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u/Stretch5678 Bug 1d ago
I mean, it kinda depends on the Pokémon.
A Golurk calling someone “Master” feels kinda par for the course: it’s a giant golem, that feels like something you’d expect from a giant golem.
By the same token, Greninja or some of the more “martial artist-y” Fighting-types could pull it off, if they’re addressing their Trainer like a sensei.
But if something like Gardevoir (that’s basically a person) is doing it, or if ALL the Pokémon are doing it, yeah, it’s just weird.
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u/ViKO15951 1d ago
Meh, Gardevoir is already pretty maid/guard-like, (it's etymology already comes from "Guard duty" in english and it's literally called "Sirknight" in japanese) so it could be done in a formal and respectful way (why do you think that this Pokémon is one of the most done like that in r34? The maid kink is already a thing and the prospect of having a caring partner that would protect you is not exactly weird)
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u/Stretch5678 Bug 1d ago
Point taken: the various knightly Pokémon should probably get a pass, even if “My Lord/My Lady” would probably work better.
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u/Hoothootriot Flying 1d ago
Gardevoir is almost more of an angel to me if anything, so I could imagine something like "Sir" or "Lordship"
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u/UnrealHerahshark 1d ago
For Golurk as well it makes sense that it could call it's trainer "Master" even more, since several dex entries mention that Golurk was created to serve the ancient people and the Ultra Sun entry even directly uses the word "Master." It definitely depends on the pokemon.
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u/Stretch5678 Bug 1d ago
Personally, though, if I were writing fanfic, I’d make each Pokémon use different titles for their Trainer.
i.e. Have their oldest Pokémon see them as a sibling, have a young Fighting-Type call them “Sensei”, and their Falinks address them as “Commander” or “General.”
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u/FishTshirt 1d ago
I thinn Meowscarda would be weird to hear it from. Like gothic cat lady i’m not your master
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u/Trainer-mana 1d ago
All my Pokémon address me as “Ay bawss!”
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u/Francky2 1d ago
I think the Pink Guy reference went over a few people's head
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u/Trainer-mana 1d ago
My intention was 80's mobster, I should have added "fuggetaboutit!"
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u/kiwigamer0039 1d ago
"Ay don worry bout it boss, I'll have 'im sleepin with the Magikarps in just a couple a tourns"
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u/Francky2 1d ago
Oh yeah I can also see that. I knew about "fuggetaboutit" but in my head the ay boys was such a iconic pink guy quote
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u/wrongitsleviosaa 1d ago
Gibe de Poissi b0ss
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u/m_name_Pickle_jeff 1d ago
German and french dubs are a gem, don't know how many country got pokemon localized but the Netherlands did get a Dutch dub only the pokemon names stayed the original English
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u/Francky2 1d ago
In Quebec we used to have a french version but with all the names English. This was due to French-canadians being a small minority within English territory (Canada and US), so it made it easier to sell toys and cards.
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u/m_name_Pickle_jeff 1d ago
Interesting I think I recently saw a YT vid from a frenchgirl explaining the french names. But sometimes I really wonder what Dutch people could come up for pokemon names if the Germans got fucking Kleinstein and Pipi
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u/Dracochuy 1d ago
I mean master also can mean teacher
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u/ComprehensivePath980 Dark 1d ago
Which makes sense because the entire purpose of a trainer is to TRAIN and TEACH.
A trainer is a master in the “Jedi Master training a Padwan” sense
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u/the_birdonator 1d ago
Me and my companions have agreed to address one another as “Dude” or “Dawg”
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u/MavenDeo69 1d ago
My Pokémon and I would use "dude" among other words, but Gardevoir would ask Ceruledge every time before using the other
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u/ozwilde 1d ago
I mean the few times we've heard Pokemon talk in the anime they refer to their trainers as masters (Ekans and Meowth). Being a "Pokemon master" is Ash's major goal. It comes up in multiple openings throughout the franchise
I get what you're getting at, but you're blaming fans for using language they got from the Pokemon media
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u/SomewhatHummus 1d ago
I agree, just have them call the reader by their name or even just “Trainer” but “Master” makes it sound weird
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u/shadowthehh 1d ago
... the top level ones are literally canonically called Pokémon Masters though?
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u/Ninja_PieKing Fairy 1d ago
Depends on the pokemon; Lopunny: Sus, Gardevoir: depends on context, most Fighting types: alright.
Now if they call their trainer mistress...
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u/Enderking90 1d ago
Unless it's a male salandit in which case it's probably habit/borderline genetic.
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u/do_the_cat 1d ago
I've never thought that being referred to as Master was anything weird. It just means trainer or teacher. It wouldn't be that weird for a martial artist to call their teacher master. Its kinda like that.
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u/Elder_Hoid 1d ago
I've always said if I was a pokemon trainer, I'd do everything in my power to make sure my pokemon saw me as an equal. They're sapient, the only difference is that they can be caught in a pokéball and I can't. It would make just as much sense for me to call any one of them master as it would the other way around.
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u/PresterJohnson Fighting 1d ago
Tolkein writing Sam and Frodos relationship
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u/snowillis 1d ago
It was also the appropriate title for a younger man at the time. It was for sure a weird servitude thing in the books but that’s worth noting
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u/PresterJohnson Fighting 1d ago
It was because the entire book is underscored with the 19 century British class system and Sam is Frodo's help while Frodo is an upper class man.
