IMFDB policy on Russkie rockets.

[PersonOfInterest]

Point 1: RPG does not stand for "Rocket Propelled Grenade". It's a Russian acronym for "Ruchnoy Protivotankovyy Granatomyot". Translated to Americanese it comes out as "Handheld Antitank Grenade Launcher".

Request: Make it official IMFDB policy to ban the phrases "rocket propelled grenade" and "rocket propelled grenade launcher". Using them to refer to any RPG models is incorrect. Using them to refer to antitank weapons in general is akin to calling all assault rifles "AK's".

What am I doing about it: Changing it or deleting it when I see it, but it's far too widespread to tackle alone. This will probably be made more difficult by know-it-all gamers who insist on being incorrect. Having this be an official policy would be very helpful.


Point 2: SA7 Grail is not an official Soviet or Russian designation. It is a name assigned by NATO's Air Standardization Coordinating Committee for identification purposes. The official designation is 9K32 Strela-2.

Request: Make it official IMFDB policy to use official designations for labeling and not code words. Code words are just slang terms with suits and diplomas, and we don't refer to magazines as "clips", firearms as "gats", or Mini-14 Ranch Rifles as "high powered assault type weapons".

What am I doing about it: Nothing. The last time I tried to correct this error (on the page for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas), somebody reverted it shortly after. I'll pick it up again, but not without the green light from an admin.
EDIT: It looks like I changed it back again in february and nobody's had a problem with it since, but I'm still going to wait for admin input.