Skulking: what is it's ASL etymology?

[Actionjick]

I've been curious about this for a while as I don't recall it being used for ASL until seeing it on the forum. I am fairly sure that if we ever used the term it was not regularly.

The Etymology Dictionary placed the origin of skulk to Scandinavia circa 1200 A.D. The word was skulke and had slightly different meanings in the countries of it's use. They were all rather negative and unflattering.

Given the Scandinavian roots of the word I was wondering if it's use in ASL started there. Any information about the ASL etymology of skulking would be welcomed, whether accurate or with a bit of revisionist history. Professor Talo doesn't seem to have the time to thoroughly review all the source materials that he is presented with.

I don't care for skulking's ASL use as I believe it misrepresents what is being done. I very much like exfiltrate instead. Props to Eagle4ty for introducing me to that word.

Thanks for any input!

 

[Actionjick]

Norwegian, skulke: to shirk, malinger

Danish, skulke: to spare oneself, shirk

Swedish, skolka: shirk, skulk, slink, play truant

As I said negative and unflattering.

" To spare oneself " seems to be the most apt description for skulking in ASL.

My apologies to those who speak one of the aforementioned languages if the definitions are inaccurate.

 

[Pip Smith]

I have no information about the etymology of skulking ASL.

Sulking is different. Has existed from some of the very first games from what I can see.
Was originally part of Squad leader and developed into ASL as well. Would often occur out of sight, but not always. Seems to be often correlated with pouting, complaining, huffing and puffing and eye rolling.

Has been know to escalate into whinging, whining, and at it's worst, unnecessary conversations about the randomness of dice.

 

[Actionjick]

I have no information about the etymology of skulking ASL.

Sulking is different. Has existed from some of the very first games from what I can see.
Was originally part of Squad leader and developed into ASL as well. Would often occur out of sight, but not always. Seems to be often correlated with pouting, complaining, huffing and puffing and eye rolling.

Has been know to escalate into whinging, whining, and at it's worst, unnecessary conversations about the randomness of dice.

I have seen it turn into physical abuse of cardboard and plastic.

 

[Pip Smith]

I too have seen it result in the high speed propelling of highly dangerous small plastic cubes across a small room, resulting in shrapnel narrowly missing other observers of the sulking.

 

[Actionjick]

Lol I multi tasked etymology as he ASL Word. The Creative Draw Pile is almost all red cards now!

 

[Actionjick]

I too have seen it result in the high speed propelling of highly dangerous small plastic cubes across a small room, resulting in shrapnel narrowly missing other observers of the sulking.

The " eye protection required " sticker on Fish's replacement plastic Chute Five dice tower is the result of skulking. The Observer wasn't injured, I faked an eye injury though! Hence the sticker. The Ol' Jick can be pretty quick witted at times.

 

[jyoung]

Has been know to escalate into whinging, whining, and at it's worst, unnecessary conversations about the randomness of dice.

I have been known to resemble that comment. Mostly while my units were doing the "chicken dance" in response to an MG ROF tear.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Norwegian, skulke: to shirk, malinger

Danish, skulke: to spare oneself, shirk

Swedish, skolka: shirk, skulk, slink, play truant

As I said negative and unflattering.

" To spare oneself " seems to be the most apt description for skulking in ASL.

My apologies to those who speak one of the aforementioned languages if the definitions are inaccurate.

I believe the German is schleichenwährendderdefensivenfeuerphase

 

[jyoung]

I have been known to resemble that comment. Mostly while my units were doing the "chicken dance" in response to an MG ROF tear.

Actually it's not MGs that I've found to be the worst, but rather my opponent's 45LL ROF 3 AT guns (playing Red Factories) in upper story building locations, which in addition to the high ROF, also have a chance of a critical hit every time they roll. Moving with one of these bad boys in LOS is a nerve-wracking experience.

 

[Eagle4ty]

Actually it's not MGs that I've found to be the worst, but rather my opponent's 45LL ROF 3 AT guns (playing Red Factories) in upper story building locations, which in addition to the high ROF, also have a chance of a critical hit every time they roll. Moving with one of these bad boys in LOS is a nerve-wracking experience.

Yup, once lost all but one of my bty of StG 33's to a single gun in a level 2 position.

 

[Actionjick]

The earliest reference to skulking that I found on the forum was from April of 2007. The posts on that thread show that skulking was a term in common use at that time.

 

[Actionjick]

The earliest reference to skulking that I found on the forum was from April of 2007. The posts on that thread show that skulking was a term in common use at that time.

Professor Talo suggested that serious researchers would check the old series replays for early use of skulking as a term or examples the tactic before it received it's negative name. I replied that it was a sound path of inquiry but that 5:00 A.M comes pretty early and I could use some sound sleep.
I'll check Guryev's tomorrow. Too late to dig it out tonight. Good idea on the Professor's part though.

Old articles in The General also a potential source.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I see to recall Guryev's Headquarters came up in this discussion before, but can't recall if the term (or the technique for that matter) came up prominently in the AAR.

 

[Actionjick]

I see to recall Guryev's Headquarters came up in this discussion before, but can't recall if the term (or the technique for that matter) came up prominently in the AAR.

I dug out the replay and read the introduction and first turn. Frankly I am too tired to read it all and I love reading my own writing. We will ignore the inconvenient fact that both Fish and Mark wrote much better narratives than I did and get to the point. While Fish skulked his units it was not referred to as skulking. Hiding yes, with no negatives about the tactic from any of those involved.

Whether or not this sheds any light on the earliest use of the term is questionable. We were not using it but communication in the community was limited back then.

 

[brunger]

I dug out the replay and read the introduction and first turn. Frankly I am too tired to read it all and I love reading my own writing. We will ignore the inconvenient fact that both Fish and Mark wrote much better narratives than I did and get to the point. While Fish skulked his units it was not referred to as skulking. Hiding yes, with no negatives about the tactic from any of those involved.

Whether or not this sheds any light on the earliest use of the term is questionable. We were not using it but communication in the community was limited back then.

Was it pony express? Pigeon post or telegraph in those days? gosh it’s interesting

 

[brunger]

I too have seen it result in the high speed propelling of highly dangerous small plastic cubes across a small room, resulting in shrapnel narrowly missing other observers of the sulking.

I’ve seen it happen. I’ve also heard it happen playing VASL with Skype

 

[brunger]

I’ve seen it happen. I’ve also heard it happen playing VASL with Skype

Not sure what was thrown but I heard the whiz bang and muttered howl

 

[Actionjick]

Was it pony express? Pigeon post or telegraph in those days? gosh it’s interesting

Smoke signals actually!

 

[brunger]

Great use for burning wrecks