Please please please stop misusing the term "shorting"

from Offworld Forums

Hi Offworld Trading Company & community,

 

I'm excited about this game & looking forward to playing it upon completion! I watch a lot of the Mohawk videos. But pleeeeeeease Soren & friends, can you stop misusing the word "shorting"?

 

You are educated & well informed people, and in the financial and trading world that the game is based upon, "shorting" already has a specific meaning which is not just an abbreviation of "shortage".

 

Google it and the truth is immediately revealed: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=shorting

 

Actual shorting could be implemented fairly easily (though I doubt you ever will, it's probably a bit too far towards the abstract side of "high finance" I suspect) so please retire this OTC-specific usage of the word :)

 

Thank you!

9,063 views 1 replies
Reply #1 from Offworld Forums Top

It's true that actual shorting does not exist, but a player could technically 'short' (okay, really, it's 'sell') their existing stock of a resource when that resource is currently experiencing a surplus event, with the intent of purchasing that stock back at a lower price.

Given the multiplayer-focus that OTC has though, I expect commentators will continue to say "short" as a shortened version of "shortage". It's just to be expected when an economy of words is necessary to the quick pace of the game.