For years, the developers of Magic: The Gathering have had fun with the titles of the cards. Anagrams of names, hidden words, and real-life references have all found their way onto cards throughout the years. The Invasion artifact card “Tek,” named by former Pro Tour player Worth Wollpert, was one of the first cards to overtly use Magic slang. Darksteel, the newest expansion released by Wizards of the Coast, features a card called “Savage Beating” which uses a phrase common in slang vocabulary. However, the card’s printing has had the unintended consequence of effectively removing the phrase from use worldwide.

Such behavior is not uncommon amongst groups that use slang, according to experts in the field of linguistics. Oftentimes, words fall by the wayside when used by elders or those in positions of power. “It’s a phenomenon known as ‘Uncool Dad Syndrome,’ or UDS for short,” said UC Berkeley Linguistics Professor Eve E. Sweetser. “Simply put, when your father uses a common slang term, it instantly becomes gauche to the point of embarrassment to use that word or phrase ever again.” Others in the field point to the evolution of languages caused by such shifts in the vernacular. “The extinction of ‘Groovy’ in January 1971, ‘Radical’ in the summer of 1987, and ‘Bling Bling’ in late 2003 are clear examples of this phenomenon, which has been documented in over 200 languages,” opines Professor Carla S. Smith of the University of Texas.

At first, players met the new Magic card without reservation. However, as time went by, more and more gamers found themselves repulsed by the overt theft of what was previously an underground slang word. Tom Martell of Palo Alto, CA, relates a story: “I realized just how uncool it was when I cast it against my friend and said, ‘Savage Beating is a Savage Beating! Hahaha… hehe… hrm.’ My friend stared blankly at me and simply shook his head in disgust.”

The harsh reaction has Wizards of the Coast reconsidering its policy of slang assimilation. Plans for card titles such as “Stains, Zombie Lord” and “YAUS” have been put on hold in light of recent developments. “I had many ideas for cards with the title ‘Get in There,’ but I’m not sure they’re a good idea anymore,” laments chief Magic designer Mark Rosewater. “But, despite the presence of hundreds of thousands of words in the English language, millions of possible combinations thereof, and the ability to create new words at will, the temptation to ruin perfectly good slang remains incredibly hard to resist.”

New terms are quickly moving into the niche vacated by “Savage Beating.” Phrases such as “Absolute Wrecking,” “Digital Remastering,” and “Big Time Ting-a-Ling” are now seeing common use in stores and homes across the world. While dialects vary from region to region, the Internet as a medium of communication tends to break down regional differences and establish a uniform vocabulary. “Within two or three months, a new phrase should become standard in the place of ‘Savage Beating,’ says Yale Professor Julie Ann Legate. “That is, until Wizards goes and fucks that one up, too.”

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!

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For years, the developers of Magic: The Gathering have had fun with the titles of the cards. Anagrams of names, hidden words, and real-life references have all found their way onto cards throughout the years. The Invasion artifact card “Tek,” named by former Pro Tour player Worth Wollpert, was one of the first cards to overtly use Magic slang. Darksteel, the newest expansion released by Wizards of the Coast, features a card called “Savage Beating” which uses a phrase common in slang vocabulary. However, the card’s printing has had the unintended consequence of effectively removing the phrase from use worldwide.

Such behavior is not uncommon amongst groups that use slang, according to experts in the field of linguistics. Oftentimes, words fall by the wayside when used by elders or those in positions of power. “It’s a phenomenon known as ‘Uncool Dad Syndrome,’ or UDS for short,” said UC Berkeley Linguistics Professor Eve E. Sweetser. “Simply put, when your father uses a common slang term, it instantly becomes gauche to the point of embarrassment to use that word or phrase ever again.” Others in the field point to the evolution of languages caused by such shifts in the vernacular. “The extinction of ‘Groovy’ in January 1971, ‘Radical’ in the summer of 1987, and ‘Bling Bling’ in late 2003 are clear examples of this phenomenon, which has been documented in over 200 languages,” opines Professor Carla S. Smith of the University of Texas.

At first, players met the new Magic card without reservation. However, as time went by, more and more gamers found themselves repulsed by the overt theft of what was previously an underground slang word. Tom Martell of Palo Alto, CA, relates a story: “I realized just how uncool it was when I cast it against my friend and said, ‘Savage Beating is a Savage Beating! Hahaha… hehe… hrm.’ My friend stared blankly at me and simply shook his head in disgust.”

The harsh reaction has Wizards of the Coast reconsidering its policy of slang assimilation. Plans for card titles such as “Stains, Zombie Lord” and “YAUS” have been put on hold in light of recent developments. “I had many ideas for cards with the title ‘Get in There,’ but I’m not sure they’re a good idea anymore,” laments chief Magic designer Mark Rosewater. “But, despite the presence of hundreds of thousands of words in the English language, millions of possible combinations thereof, and the ability to create new words at will, the temptation to ruin perfectly good slang remains incredibly hard to resist.”

New terms are quickly moving into the niche vacated by “Savage Beating.” Phrases such as “Absolute Wrecking,” “Digital Remastering,” and “Big Time Ting-a-Ling” are now seeing common use in stores and homes across the world. While dialects vary from region to region, the Internet as a medium of communication tends to break down regional differences and establish a uniform vocabulary. “Within two or three months, a new phrase should become standard in the place of ‘Savage Beating,’ says Yale Professor Julie Ann Legate. “That is, until Wizards goes and fucks that one up, too.”

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!

Related Stories

• Darksteel Card Restricted In Type I
• Thousands Take Sick Beets
• Learning the Lingo: Mise