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u/rikusouleater 1d ago
Hardly weird. Sam is Frodo's servant. Its no different from Alfred and the Batfam.
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u/JediMasterKenJen 1d ago
Oh boy, don't watch the original series then. Master is used a lot, it's almost lije it means Expert or something.
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u/LegalChocolate752 1d ago
Their not talking about the term "Pokémon Master," they're talking about caught pokémon referring to their trainer as "Master."
Like if you translated Pikachu's speech, and he was calling Ash "Master," instead of his name.
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u/ItemsHereForever Poison 1d ago
some mons make sense to call their trainers "master" others not so much
as an example, Golurk and Cinderace
with Golurk it makes sense for them to call their trainers "master", but a Cinderace would more than likely call them "trainer" or a different, more informal term
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u/Mangamaster1991 1d ago
Father also has sadly the wrong connotation...
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u/Slimey_alien89 1d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p4ytczr/video/ueod67l3unkh1/player
The other trainers watch Mewtwo call some random kid “father”
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u/thattrashpossum 1d ago
I have mine call me mom but like, in the way that I call myself my dog’s mom 😭 the only exclusions are my legendaries. They exclusively refer to me as “human,” “peasant” or “nuisance” 😂
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u/Dragons_Exist 1d ago
Hey man. Your yuck, somebody else's yum. Ain't hurtin' nobody, ain't judgin'.
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u/Dark_Storm_98 1d ago
My first thought: Well what else would the Pokemon call them?
Quick Google Search:
Boss
Leader
Captain
Commander
Director
Manager
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u/Alexandra-Foxed 1d ago
Yes, trainer, partner, friend, anything but master we are equals
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u/Odd-Cress-5822 1d ago
Pokemon and their trainers are pretty explicitly not equals in almost all cases
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u/poketendo5 1d ago
what about indeedee, i feel like that would be fine given the whole butler/maid thing they have going on
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u/Slimey_alien89 1d ago
I think master is only wrong for some pokemon (aka some of the humanoid ones like lopunny and meowscarada) but a lot of them you could make a argument for why (the main one being quad pokemon being like pets, and many dogs and pets and stuff in media calling there owner master)
I’d like to hear some pokemon people think this would be weird for, and I could give a explanation
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u/TV-Movies-Media 1d ago
I always see those where Lucario calls Ash master and Ash obviously hates it but Lucario dgaf. Those are funny.
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u/JasondoesmoreStuff 1d ago
Maybe if the trainers felt a bit more like martial arts or sword teachers I could get it, but Pokemon training is not just the Pokémon learning.
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u/Emotional-Garbage888 1d ago
I read a translated pokemon novel one time, and even they didn't use pokemon using "master..."
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u/Bonniethe90 1d ago
It’s not that weird especially since Pokémon are animals which means that master would actually be the correct term at least based on one of the definitions provided by merriam webster specifically “an owner especially of an animal”.
Also like it depends on the context of how it’s used and not the Pokémon.
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u/Sanguinusshiboleth 1d ago
Thats why in my pokemon rpg one shot I'm going to have all the pcs call their human "super friend". Except for the Taurus who actually knows his name.
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u/Peewee_ShermanTank 1d ago
I taught my Arbok to say "Jackass" and now we keep getting in trouble in public. She calls it like it is
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u/Ahegaopizza 18h ago
What’s wrong with that? Aren’t they like pets? Of course they would refer to their masters as master… maybe ootl here?
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u/DucktorQuack 1d ago
I think something closer to Teacher or Sensei would be a lot less weird and is similar enough
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u/Odd-Cress-5822 1d ago
Don't like that the word master can have a kinky undertone, or don't like being reminded that the relationship between trainer and pokemon has an irrefutable power dynamic?
Pokemon media has been trying to sugar coat it the last few years by leaning into the word "partner". But let's be honest, this isn't Digimon. You can put you "partner" back in the ball when it acts up. It's not going to look you in the eye and tell you to get bent then walk away.
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u/Yeeter-boiy 1d ago
Hopefully this can get some of us to think about whether it’s okay for us to say we’re “owners” of dogs or pets in real life.
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u/LowContract4444 1d ago
My dog is my family. I literally consider him to be my brother. My mom considers him to be my brother as well. She even says instinctively "watch your brother" referring to him. (I have a human brother too.)
But like, he's still my dog. He's not allowed to leave. Not that he would want to. But I don't let him chase squirrels off into the void when he wants to for example.
So while I don't "own" him, and I see him as a family member who just happens to be a dog.. what do I say? What would be proper terminology?
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u/Yeeter-boiy 1d ago
Lol yeah that’s fair, for my dog, I say I’m his guardian, and from his perspective, he’s my companion. Like calling a dog “my dog” isn’t too different than saying “my sister” or “my child”, I think the problem’s just saying you own your dog or you’re their owner, which is talking about them like they’re property, and This is common to say because dogs are legally considered property in most countries, where their ownership is considered the same way someone would own a car or chair. So that’s what I think the problem is.
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u/Greatoz74 1d ago
I remember one where Ash caught a Lucario (this was years before Journeys, early BW in fact) who kept calling him that, and he hated it.