NPCs, Neologisms, and the Magic of Human Experience

Send us Fan Mail In episode 44, the hosts begin with light banter about podcast audio issues and reminders for listeners to like, share, and subscribe. They pick up on topics left unfinished from the previous episode, especially the idea of how people see themselves and others in everyday life.Neologism ExplainedThe hosts clarify the meaning of neologism: a newly coined word or expression. While "neologism" literally means "new word" (from Greek roots "neo" for new and "logos" for word), the term itself is not new-it dates back to the early 1800s. The hosts note that "sonder," discussed in the previous episode, is an example of a neologism, having been coined in 2012.Main Word of the Episode: NPCThe episode’s main focus is the acronym NPC, which stands for "non-player character" (sometimes "non-playable character") which is a term from video games describing characters not controlled by a human player but by the game’s programming.The hosts discuss the evolution of the term, noting that "non-player character" has become more common in the last five years, while "non-playable character" is less used now.They explain the difference: a "non-playable character" is simply a character you cannot control, while a "non-player character" is one not controlled by a human, even if it can be interacted with or customized.NPCs, Empathy, and Human InteractionThe conversation shifts to how the NPC concept is used as a metaphor in real life. People sometimes treat others as "NPCs" where they overlook people's individuality and complexity, especially in mundane interactions (like waiting in line or driving).The hosts link this to the concept of sonder: realizing that everyone has a rich, complex inner life. They propose a playful new term, "sonder intelligence," as a measure of how well someone recognizes others’ humanity, akin to emotional intelligence.Examples include being more patient with slow service by imagining the other person’s story, or recognizing that online and road rage often stem from not seeing others as fully human.Dehumanization and EmpathyThey discuss how seeing someone’s face increases empathy, citing examples from traffic, warfare (like masked soldiers or stormtroopers in Star Wars), and even poker (where players hide their eyes).The hosts note that face-to-face interaction, body language, and visible facial expressions all enhance our ability to empathize, while anonymity or obscured faces can lead to dehumanization.ConclusionThe episode blends linguistic exploration (neologism, NPC) with a thoughtful discussion on empathy, perception, and how modern life can make it easy to treat others as background characters rather than individuals. The hosts encourage listeners to practice "sonder intelligence" and see the humanity in everyone they encounter.You can find more about some of the people mentioned at the following links:Spidey HypnosisThe Masked Magician Support the show---Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice. Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.