"Cancer Marks"

[FantasticFirefly]

I don't even remember anymore how this term came about. It has been in use for at least a decade now. I know how I personally feel about the term and I am interested in seeing poll results for how other collectors feel about this term. So as to not sway anyone's initial feelings please don't argue for, or against this term in the comments! I'd like to write something about this in the future and responses would be immensely helpful to me.

Anyway, the flaw has been used to describe various spotting. Sometimes a dark brown dot surrounded by a fainter ring, sometimes brown blotching (common on BB Chief, TE Gingerbread). Collectors used to think the flaw could jump from one pony to another simply by sharing shelf space, but it's not a problem that spreads in that manner. (feel free to clean them up as you would any other pony). It is a flaw that can be caused by poor storage (damp/heat/humidity in poorly climate controlled spaces). I'm personally wondering if something else causes some these spots/stains as well, and hopefully will be able to at some point talk to someone with knowledge in plastics/vinyl to see if I'm correct.

A big thank you to anyone who participates in my poll!

[Dreamer]

I'd rather prefer to name them 'age spots'

[Mirnyj]

I'm not easily offended by words. 

[hathorcat]

I will reiterate in advance that this is a topic that seldom goes down well. So lets try and keep it civil.

For me - I try and use age marks as its more accurate for what the cause of the problem is but I often add "cancer" into my comments as its what has become the common term. It does not bother me - its just a word.

[sweetiebabyfizzy]

It doesn't bother me, but I prefer age spots as well I think it makes more sense.

[NoPonySpecial]

I don't find it offensive, however it is fairly inaccurate. Might use "age spots" from now on, if I think of it.

[Ackryllis]

I don't find it offensive as it's not used in an offensive manner.

Correct me if I'm wrong but some cancers are old cells that haven't been removed in time. Similarly pony cancer is because of the the vinyl breacking down due to environment and old age.

Also why did it get called cancer as cancer doesn't spread through touch. Wouldn't plague or some other spreading dicease had been more fitting?

[kiwimlp]

^  lol, pony plague!

I don't have a problem with 'cancer'

[lovesbabysquirmy]

I don't find it offensive as it's not used in an offensive manner.

Correct me if I'm wrong but some cancers are old cells that haven't been removed in time. Similarly pony cancer is because of the the vinyl breacking down due to environment and old age.

Also why did it get called cancer as cancer doesn't spread through touch. Wouldn't plague or some other spreading dicease had been more fitting?

Because it just kind of randomly appears, without any predictability or explanation.    I'm not offended by it at all.

[FantasticFirefly]

Thank you for the votes. I do wonder if anyone knows when the term came into use.

I will reiterate in advance that this is a topic that seldom goes down well. So lets try and keep it civil.

I really hope this doesn't happen, the last thing I want is a thread that causes issues.

[Leave a Whisper]

I voted that I don't like it.

[ajmeier55]

I don't mind it but I also use the term age spots.

[TinyShinyUnique]

I picked the option 'I don't find it inappropriate at all. I use the term.', because it was the closest one to what I think of the term. I use it, because I know collectors will understand me and that's the term I learned as an equivalent of 'those brown spots' on a pony. Being a non-native English speaker, the term had been just stuck in my head and it's hard to remember that it's a very unfortunate name. Sometimes I catch myself and use the term 'age spots' instead. But in all honesty I don't consider the term inappropriate, even though I understand it's not the same for many other people. 

[HollowZero]

It's not "offensive". It's also not "just a word".

My mother is a survivor. My best friend lost his father too early to pancreatic cancer. My ex lost his grandmother recently. My father lost his mother. My partner's uncle is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

I can't imagine what an Arena member would feel like if they were suffering with this possibly fatal condition and saw a post equating said ailment with a brown spot on a plastic pony. I just know how I personally feel about it.

[Hervoyel]

I don't find it offensive, but when I first started reading about pony repairs I did find it a little eyebrow raising - it doesn't bother me to hear it, but I try not to use it myself.