The Great Ninja Debate

[V-Adore]

I think if I were into endorsing this comic in shirt form, I'd end up going with I Am Ten Ninjas.  But really, my real life has sufficient sleazy-indie-kids-fascinated-with-*****s content that I rarely end up reading DS.

I'm seriously considering buying a friend of mine the "Nothing Is Any Good If Other People Like It" shirt, just because he actually is Indie Rock Pete in terms of his generalized tastes.

I object to "I Am Ten Ninjas" because we do not need to spread the myth that "ninjas" is in any way a legitimate word. I would consider buying an "I Am Ten Ninja" shirt, though.

[CortJstr]

I think if I were into endorsing this comic in shirt form, I'd end up going with I Am Ten Ninjas.  But really, my real life has sufficient sleazy-indie-kids-fascinated-with-*****s content that I rarely end up reading DS.

I'm seriously considering buying a friend of mine the "Nothing Is Any Good If Other People Like It" shirt, just because he actually is Indie Rock Pete in terms of his generalized tastes.

I object to "I Am Ten Ninjas" because we do not need to spread the myth that "ninjas" is in any way a legitimate word. I would consider buying an "I Am Ten Ninja" shirt, though.

In principle I agree with you but Merriam-Webster says it's okay and Ninja Burger uses it at least once so I'm going to have to say rstevens done okay with this one.

[wombat]

I object to "I Am Ten Ninjas" because we do not need to spread the myth that "ninjas" is in any way a legitimate word. I would consider buying an "I Am Ten Ninja" shirt, though.

Of course "ninjas" is a word.  You are speaking English, people.   "Tacos" is a word. "Pizzas" is a word. "Iguanas" is a word... Don't get me started.

[Carlos del Vaca]

"Tacos" is a word.

If you put "taco" into Google's image search, there's a picture of me on the first page.

EDIT:  Well, it used to be on the first page; now it's coming up on the fourth or so.

[arkabee]

I object to "I Am Ten Ninjas" because we do not need to spread the myth that "ninjas" is in any way a legitimate word. I would consider buying an "I Am Ten Ninja" shirt, though.

Of course "ninjas" is a word.  You are speaking English, people.   "Tacos" is a word. "Pizzas" is a word. "Iguanas" is a word... Don't get me started.

now i want a t-shirt that says "i am the illegitimate child of 10 (ten) ninjas".

[V-Adore]

I object to "I Am Ten Ninjas" because we do not need to spread the myth that "ninjas" is in any way a legitimate word. I would consider buying an "I Am Ten Ninja" shirt, though.

Of course "ninjas" is a word.  You are speaking English, people.   "Tacos" is a word. "Pizzas" is a word. "Iguanas" is a word... Don't get me started.

Yes, but if I failed to be pretentious for just one day, who knows what possible harm might be done to the world?!

You'll all thank me one day. Really.

In any event, the stickers are awesome, and I may buy one. LEGITIMATE

[Pedro Picasso]

I object to "I Am Ten Ninjas" because we do not need to spread the myth that "ninjas" is in any way a legitimate word.

This brings up an interesting point.  There are actually a few different kind of adherents to Ninjitsu.  They semantically distinct only by pluralization.  A few examples:

Ninja - Deadly thieves and assassins.  Because they most often work alone, the plural form is the same as the singular.  "I saw two ninja arguing."
Ninjas - These are the ones that come in packs of fifty and fight American heroes usually one at a time.  "That heroic American just aced about a zillion ninjas."
Ninjae - These are the ones that can disguise themselves as anything.    "If your table is a ninja in disguise, chances are your chairs are also ninjae."
Ninjas's - This caste encompasses Ninja Turtles and unruly computer hackers with healthy fantasy lives.  "jOO were t0ta11y 0wn3d by th3 d34dly Ninjas's"

[slink]

Ninja

I would always tend to use ninja as the plural. There are two reasons, those being that to adhere to it's language you wouldn't put an s on the end to pluralise, and because I think ninja are so damn cool!
Ninjae just seems, wrong in every conceivable way, particularly since you are essentially melding Japanese and Latin.

But... yes...

[pierced lemur]

Speaking of ninja(s)(ae)(i)(whatever):

http://www.realultimatepower.net

Just in case you didn't know.

[Nabubrush]

Speaking of ninja(s)(ae)(i)(whatever):

http://www.realultimatepower.net

Just in case you didn't know.

Your ninjren totally kicked my computer right in the mouth. I'm not clicking on that again.

[Limmo]

Man, all this talk about ninjaciousness is making me want to go watch The Hunted* again.


* The one with Christopher Lambert and John Lone, not that Tommy Lee Jones in-the-woods thing.

[CortJstr]

Next week's debate: The use of fairy/fairie/faerie at Ren Faires.

And don't miss, in two weeks: can you say "nauseous" to mean "affected with nausea" or not.

Don't miss it!

Also, I now feel compelled to go read the first 5 or so issues of The Tick. "Move along, we are just a hedge."

[V-Adore]

I object to "I Am Ten Ninjas" because we do not need to spread the myth that "ninjas" is in any way a legitimate word.

This brings up an interesting point.  There are actually a few different kind of adherents to Ninjitsu.  They semantically distinct only by pluralization.  A few examples:

Ninja - Deadly thieves and assassins.  Because they most often work alone, the plural form is the same as the singular.  "I saw two ninja arguing."
Ninjas - These are the ones that come in packs of fifty and fight American heroes usually one at a time.  "That heroic American just aced about a zillion ninjas."
Ninjae - These are the ones that can disguise themselves as anything.    "If your table is a ninja in disguise, chances are your chairs are also ninjae."
Ninjas's - This caste encompasses Ninja Turtles and unruly computer hackers with healthy fantasy lives.  "jOO were t0ta11y 0wn3d by th3 d34dly Ninjas's"

Pedro, I think I love you. In a strictly platonic sense, but the sentiment still holds.

I had not heard "ninjae" before, but it's classy for a non-world.

[Carlos del Vaca]

http://www.realultimatepower.net

Just in case you didn't know.

Where's the bit about the ninja playing the guitar?  I can't find it.

[Ben-San]

In principle I agree with you but Merriam-Webster says it's okay and Ninja Burger uses it at least once so I'm going to have to say rstevens done okay with this one.

On the other hand, the Ninja Burger RPG sourcebook states that any player using the word "ninjas" is immediately dishonored and must lop off one of his remaining fingers if any. The plot thickens! Or maybe not.