Orion Net-7 News
On the Nature and Origins of MT's.
Reporter: Katoki
Submission Date: 2003-12-08 19:00:07.0


A short essay concerning mistells.
By Katoki Brim Ph.D.

Mistell is easily defined by Webster's 1913 Dictionary as "To tell erroneously."
With this in mind, the phenomenon of the Mistell or MT seems simple, people are idiots. However, within the complex sociological galaxy of Orion, with its numerous layers of classes and races the MT does take on another dimension.
It is important to first understand, if you are able too, how a MT is possible and in what way is it delivered. (Not by UPS, the shorts creep me out.) The pilots of Orion are familiar with the various Channels of Human Attention to Talk or 'C.H.A.T.' channels as they sometimes are referred to. Please ignore the redundancy. These C.H.A.T channels offer the pilots a chance to buy and sell goods, communicate with group members, socialize with guildees and even non-guildees. Not to mention the various private messages that are possible . Of course due to the civilized nature of this advanced society the C.H.A.T channels are never used to degrade, or complain about anything.
Given the wide array of communications among numerous pilots, the occurrence of a MT is not 'if it happens', but becomes 'when it happens.' The average pilot, given that he or she is in a guild and is listening to at least one other C.H.A.T channel besides the designated guild channel, will MT at least five times every ten hour period.* These are accidental MT's and may include saying a simple 'hello' in the wrong channel or an exclamation such as 'LoL'.
The most common MT is what experts call the Buyer's Market MT or BMM. The BMM happens when a pilot wishes to purchase or sell an item on Market Channel and is not aware that he or she is typing in the wrong C.H.A.T channel. It is not uncommon to see 'WTB Boo Ghost Bursts' or 'WTS Sand for 1 mill. Pst' in other channels such as the Explorer Channel. Other examples of MT's in wrong C.H.A.T channels can be found in the popular book Blunders and Bloopers: From Noob to Grandmaster We All Make Dumb Mistakes, by Men'you Baka.
There are other forms of Mistell aside from the accidental MT as discussed above. The second breed is far more harmful, though accidental MTs, depending on what was said can also prove to be detrimental. The MTs made on purpose are used for one cause. Which is to be harmful to a specific person or action. MTs of this nature do occur, estimated at ten per every five hours despite whatever conditions may exist.** The essay "Ten-gu, Mutated Mobs and Other Oops." Published by Tado-O offer a wide variety of cruel MTs and offer interesting theories on why they happen.
Despite the extensive research on MTs, their origins are unknown. Until recently, no documentation was available to explain who first begun the Mistells.
A small disk was found, written in an obscure dialect dating back hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. Linguistics believe the dialect is called Hogus Latinus. The disk contains a reference to what appears to be some sort of deity called Thinner. Following is exerts from the disk:

"And Thus did he descend upon the land, and called himself Thinner. He extended his arms and exposed MT to the people who then exposed all to it."
It appears that the being known as Thinner introduced the MT to society.

"'Look upon me and see the beginning. I am Thinner, I am the end. I am the beginning. I
am Mistell.' And the space shook. "Stupid mortals....MT.. J"

Experts disagree on the authenticity of the document, and many believe that the legend of Thinner is just that. A legend.
To this date, there have been no other documents, myths or even legends concerning the birth of MT.
Whether the MT was born by some divine providence or a simple mistake has yet to be seen. However, the fact remains that MT is inherit in society and chances are will not be dissolved anytime soon.

A continuation of this topic will be featured in the next essay: "So long, Farewell and Thanks for the MT's"
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*Conditions such as being a part of an 'epic' mission, or having a general bad day does increase the chance of an MT ten fold.

**Above stated conditions do apply to increase the occurrence of MTs made on purpose. Other conditions include the MT-er, the person committing in the MT is a jerk, is part of a raid gone bad, and other similar events.