Talk:Ardford summit/@comment-31763506-20181012122037/@comment-31763506-20181012233523

In academic literature as opposed to popular media, yes, I think there are cases where the connotation is neutral. Digging through the game dialogue (which is presumably a sample of what SL thinks the word means), the word is used many times, ~90% with the negative connotation, but there are a few instances where it's neutral:

Simon says: "Are we sure we want to pursue Varia now? It's difficult to know the consequences." during the Ch. 2 free roaming entrance to Delgar Forest.

Robin says of Aka's transformation spell on the eve of the BoY: "But no negative consequences so far." (Clearly implying that there are such things as non-negative consequences.)

During Simon and Aka's conversation about the effects of contact with him on her soul: "Hmm. I knew souls were the sum of our lives, but I suppose I hadn't considered all the consequences of that." (In context this usage is positive or neutral.)

The Steward of Ardoheim during the summit after the vote on the defensive alliance: "There are, of course, a great many details and consequences to discuss, among us and among smaller committees." (Probably neutral.)

SL's avatar in what I believe is the waiting room screen from the update that ended the aftermath of the BoY section: "Partly just to tease the plot, but also to show you some of the consequences of your actions this section." (Not all of the BoY consequences were negative.)

But, again, you're arguing from internal evidence in the game code (the word "consequences") that isn't there any more. Even if you were arguing from the precedent of the AriGarda Consequences switch being negative that the switch that is now called "Ghenalon Investment" must be negative, I can turn around and posit that SL decided the old variable name did give too much connotation of undesirable future effects and changed its name precisely in order to remove that connotation.

You and Lostone2 are the bosses at the end of the day, but I don't see how you think you have a leg to stand on on this one. You're basically insisting we canonize spec based on the event code.