GameBanshee Forums

Gumbo is at the Panama channel?

Close enough. Panama Canal. Of coarse, I had to represent my mother's and sister's home country. Its where all my relatives are from. Lets see if I can figure out any more landmarks....

Another one, before I have to go for a while:

1. Olek is with "The Blue Men"
2. Many people in this region belong to the group of people who were once called "Barbarians". They speak a Hamito-Semtic language.
3. It is a current conflict regarding the independance of one of the countries in the region. As often in this part of the world, the European colonisation has left deep scars that last even today.

I am after both a region and a country, but the region spans several countries so naming on correct country is enough.

The Blue Men are also called the Berbers (hence the anglicised term "barbarians") and they inhabit the northwestern coast of Africa from Western Sahara (Western Morocco) to Tunisia.

I thought the word "barbarian" came from what the people of civilization thought the outsiders were saying. They described their speach as "bar..bar..bar.." sort of like today's "blah....blah....blah.." and hence the word "Barabarian" Is that just a myth?

Originally posted by Tybaltus
I thought the word "barbarian" came from what the people of civilization thought the outsiders were saying. They described their speach as "bar..bar..bar.." sort of like today's "blah....blah....blah.." and hence the word "Barabarian" Is that just a myth?

The word "barbarian" is derrived from the latin barbarus, which in turn was derrived from the greek word barbaros. It is my understanding that the Greeks encountered the Berbers and began using "barbaros" to describe them, and later it came to mean cruel, savage or lacking in refinement.

The Berbers descendants, who inhabit the Barbary Coast (the region name C Elegans is probably looking for), were the Barbary Pirates who caused some headaches for the early presidents of the United States by demanding tribute (bribes) in exchange for access to trade route in the Mediterranean. I think it was Thomas Jefferson who sent the US Marine Corps to the Barbary Coast to disrupt/destroy the pirates and stop the tribute; this is where "the shores of Tripoli" comes from in the Marine Corps Hymn.

OK. I have heard multiple stories behind the word "Barbarian". Sounds like you know what you're talking about, though. Frankly, the derivatives of certain words dont interest me a whole lot, even if it has to deal with history.

Why were they called "Blue men"?

Originally posted by Tybaltus
Why were they called "Blue men"?

There are three main Berber groups: the Kabylie, the Chaouia and the Tuaregs. While many have converted to Islam over the years, they maintain a strong ethnic identity among themselves and make up about 17 percent of the population of Morocco. The term "Blue Men" is believed to have originated from the tagelmoust or traditional face-covering head-dress of the Tauregs, which is often coloured a deep shade of indigo.

Originally posted by HighLordDave


There are three main Berber groups: the Kabylie, the Chaouia and the Tuaregs. While many have converted to Islam over the years, they maintain a strong ethnic identity among themselves and make up about 17 percent of the population of Morocco. The term "Blue Men" is believed to have originated from the tagelmoust or traditional face-covering head-dress of the Tauregs, which is often coloured a deep shade of indigo.

Ah yes. I know what you are talking about now. You brushed away a few cobwebs in my memory from my Greece and Rome history classes, this was much like the Gauls when they were barbarian, right?

BTW-Congrats on 2k.

HLD is of course right, the Tuareg people, a semi-nomadic Berber tribe living in Western Sahara were the Blue men I referred to. The "Blue men" indeed comes from the traditional clothing the Tuareg men and women use, and these blue "djellabahs" (robes) and blue head and face gear they wear to protect the face from sand, is traditionally made with a colouring method that makes the colour come off when you sweat, turning you skin blue as well. (Believe me, I have one ) It is sometime argued that the term "Blue men" refers not only to the clothing but also to the fact that the first Europeans who saw the Tuaregs, thought they had blue skin.

The berber people are the oldest inhabitants of the region, their culture is ancient and not at all primitive and savage. However, both Arabs and Europeans that came to the regions, viewed the Berbers as inferior and unsophisticated.

EDIT: Ooh, many congrats to 2K HLD I am so happy somebody has managed to beat me on most words per posts!

Originally posted by C Elegans
Ooh, many congrats to 2K HLD I am so happy somebody has managed to beat me on most words per posts!

Thanks, guys; I knew I was close, but I hadn't noticed I'd gone over the 2,000 posts. I'm still trying to get Buck to change the post count to words/characters posted, in which case I should bury Mr Sleep's and Georgi's posts combined.

Congrats HLD.
Now where are those deformed mutts.
I need to score points

Originally posted by HighLordDave


Thanks, guys; I knew I was close, but I hadn't noticed I'd gone over the 2,000 posts. I'm still trying to get Buck to change the post count to words/characters posted, in which case I should bury Mr Sleep's and Georgi's posts combined.

I bet CE would be the winner, though. You'd be in second. You 2 have long, long posts often, usually very informative, too.

@CM: LOL You will have to wait for Aqua, I think we only count correct anwers to her questions as "official points".

@HLD: I am sure you'd trash Sleep's and Georgi's numbers

@Tybaltus: Thanks It would be a close race between me, HLD and Fable I think I have deteriorated into more spamming recently though, so HLD would probably win the words per post ratio.

Yeah well AC is a DF and thus hates me
So i will be stuck at 50.
As for word count posts.
Aegis would still win, you forget all the story threads he did in the forgotten realms forums.

Originally posted by HighLordDave


Thanks, guys; I knew I was close, but I hadn't noticed I'd gone over the 2,000 posts. I'm still trying to get Buck to change the post count to words/characters posted, in which case I should bury Mr Sleep's and Georgi's posts combined.

Hey i'll have you know my ramblings have increased in density ten fold, even now i increase the actual words in my reply to display just how much they have expanded. I could have just cut it off at this point, but no, i must persevere, increase word per post and i will still rule all, personally i think Fable trashes us all single handedly but then he didn't often post messages with just " " in it...not that i would do such things erm.

All in all i say long words and great dosages of prevarication are a necessary SYM art, so i appear to suck donkey's that is only due to me running out of coherent words to put in these ramblings...so does anyone else want to challenge me, it might prompt more of this!!!

Why HLD WHY!!

Originally posted by Mr Sleep


Hey i'll have you know my ramblings have increased in density ten fold, even now i increase the actual words in my reply to display just how much they have expanded. I could have just cut it off at this point, but no, i must persevere, increase word per post and i will still rule all, personally i think Fable trashes us all single handedly but then he didn't often post messages with just " " in it...not that i would do such things erm.

All in all i say long words and great dosages of prevarication are a necessary SYM art, so i appear to suck donkey's that is only due to me running out of coherent words to put in these ramblings...so does anyone else want to challenge me, it might prompt more of this!!!

The master has spoken.

Re: Why HLD WHY!!

Originally posted by Weasel


The master has spoken.

Perhaps i should start my own cult, call it InCOHerence or something The Dirty Depravity and general debauchary of COH sounds like i good number to me...any volunteers, we just spout nonsense and make long posts that have no content...i am of course a long time member...

I think I unwittingly signed up with my last answer in 'Blagg'

Originally posted by Mr Sleep


Hey i'll have you know my ramblings have increased in density ten fold, even now i increase the actual words in my reply to display just how much they have expanded. I could have just cut it off at this point, but no, i must persevere, increase word per post and i will still rule all, personally i think Fable trashes us all single handedly but then he didn't often post messages with just " " in it...not that i would do such things erm.

All in all i say long words and great dosages of prevarication are a necessary SYM art, so i appear to suck donkey's that is only due to me running out of coherent words to put in these ramblings...so does anyone else want to challenge me, it might prompt more of this!!!

Yeah.