would walk five hundred more.*

I wouldn't really



* It's a pop song Tony.

 

[Dotsie]

And don't bother him if he's sitting in a corner typing furiously at his laptop. I saw this happen at Clarecraft in 2005 - a fan went up to him and asked him if he was busy and he replied: "well, if you want to call writing my next book 'busy', then yes I am."

And don't ask him to sign something if he's striding purposefully towards the gents, or as he says "you might get a signing you hadn't bargained on"