Dangers of speaking the enemys name

[Selmo]

The hiding of true names is common in fantasy fiction (Wizard of Earthsea) and in fairy tales (Rumpelstiltskin).

Some names are considered too sacred to speak aloud. The writers of the Jewish scriptures claim that the true name of God was once known by the High Priests but spoken only in a whisper in the Temple's Holy of Holies and never written down in full.

In our own world, we often use euphemisms for things we find frightening or unpleasent, like the phraseco-lateral damage when we mean the slaughter of innocent men, women and children during clinical strikes.

Selmo.