"Lioness" and "Leopardess"?

[Zazu]

Just a minor point, but worth asking. It's traditional to distinguish between female and male lions in the Species listings, and the same for leopards (and panthers, although I believe they'll be classified as leopards here). It also arguably makes the information easier to take in at a glance. On the other hand, given that sex is listed in the same programs, these words are arguably redundant and/or sexist. What do you think?

[Ajazi]

You all know me on this one. I don't like the -ess end to everything female. XD

[sumu]

I've got mixed feelings. For one, I think 'lioness' is so ingrained in the spoken language as an actual word for female leonines (vs male lions) in and of itself that I think it should stay. However, 'cheetah' is used as a unisex word, while leopard/panther often have -ess added.

In short, I think 'lioness' should be used, but all other felines should just remain leopard/panther/cheetah/serval/caracal. Sort of a double standard, but 'female lion' just doesn't sit right with me.

[Mauja]

Whether or not it's redundant.... I think it'll avoid a TON of confusion to just keep the 'ess' endings that have become standard on most TLK MU*s. Personally I've only ever seen lionesses and leopardesses as opposed to female lions and leopards, and I don't think that it causes that much of a problem. Honestly, I'd rather have a couple of people who find it vaguely irritating than a bunch of people who find out halfway through a scene that they're actually RPing with a FEMALE creature rather than a male one simply because they didn't study their find lists closely enough.

[Kesh]

I use -ess on the end of everything, including cheetahress, even if it's not exactly correct.

I am, however, okay with having species be 'Lion' 'Leopard', etc, so long as gender is also displayed.. drove me nuts on ER that WS did not display gender so I had to where a WHERE to find out what to refer to this unisex-named character is.

'Lioness' is so well established due to the fact that lions and lionesses are so vastly different looking due to differing size and the ever present mane. This is not the case with cheetahs, leopards, and most other animals.

~Kesh, everyone's favorite servalESS!

[Mhuni]

I say the -ess' are greatly redundant. Lioness is not a species, lion is. F lion works.

~ Mhuni, your favourite... oxpeckeress. Or humaness.

[Oh Noes It's Janji]

Servaless, wildebeestess, bullfrogess, wild dogess... Meh. I like just lioness(it just plain flows better than 'female lion'), MAYBE leopardess(although I hate using that XD)... but let's not go overboard with the -ess.

[IceHeartedLion]

Only lioness... The other ones really sound aweful, even leopardess... Tho that one doesn't sound that bad.

But yup! I'm up for lioness instead of F Lion.

[Gi]

I'd go for lioness, because 'f lion' seems like... over-pc, to me. Lioness is ingrained, like people've said, in most MU*s, and it's even used on television shows, while other terms-- like leopardess-- aren't. n.n

[Chisulo]

I agree with Zira on this, yes. Though it may be still a lion, I actually think it's too ingrained.

[Ajazi]

Hey, do we all know which vote means which? XD I accidentally voted yes.

[Isoba]

Half-and-half: Lioness, yes. Leopardess- definitely not, for reasons already stated above.

[Shajiru]

I only want Lioness, because I find it easier. The rest are fine, but I can do without.

[Chukiface]

Tunu is a female lion.

...which is kinda funny. XD

[Zazu]

I guess maybe we should compromise by using "lioness" but not "leopardess."

Your vote is noted, Ajazi--so that makes it 11-9 for at the moment.