Talk:Imprinting

Ability Naming Conventions
The following sources are used for determining evolved human ability names, in order:
1. Canon Sources	Episodes
2. Near-canon Sources	Webisodes, Graphic Novels, iStories, Heroes Evolutions
3. Secondary Sources	Episode commentary, Interviews, Heroes: Survival
4. Common names for abilities	Names from other works
5. Descriptions of abilities	Descriptions
6. Possessor's name	If no non-speculative description is possible
Note: The highlighted row represents the level of the source used to determine imprinting's name.
Source/Explanation
"Imprinting" describes what Joe Macon can do.

Useful/Useless

Unless this can bu used to write long works wuch as papers and essays, this has got to be the most useless ability the show has ever come up with. However, if he can forge people's signatures or things like that, it can actually be quite useful. Intuitive Empath - Talk - Contributions 11:10, 3 February 2009 (EST)

Agreed! I don't know why Sylar would want THAT power. --Cro Magnon 11:45, 3 February 2009 (EST)

• How about to remotely forge checks and other documents? And it gives validating his parking ticket a whole new meaning...--MiamiVolts (talk) 11:53, 3 February 2009 (EST)
  • You think he might be able to use it to change what's already written down? Intuitive Empath - Talk - Contributions 12:03, 3 February 2009 (EST)
    • I dunno about that, but he could likely copy parts of what's written down onto another piece of paper. I think his ability may work by xeroxing his signature onto the papers, though to call it xeroxing or photocopying would be adding speculation.--MiamiVolts (talk) 12:26, 3 February 2009 (EST)

Animal imprinting

...is what I think of first when I hear "imprinting". If someone winds up with that ability, I recommend changing this to inscribing. This name is fine for now, though.--MiamiVolts (talk) 11:53, 3 February 2009 (EST)

I'm just glad it's not "Joe's ability"

• because if that would have happened I would have done a backflip and kicked my printer out the window. It's nice to have a new power with no speculation for once. Too bad it didnt work for shattering, then sylar's powers would be completley clean. Oh, and we got to see Mr. Muggles again! --Piemanmoo 16:07, 3 February 2009 (EST)
  • Also glad it's not another pseudo-electical ability like electrical ink manipulation. I also hated seeing how vague they were in the show about Peter's power(s) resurfacing too...sometimes I think the writers do things solely with the purpose to tie us here at the HeroesWiki in knots for a week or so. --HiroDynoSlayer (talk) 02/3/2009 16:20 (EST)
    • It would be great if they hired some us for concistency checks when they write a few things. Intuitive Empath - Talk - Contributions 16:25, 3 February 2009 (EST)

Name and Naming conventions

This ability has a name in popular culture already (which is higher on the conventions list)... It is called Nensha. Thoughtography also falls under this banner usually, but it isnt necessary, so the name isnt speculative. But essentially its the ability to imprint objects with your mind. Check it out here- [1] --Action Figure 23:45, 3 February 2009 (EST)

• Never heard of this word, and it certainly doesn't take my mind to what the ability does. Still think that imprinting is a better name. Intuitive Empath - Talk - Contributions 09:20, 4 February 2009 (EST)
• "thoughtography" sounds good though. --NiveKJ13 (talk2me) 09:49, 4 February 2009 (EST)
  • I'm just glad someone with a weird sense of humor didn't name it first, and call it "John Hancocking". --HiroDynoSlayer (talk) 02/4/2009 09:51 (EST)
    • Or John Footpenis LOL jk XD
• I'm not a big fan of "nensha," but thoughtography is good for me. And you're right; that is the common name for the ability so it would rank higher on the canon scale. Sincerely, Thrashmeister [ U | T | C ] 17:36, 4 February 2009 (EST)
  • Where else has this been used? Until now, I've never heard of this term. Can you give some examples? Intuitive Empath - Talk - Contributions 17:44, 4 February 2009 (EST)
  • I saw this in one of the Xmen films, Soz I know not helping much. Thoughtography has my vote though.---Drwho113
    • I think "imprinting" works fine. "Nensha" might be the actual name for it, but I don't know if it's the common name for it. I've heard the term before, but if you asked me what it was two days ago, I probably wouldn't have been able to tell you. That doesn't seem like a good choice in name, in my opinion. However, I don't really care too much one way or the other on this one. -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 18:09, 4 February 2009 (EST)
      • I saw this in the X-Men film as well, but until this showed up, I've never heard of either term. Intuitive Empath - Talk - Contributions 18:17, 4 February 2009 (EST)
        • I recommend adding redirects for "nensha" and "thoughtography", but leaving this article's name as-is.--MiamiVolts (talk) 19:23, 4 February 2009 (EST)
          • I think that's a good idea, Miami. -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 20:44, 4 February 2009 (EST)
  • I would like to point out that it doesnt matter which name anyone likes, or if they personally have heard of the term. But this IS the name for it, and clearly its well known enough to pass as the name for the article on Wikipedia. I am asking for a name change simply to follow the rules here. I wasnt really looking for opinions. I know that sounds jerk-y.. but.. well.. thems the breaks. --Action Figure 16:19, 7 February 2009 (EST)

Consensus

• How bout a consensus?

Thoughtography

1. --NiveKJ13 (talk2me) 19:38, 4 February 2009 (EST)Sounds clearer. Thought = mind/ graphy = writing (i.e. Calligraphy (produce an artistic writing), Filmography (produce images/ films), Hagiography (write about a certain subject), Radiography(produce image ) = they all have something to do with ink/printing/writing.
   • Some people above have already said they prefer 'Imprinting'. All the terms mean roughly the same thing. A consensus [check] cannot help here, but only serve to force this to become Joe's ability. Is that what you want???--MiamiVolts (talk) 19:55, 4 February 2009 (EST)
2. --Action Figure 19:08, 5 February 2009 (EST) Although Nensha is closer, because thoughtography usually refers to photographs, it technically isnt wrong and it seems to be the one people prefer. As for if you've never heard of it, thats fine, but it doesnt mean much. Anyone who is into the paranormal and especially ESP would know the term. Its used a lot. Nensha is just the Japanese word for it. (And used in the Ring movies for how the girl imprints her "curse" on the videotape) I have to go for this because I think we cant be so loose on some names and so strict on others (freezing... lightning...) you know? :)

Imprinting

1. --Intuitive Empath - Talk - Contributions 19:59, 5 February 2009 (EST) It's a simple and accurate name, it says exactly what the ability does, it's easy to understand and it fits the format used by other abilities (ability supercharging, cloning, crumpling, enhanced hearing, freezing, healing, melting, phasing and precognitive dreaming).

Inscribing

1. ----Powermimic 22:27, 5 February 2009 (EST) Simple and to the point, Imprinting usually means to imprint by pressure.