Sweet Polly Oliver is a pre-existing term that has been used for this trope since 1840. We didn't make it up.
Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. DickThere is no rule that says that every trope title has to be self-descriptive. These things only come up if the title isn't used anymore.
And, well, it has been used recently. People use the term on the internet, and Terry Pratchett used the term extensively in Monstrous Regiment. Thus, I think the name should stay, and I think that the consensus may agree with me on this.
Quote of the Week: 'I used to be indecisive, but now I'm unsure'Redirects:yes. Definitely. I'd personally prefer an Exactly What It Says on the Tin redirect for any preexisting terms that have fallen out of the common vernacular.
The name isn't broken. Here's the number of wicks.
This title has brought 927 people to the wiki from non-search engine links since 20th FEB '09.
So we know it's getting good use. If you would like to prove misuse, you'll have to comb through the wicks to find a decent percentage of misuse.
Fight smart, not fair.But no to a rename. It's a pre-existing term, and not being misused. Learn some of the pop culture osmosis from history instead of demanding all the old people learn a new term that isn't even in existence yet.
Lock Please
edited 5th Nov '10 7:27:56 AM by Sackett
Does it not seem a little rude to call for a lock of a discussion when it's less than 12 hours old?
Edit: I know what Sweet Polly Oliver means (having learned on this site), but it still seems archaic and confusing.
edited 5th Nov '10 1:50:27 PM by ShadesWord
The past is all you see, the future all you touch.Huh.. I don't remember seeing He Is a She as a redirect since I looked on the page yesterday when this thread was made. I was going to suggest Hiding Her Feminimity or something like that.
edited 5th Nov '10 2:29:35 PM by DRCEQ
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(and re: OP) There is no rule (policy, guideline, unofficial inclination, whatever) that says trope names should describe what the trope is about without referencing anything but an English dictionary. There is a general tendency away from trope names that imply something else, though, or are work-specific. "Sweet Polly Oliver" means a girl disguised as a boy to participate in some boys-only endeavor. Didn't know that? Now you do!
edited 5th Nov '10 2:41:12 PM by rodneyAnonymous
Becky: Who are you? The Mysterious Stranger: An angel. Huck: What's your name? The Mysterious Stranger: Satan.I added He Is a She as a redirect. While Sweet Polly Oliver is a perfectly good name for the trope, I thought that was a good alternative in that form.
Does anyone else think The Hua Mu Lan (the folklore heroine off of whom the title character of Mulan is based) would work as another?
Given that the name, the song, and the trope itself all feature prominently in a 2003 novel by one of the most popular British writers of the late 20th/early 21st century, I would argue that it has definitely not fallen out of the popular vernacular, though it may be better known in the UK than in the US. (But the US has a whole lot of Discworld fans too.)
edited 6th Nov '10 6:02:07 PM by Xtifr
Speaking words of fandom: let it squee, let it squee.Irrelevant. It's a 160 year old pre-established term still being used. Thinking we can do better than that would be fatal arrogance. Some redirects are already in place.
Edit: I've been corrected, It's 170 years old.
edited 6th Nov '10 7:21:56 PM by Daremo
Creed of the Happy Pessimist:Always expect the worst. Then, when it happens, it was only what you expected. All else is a happy surprise.I'm not in favor of a rename. I'm saying it needed redirects to make it more searchable.
Fight smart, not fair.Again, this is why we need to prove misuse before we go around renaming everything. Let's not 'fix' things that aren't broken just because you don't understand/like the title ok?
Want to rename a trope? Step one: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.This seems resolved. Redirects Are Free; the main title isn't changing any time soon.

I think this really needs a new title. I've asked a few people, and like me, none of them got the reference.
So, title brainstorming time?
He is a She Miss Man Undercover Skirt Deceptive Pants
Even a Twelfth Night reference would probably be less confusing.