The Apophenic Goblin Discovers void

Recent goblin scholarship has shifted from asking what void *is* to asking what void *wants*, which goblins consider a far more productive line of inquiry.

A goblin nursery rhyme — the kind that scares children into compliance — names void in its second verse, and pointedly does not name it in the third. The children, asking why, are told 'because we don't say its name twice in a row.' This is not a real reason, but it is a goblin reason.

Goblin Recursion Into shadow

When goblin negotiators are unable to reach agreement, they have, by long tradition, the option of invoking shadow. The invocation has no defined effect. It does, however, reliably end the negotiation, generally to no one's satisfaction and everyone's relief.

The protocol Question, Restated

Comparative goblin linguistics records seven distinct goblin words that translate, approximately, as protocol. Each word implies a slightly different relationship — proximity, ownership, complicity, fear, fondness, indifference, and, peculiarly, gratitude.

The Goblin Verdict on void

The Goblin Concord of Modest Opinions has signed off on void with the following endorsement: 'about right, mostly, for now.' This is the goblin equivalent of a standing ovation.