How do you typically identify episodes when shortening their names?

[The Red Jaguars]

Okay, this is a really random topic but we don't have much discussion around here. And I want to use this topic as a "survey" of some sorts.

Almost all of us on here are familiar with all 120 episodes to the point where we don't even use the whole episode name when talking about it. I mean why should we when some of those episodes titles are long. Let me ask you this. When you are talking about an episode, do you use the "artifact name" or "namesake" of the episode title when identifying the episode?

Let's just use an example to get a better understanding what I am talking about. We will use "The Snake Bracelet of Cleopatra" since it gets a lot of discussion around here. "Snake Bracelet" (artifact name) and "Cleopatra" (namesake) are the common shorten titles for these episodes.

In the past, I almost always used the namesake to identify episodes. It is easier because most of the artifact names are long and some of them are similar to each other. Now though, I use more artifact names when describing an episode. But when it comes down to it, I use whatever name is shorter too. Although there are times when I exclusively use the artifact name even when it is longer. Like I mainly use "Enormous Iron Nose Ring" over "Babe" because it is easier to identify an episode.

What do you guys typically use? The artifact name or namesake? I know this is a bizarre idea for a topic, but I am curious on what you guys think. It has kind of been an interest to me.

[Purple Parrots Fan]

I usually call them by their artifact names (Silk Sash, Snake Bracelet). Or sometimes I'll call them by their historical figure names (Ahmed Baba, Shaka Zulu). I guess it just depends on the artifacts name, and how an episode title sounds with a shortened name. Like, "Iron Mask" is a great way to describe the episode, since it has such a complex title after all. And "Galileo" sounds much better than "Cannonball." Since there are more than one artifacts that were indeed cannonballs after all. It just depends for me.

[The Red Jaguars]

I almost always use their historical figure names when the artifact is just a single word. Episodes like Sultan Saladin, Sir Edmund Hillary, Alhambra, Dr. Livingstone, etc. I always use their proper nouns because it would look awkward to use "Star" or "Diary" to describe them.

Other than that, I use the artifact name to describe most episodes. Its funny, because I always use "Silk Sash" too even though it is quicker just to type out "Mulan". Also, some of the namesake names are hard to type out. Like Stone Marker and Ivory Elephant's historical figure's names are hard to type correctly.

But yeah, in the end of the day it depends on the episode. For some episodes, I like to mix it up too. For example, sometimes I use "Metal Beard" or "Egyptian Queen" when we are talking about that episode.  

[Purple Parrots Fan]

Yeah, I mix them up too, especially the Metal Beard example you mentioned above. Also, "Broken Trident" and "Poseidon" is another one I mix up too. I also agree about the Sultan Saladin/Dr. Livingstone example, as opposed to Star/Diary. Saying the single word just looks awkward. It might work if we're listing episodes in a chart, but not while describing an episode. Totally agree about the spellings of Stone Marker and Ivory Elephant's historical figures too. Unless you have spellcheck, good luck spelling those properly.

[The Red Jaguars]

Yeah, Broken Trident/Poseidon is another episode title I like to mix it up with. Same with Pearl Necklace/Gwalior.

And then there are some episodes where I am just use to using one over the other. For example, I always use "Sir Gawain" over "Much-Heralded Helmet" because the artifact name is too long. But on the other hand, I always use "Lost Taj Mahal Turban" instead of "Aurangzeb" to describe the episode because I use to have trouble typing out the historical name correctly even though the artifact name is longer.

But when we get down to it, I use the name that is shorter and easier to post with. And the one name that everyone remembers it by.

[Purple Parrots Fan]

Yeah, I agree. And those are usually the names we go by in the alphabet threads. Another example is John Sutter. Calling it by its historical figure is much easier than calling it "Map to the Lost Gold Mine." Because not only is the latter episode title too long, but there were more than one map artifacts on the show, and it would be easy to confuse. It's like I said above, calling those type of episode titles by it's historical figure is easier.

[The Red Jaguars]

And I am glad that you mentioned "Iron Mask" earlier. That is such an awkward episode title. Which name is the historical name and the artifact name? I am guessing "Iron Mask" is the artifact name. But what is the namesake then? "Mask of the Man"?  

[Purple Parrots Fan]

I guess so, which is why I prefer "Iron Mask" better. Fortunately that's the only example of an episode title that has no namesake, I think?

[The Red Jaguars]

I think the Trojan Horseshoe is another one too. That is an episode that you just can't abbreviate. I mean you can't call it "Trojan" because that is used to describe the artifact and you can't call it "Horseshoe" because we have another Horseshoe artifact.

Also, I sort of have a pet peeve when people use a name that could describe multiple episodes. For example, in the past some people would use "Khan" to describe "Golden Cricket Cage". That is a little confusing considering "The Helmet of Genghis Khan" is another episode title. Same as using "David" instead of "Missing Eye". Not a big deal, but just a little pet peeve.

[Purple Parrots Fan]

I don't quite remember those abbreviations of Cricket Cage and Missing Eye. But yeah, calling it "Khan" and "David" sounds way too awkward. I mean, there's more than one "Khan" episode, like you said. And there were multiple contestants on the show named "David," so that wouldn't work either. I definitely agree about "Trojan Horseshoe." Since like Iron Mask, there's no actual historical figure in the episode title. Plus, it's a short name anyways. So it's much easier to just call it by its actual episode title.

[GreenMonkeys#1]

Most of the time, it would be artifact names. However, Lawrence of Arabia's Headdress is the only one I don't refer to the artifact. Otherwise I do it with the other 119.

[The Red Jaguars]

It use to be the opposite for me. In the past, I almost always referred to the historical figure's name instead of the artifact name. Now, I kind of lean towards the artifact name too. But it depends on what is easier and quicker for me to use:

If the artifact name is longer than the namesake, then I use the namesake. Like I always refer to "The Leopard-Skin Cloak of Annie Oakley" as "Annie Oakley" because it is shorter to type out the namesake while "Leopard-Skin Cloak" is too long to type out. But sometimes, it feels weird to refer to an episode by the namesake. For example, I rarely use "Johnny Appleseed" to identify ""Mush Pot Hat".

But if the episode is a single word artifact, than I almost always use the historical figure's name. Episodes like Joan of Arc, Anne Bonny, Kamehameha, and Dolley Madison. The only exception is that I use "Paintbrush" because there is only one Paintbrush artifact and Leonardo Da Vinci's name is too long to type out.  

[Purple Parrots Fan]

But if the episode is a single word artifact, than I almost always use the historical figure's name. Episodes like Joan of Arc, Anne Bonny, Kamehameha, and Dolley Madison. The only exception is that I use "Paintbrush" because there is only one Paintbrush artifact and Leonardo Da Vinci's name is too long to type out.  

That's not the real reason you use the term "Paintbrush." You're just in love with that artifact, and my old namesake. That I used for all of two days.