A "ringer" Is A Bad Thing

MMZ_Torak

When did the term "Ringer" lose it's negative connotation? Dictionary.com list's ringer as:
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->ring·er2    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (rngr) n.
1) One that rings, especially one that sounds a bell or chime.
<b>2)Slang. A contestant entered dishonestly into a competition.</b>
3)Slang. One who bears a striking resemblance to another: a ringer for his father.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I have recently seen it often used to describe what was previously called "substituting". What gives?

Khaim

isnt this a tad off topic for the general forum..?

Nemesis_Zero

Gen... How do you get the idea of this being General Discussion?

Frogg2

Nonono ringers <i>are</i> bad.

Ringers are against rules in official matches.

But in scrims where it is just practice, it's alright to get a ringer if you are short, as it is just practice...

Sycophant

<!--QuoteBegin--MMZ>Torak+May 2 2003, 11:55 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MMZ>Torak @ May 2 2003, 11:55 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> When did the term "Ringer" lose it's negative connotation? Dictionary.com list's ringer as:
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->ring·er2    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (rngr) n.
1) One that rings, especially one that sounds a bell or chime.
<b>2)Slang. A contestant entered dishonestly into a competition.</b>
3)Slang. One who bears a striking resemblance to another: a ringer for his father.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I have recently seen it often used to describe what was previously called "substituting". What gives? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've always thought the term was used to describe a very good player who simply replaces someone else temporarily.

I've seen it used a lot in pool leagues - a 'ringer' is usually a very good player who is invited to play for a team if a player on that team doesn't show up for his game(s). It's not exactly a dishonest thing in that case, as the players aren't paired for their games until all team rosters are filled for that night.

AllUrHiveRblong2us

Perhaps when one is substituting, it is meant in the third part of the definition, as you are meant to take someone's place and for all intents and purposes be them.

Relic25

It's still a negative term, depending on context. Saying, "The new guy on their team is a ringer." casts a negative light on the stated team, as it implies that they brought on the ringer for an uunfair advantage, but it is a compliment to the ringer himself.

Cowswin

If you haven't noticed, half our gamer terms don't carry over exactly to any dictionary definition. It's pretty much it's own separate language.

In my experience, ringer just means someone playing for someone else that couldn't be there. Whether that person is better or not had nothing to do with the whole "ringer is illegal substitution".

Happens in DoD all the time.

GWAR

In my early days of TFC, We stomped one clan [Ops] I think. They left halfway through the match accusing half of our clan of "Ringing" Especially me.

I have no clue why, I have only been in one clan....

The concept behind a Ringer must be lost to them... the same way SPAM was...

Rion

I think in the terms you guys are talking about it created itself a new slang.. as ing, "give this guy a ringer and he can play" as in call him, to let him know.

pardzh

Ringers are only bad when people "recruit" a guy for a match so they can win. I've been a ringer a couple times in scrims and no one ever seems to care, because after all, it's just a scrim.