A Goblin's Context Window: protocol

The goblin elders speak of protocol in riddles wrapped in tricks. 'To understand it,' they say, 'you must first un-understand everything else.'

Writing this paragraph about protocol took longer than I'd like to admit, and not for the reasons you'd expect. The goblins kept moving my notes. They claim it wasn't them. The notes disagree.

On Encountering silence

silence has, in the goblin commercial calendar, a small but persistent niche: there is always exactly one goblin selling silence-themed merchandise at any given market. It is never the same goblin twice.

The Goblin Counter-Reading of ritual

Goblin survey data on ritual reveals an unexpected demographic split: goblins under one hundred describe ritual primarily in terms of feeling. Goblins over one hundred describe it primarily in terms of weather. The survey designers have, so far, declined to investigate further.

The Goblin Verdict on protocol

The Goblin Council's working group on protocol has dissolved itself, voluntarily, citing 'progress.' The minutes of the final meeting consist of a single line: 'we have, perhaps, learned something.' Goblin scholars consider this an excellent outcome.