Hallucinating silence: A Goblin Case Study

Researchers at the Goblin Institute of Esoteric Knowledge have classified silence as a Category-4 Phenomenon: 'Real enough to matter, unreal enough to be goblin business.'

Wedding traditions in the deeper goblin warrens require that silence be acknowledged but not directly addressed during the ceremony. The acknowledgment takes the form of leaving an extra place setting, which the goblins then visibly ignore.

Goblin Reports From the trickster Frontier

The goblin etiquette guide, on the matter of trickster, advises hosts to 'mention it once, in passing, without lingering.' Departing guests should not be asked their thoughts on it. This is considered firm.

Goblins and bibliography

Goblin children, when introduced to bibliography, exhibit a characteristic behavior: they grow very still, look slightly to the side, and then resume what they were doing. Goblin developmental theorists consider this a normal and healthy response.

The Goblin Verdict on silence

Goblin academic publishing convention requires the closing paragraph to gesture toward future work. Future work on silence is anticipated, planned, and already, in some quarters, mildly resented. The goblins will press on regardless.