Just happened across this trope. In TV Tropes parlance, "The Masquerade" is a term of art that doesn't necessarily match its common English language usage. The Masquerade isn't really about disguises or masks at all, except metaphorically. It's more about secrets, conspiracies, etc.

But Masquerade Maintenance is about disguise or "appearance alteration", and has no inherent relationship to The Masquerade. When I saw the name, I figured the trope was about the "Men In Black Auxiliary" or something - the people who clean up after the giant bug attack to make sure nobody finds any weird evidence, etc.

I think it needs renaming to something more obviously about appearance.

It's about a personal masquerade.

Is there significant misuse, or would there be a significant increase in use if the name was changed?

13 wicks and 6 inbounds, and a misuse of Masquerade. Clearly in need of renaming and possibly crosswicking.

Clocking.

The Hellboy example is clearly just misuse, as he's a character who could never pass for human.

What is the trope, exactly (and are we sure we don't have it elsewhere?) The reference to The Masquerade needs to go in the description.

Maybe something like Hide Your Otherness, only less terrible? That's not a good name, but at least approaches the gist of the trope.

I prefer that name to the current.

I like it too because it would better fit the Hellboy example. Sure he'll never pass for human but removing his horns makes him feel ''less' demon. The only problem is does it count as a dialogue title?

Crowner's hooked.

Trying to think of alternate names.

Hide The Tell ?

Normalcy Disguise ?

Hide Your Otherness implies a connection to Hide Your Children and Hide Your Lesbians that isn't there, so that would be a bad choice.

Calling in favour of a rename.

Alt names crowner. Didn't add the other choices due to snowclone concerns - someone may add them if they like it.

I don't think it's fair to start an alt. names crowner with only one option on it...

Umm...what would the other two be snowclones of, exactly?

I think there's a Hide Your Lesbians or Hide Your Gays or something.

Edit: Lesbians, apparently.

edited 27th Jan '13 6:50:47 PM by ArcadesSabboth

Also Hide Your Children.

Bumping for votes.

I don't like the normal/abnormal ones because they're too vague. Once can be abnormal/unusual without being superpowered or non-human. I think the fact that this is about trying to pass as (non-superpowered) human is important to indicate in some way in the name.

First two could be mistaken for Hugh Mann.

There's also an issue with the ones that aren't really disguises (like Hellboy's horns).

Votes bump here too!.

Snapshot (yea/nay):

• Abnormality Concealment 7-3
• Normalcy Disguise 7-5
• Normalcy Disguise 7-5
• Dressing As A Mundane 5-4

The rest is in the red.