MLP:FIM project; root out and destroy use of "plot" for flank.

For those not familiar, "plot" is a completely needless synonym for "butt" in the context of the MLP:FIM fandom, derived from the "I watch it for the plot" meme, and made even more ridiculous by the fact that the show itself contains a more logical equivalent, "flank."

Once in a while I'll notice this being used, but I think we should try to root out its use relating to the show, whether in the MLP:FIM pages, or anything crosswicked with it on trope pages.

edited 14th Feb '14 9:35:20 PM by HiddenFacedMatt

If it's just an Internet meme we probably should not adopt it - we generally try to be more original than that, although there are exceptions. That's just my opinion, though.

I know that among fandoms there's a trend for preferring the fandom's own slang terms over those used by others, but even though our Wiki is basically a fan site at its heart we should try to make sure that all articles are readily accessible to people who aren't part of a given fandom.

Isn't that what the OP said?

(Also, I agree that it's an absolutely horrendous meme, and I'll remove it if I find any examples. Admittedly, I don't hang on the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic pages much.)

Found another instance.

Well, actually, I recall seeing it months ago, not being sure whether it meant "plot" as in literally "comes back to bite her, in the story" or "comes back to bite her in the flank," and gave it the benefit of a doubt. Either it wasn't potholed at the time, or I didn't notice the pothole then. But I thought I recalled seeing something that said "bite her in the plot" and searched for that.

When in doubt; if you see "plot" and are not sure whether it means "flank" or "story" assume it means "flank" and edit it accordingly.

"Flank" is another misused term. Probably because it rhymes with "blank" and the fact that the English language lacks a term for the area of the cutie mark (apart from the rather prosaic and less than specific "butt").

This is the flank: [1]◊

edited 21st Feb '14 7:16:35 PM by peccantis

Fair enough, but at least then it'd be consistent with how it's used in the show.

Ideally one should not need to mention pony butts in the first place, except maybe describing how the show mentions them and/or possibly emphasizes them. It just seems so gratuitously vulgar, especially when statements like "bites her in the plot" could easily be replaced with alternatives like "comes back to haunt her." Stuff like the Simple Ways Getting Crap Past the Radar entry mentioned earlier is more of a grey area, but even that isn't crosswicked with the locked MLP:FIM radar page, suggesting that the user who added it in the first place either didn't think to crosswick it in the first place, or wasn't sure enough of it to put in an edit request. (Myself, I'm not sure what to make of that entry either way.)

edited 26th Feb '14 5:12:17 PM by HiddenFacedMatt

The page for Plot mentions "Has nothing to do with Pony backsides". Does this count as a thing that needs to be removed?

Yes.

Horse anatomy diagrams: [1]◊[2]◊[3]◊ Well, that settles it. It's called a buttock, just like in humans. And, yeah, a flank is nowhere where most fanfic writers think it is. A cutie mark is on the hindquarters, not the flank.

In tactical usage, 'flank' means roughly 'an approach the military body is not facing'. So 'flank' has a causal English use that means 'anywhere but the front' which includes your backsides. The same usage may have transferred to casual language for horses due to calvary units.

It has. Most non-equestrians would not know the technical definition of "flank" in regard to horse anatomy.

Plus, "blank hindquarters" doesn't have the same ring to it as "blank flank." I suppose that word is fine.